Thinking of buying a hot tub, portable hot tub, inflatable hot tub, wood-fired hot tub or something else? Has it got you wondering what the costs, features, pros and cons are of different tub types? Learn the key points you need to know in this article.
When it comes to cost, you’ll find that the hot tub industry has several ranges that hot tubs fall into. We’ll be looking at these price ranges and which hot tubs sit in them, along with some of the features they offer.
So, by the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how much hot tubs will cost and what range your budget will put you in.
Hot tubs, much like cars, vary in cost depending on the quality of their build and the components going into them. A hot tub is an investment and should be seen as such when looking at hot tub costs and what you can afford.
Many brands offer an fully featured value hot tub to their spas, with straightforward features that deliver value for money. Depending on the brand, the quality can vary along with the extras they want to put into the spa model.
Rotationally molded hot tubs fall into this range due to their ease of manufacturing and lower production costs. Rotationally molded spas are made from a durable high-density plastic called polyethylene which is poured into a spa-shaped mold and then rotated until it dries. It creates a one-piece plastic hot tub making them lightweight and easy to move.
Fully featured value spas are a step up over inflatable hot tubs and offer functional lighting and hydromassage. Being made with durable plastic, they differ from acrylic hot tubs in looks and don’t have a shiny fiberglass and acrylic top, though you can get imitations. If you are concerned about the look of your hot tub, this is something to take into account when thinking of a roto-mold hot tub.
Fully Featured Value Hot Tubs typically have less high-quality insulation in them to keep overall costs down, with acrylic shells retaining heat better than a roto-molded one. A large part of how energy efficient the hot tub is, will be coming down to the manufacturer and the brand.
Cheaper materials will see a decrease in energy efficiency over a spa made with quality materials and an emphasis put on insulation and keeping energy usage optimized.
Mid-range or value hot tubs provide more features and quality hydromassage than an fully featured value spa, with a greater emphasis on providing a great hot tub experience. As such, the price of providing this increases as quality pushes the price up.
Reputable brands like Hydropool®, Jacuzzi® or HotSpring® carry hot tubs in this price range in a lower-cost collections. They often provide access to a brand’s technology and engineering.
A premium hot tub delivers more than a mid-range in quality and features but less than a luxury spa, typically having access to some, but not all, of a brand’s maximum features.
Premium hot tubs often offer a greater choice of features over a mid-range or fully featured value spa, allowing you to customize the hot tub, typically offering more variety of cabinet and acrylic shell covers as well.
Jet technology, spa comforts, more advanced hydromassage, and water filtration options can be attained in hot tubs falling into this range, with variable prices depending on what model or options you choose.
Yes, premium hot tubs often share the same level of insulation quality as luxury hot tubs, offering high heat retention and redistribution using full foam insulation as one example. Premium spas tend to allow upgrades to high filtration as well, to maximize water treatment systems such as UV or salt water.
Luxury hot tubs offer a wealth of premium features and include the very best hydromassage options that a hot tub company can offer. They usually have a range of premium extras and features that come as part of the package.
This all comes at a cost, however, as the increased price is due to the premium jetting, plumbing and parts, along with specialized seating options and advanced filtration and sanitization.
These all impact the price, increasing it due to their high quality nature, but offer the very best in comfort and hydromassage options.
Luxury hot tubs provide the pinnacle of energy efficiency, with many high-end brands strenuously designing spas that provide excellent heat retention and redistribution. Utilizing different insulation types, such as full foam or thermal blankets, luxury spas also provide quality components to maximize energy usage.
Johnson City Showroom
3950 Bristol Hwy,
Johnson City, TN 37601
(423) 542-2391
Kingsport Showroom
1064 E Stone Drive
Kingsport, TN 37660
(423) 630-7665
Hours: Tues – Sat:
9:30AM – 6:00PM
Sun & Mon: Closed
