A Simple Guide to Choosing the Hot Tub of Your Dreams

If you are in the market for a hot tub, you are already sold on the benefits of owning one.

You will be thinking about slipping into the therapeutic healing powers of the jets after a long and stressful day at work, alleviating those long-term aches and pains like arthritis, or soothing those muscles after a long bike ride or run. Not to mention the social benefits – getting outside and getting some well-needed vitamin D, especially during winter when we’re normally hunkered down around the fire, and just spending more time with family and friends.

But the big questions remain: what type of hot tub should you buy? How big does it need to be? What about the seating arrangements? And how could we forget, how does all this impact on the running costs? Before taking the plunge and buying a hot tub, whether you’re a first-timer or you just need an upgrade, here are some things you need to consider first before you make your decision.

Size isn’t everything

Shape

Seating

Size isn’t everything!

When you step into a hot tub showroom, like ours, it’s easy to be like a kid in a sweet shop, excitedly rushing from tub to tub, marvelling at the waterfalls, lights, sound systems and luxurious lounge seats peppered with jets.

But size, as they say in the hot tub world, is important. And bigger isn’t always better! It really depends on what you intend to do with it.

So, think carefully before buying the biggest tub in the showroom about who will use it, when they’ll use it and how they’ll use it. Just because you have 5 people in your family doesn’t mean you need a 5 seater hot tub.

You may find that you’re never going to have more than 3 people in the tub at any one time. And if this is the case, buying a smaller tub would be much wiser as it’s going to cost you less in the first place, and it’s going to cost you less to run.

So really consider your use carefully. Don’t just buy a tub with an extra couple of seats just in case the neighbours pop round like they did that one time during COVID otherwise you’ll end up paying extra on your energy bills for a tub that’s not getting its full use.

If you aren’t sure about the answers to these questions, it may be an idea to hire a hot tub for a weekend first, just so you get an idea about who will use it and how often. Please see our hire section for more information about road testing a hot tub with your family.

Shape

When it comes to the question of shape, you have three choices: do you want a classic round hot tub, a modern square hot tub or a rectangular shaped hot tub?

Does it matter, I hear you cry?

Well, yes, it does.

When hot tubs first started to become more popular, many people opted for a traditional round hot tub. They look the part – a round hot tub smacks of Scandinavia, the home of hot tubs, so if you’re into the aesthetics, then round is the shape for you.

A round hot tub with similar dimensions to a square hot tub is also going to have less water in it, which will have an impact on running costs, so there’s that to consider too. Round hot tubs also tend to be a little deeper than square ones, so if you are a little lanky, you may find a round hot tub comfier. However, please check the dimensions of your hot tub before buying because not all round tubs are deeper.

Generally speaking again, round tubs tend to have fewer jets. This is partly down to the shape, as the water circulates more easily in a round tub. So if you’re more about the steamy soothing water than blasting your aches and pains away with an abundance of jets, a round tub may suit you better.

Square hot tubs are more modern looking so if that’s important to you, go square. They typically come with more jets so if it’s a hydrotherapeutic massage you’re after, a square tub may give you more options.

The way the seats are configured in a round and square tub tend to be different so think about that too. More round tubs tend to have bench like seating which gives you a little more movement, and the ability to scoot over if you are squeezing one more person in. Square tubs usually have more bucket shape seats which kind of locks you into place, right in the path of the jets. So again, all things to consider before making your choice.

Seating

This brings us to my last point: seating configuration. The way you are going to use your hot tub directly affects layout of the seats in the hot tub you choose. Some hot tubs have just seats, whereas others have seats and one or more loungers.

If you are going to be using the tub to relax and unwind on your own or with another person after a long day at work, or some strenuous activity, and you want to feel the full body benefit of the jets, then buying a hot tub with one or more lounge seats is a must.  

But if you are going to be using your hot tub more as a way to relax and socialise, then you may go for a hot tub with just seating and no loungers. Or, as I suggested above, you may even go for a round tub with bench seats so you can have the more intimate social gathering you are looking for.

Conclusion

I think the key takeaway here is to think carefully about what you want from your hot tub before making your choice. Is it for social gatherings? Is it for family time? Is it just for you and your loved one? Or do you need those jets to relieve stress, aches and pains or alleviate the symptoms of long term health issues?

If you focus on the three areas above, you will be closer to making the right decision about which hot tub to buy for you. We recommend coming to the showroom so you can get a better idea of the size and shape of hot tubs available. And if you still aren’t sure, why not hire one so you can be totally sure that whatever hot tub you end up with, it’s the right one for your needs? Check out how to hire one from us here.