A hot tub is a great way to unwind in the garden on sunny evenings, and they can provide health benefits too. They're certainly a luxury item, but how much does hot tub installation cost? Supply and installation could cost anywhere between £3,000-£25,500, depending on the type of hot tub you choose – so read on to find out more about the costs.
How much does it cost to install a hot tub in the UK?
How much it costs to install a hot tub in the UK will mainly depend on the type and brand of hot tub you choose, so prices vary. But here are some general costs to help you budget:
|
Item |
Average cost |
|
Hot tub |
£2,800-£25,000 |
|
Electrician |
£50 per hour |
|
Outdoor double socket installation |
£150 |
|
Concrete base |
£175 per cubic metre |
|
Filters and maintenance products |
£250-£350 per year |
Hot Tubs
Image
Name
Cost
Wave Rio Inflatable Spa £300.00 
Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki Nordic AirJet Hot Tub Spa £500.00 
Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki Smart AirJet Plus Inflatable Hot Tub with App Controls £729.00 
Hot Tub Master Platinum Stream III £3999.00 
Beliani Outdoor Hot Tub with LED TULAROSA White £6010.00 
H2O Hot Tubs 6000 Series £10599.00
HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for electricians across the country, so check to see if your location is listed below to get a more accurate picture of labour costs for installing a hot tub. On average, though, electricians will charge £50 per hour.
What is involved in the installation of a hot tub?
There’s a bit of prep work needed before you install a hot tub. Here are the general steps involved in installing one:
Adding a base
All hot tubs will need a level base to sit on. The best type of base is a concrete one because it’s strong and long-lasting. It should be at least 10cm thick, and should be ever so slightly sloped to allow for water run-off.
You’ll need to allow at least 14 days for the concrete to cure and be at full strength, but 28 days is often recommended.
Connecting a power supply
You’ll need an electrician to connect your hot tub to your power supply. An outdoor power socket is an easy way to connect your hot tub to your mains, and is a useful thing to have for your lawnmower or other outdoor appliances.
A double outdoor power socket costs an average of £150 to install, while a single socket costs around £120. We’d always recommend a double power socket because you can keep your hot tub plugged in all the time but use the spare socket for lighting or other electricals.
Filling your hot tub
Outdoor hot tubs generally aren’t plumbed in, so you’ll need to fill up your hot tub with your garden hose. If you haven’t got an outdoor tap, you’ll want to get one installed to make it easy for you to fill up your hot tub.
Adding chemicals to your hot tub
You’ll need to add chemicals to your hot tub to keep the water safe to sit in. You’ll also need testing strips to be able to test the water to make sure it’s got the right levels of chemical in it.
Top hot tub brands
Lots of people call hot tubs Jacuzzis – but in fact, that’s just a brand! Jacuzzi isn’t the only hot tub brand out there – take a look at the table below to see how much some of the top hot tub brands will set you back:
|
Hot tub brand |
Price range |
|
Arctic Spas |
£5,000-£24,000 |
|
Bullfrog Spas |
£7,000-£25,000 |
|
Hot Spring |
£2,800-£22,000 |
|
Jacuzzi |
£5,000-£23,000 |
|
Sundance Spas |
£6,500-£22,000 |
Do you need planning permission to install a hot tub?
You don’t usually need planning permission to install a hot tub, so as long as you install it on a solid level base you should be able to put it anywhere in your garden. However, if you live in a conservation area or you want to build a structure in your garden to house your hot tub, you might need to apply for planning permission.
To save potentially costly fines in the future, check on the Planning Portal website or with your local Building Control if you’re unsure.
How much does a hot tub cost to run in the UK?
Hot tubs aren’t particularly cheap to run in the UK. While you should only have to fill up your hot tub 3 or 4 times a year if you keep a regular maintenance schedule, the biggest cost is the electricity to keep the water warm and power any lights or speakers that you have in it.
Electricity costs approx. 34p per kWh. Hot tubs can use between 3-6 kWh per day, so running a hot tub could add £370-£750 per year onto your electricity bill.
You’ll also need to consider the cost of maintenance for your hot tub. Filters, pH strips and chemicals are all vital products you’ll need to keep your hot tub in perfect condition, and these will cost around £250-£350 per year. In addition, you should get your hot tub serviced every year, which will cost between £150-£200.
Is it cheaper to leave a hot tub on all the time?
Most hot tub specialists say that it’s cheaper to leave a hot tub on all the time. This is because if you turn your hot tub off every time you’re not using it, when you next switch it on the heater will have to work much harder to heat the water from cold than it would to keep the water at a constant temperature.
Since hot tubs are pretty well-insulated when they’ve got the cover on, the water won’t lose heat too quickly, making it cheaper to leave your hot tub on all the time to simply maintain the temperature.
What is the lifespan of a hot tub?
The lifespan of a hot tub is generally between 5-20 years. Cheap hot tubs will be on the lower end of this scale, since they are probably made with lower-quality materials, but you should expect high-end hot tubs to last at least 20 years.
You can help your hot tub last longer by cleaning and maintaining it regularly and getting it serviced every year. It’s worth considering whether it might be better to spend more on a high-end hot tub, as it could cost you less overall than replacing a cheaper hot tub in 5 years.
If you're ready to get a hot tub installed, post your job on HaMuch. Compare quotes from registered electricians to ensure you’re getting the best price for your hot tub installation.