Inflatable hot tubs for UK gardens
Bubbles in the back garden: size, heating and running cost first.
How many bathers, how many litres, how long to heat and what it costs on your own tariff. We compare inflatable hot tubs on the makers' own figures: bathers, water litres, heater kW, maximum temperature and jets.
Our top picks
All buying guides- Best 2 to 4 person inflatable hot tubs
Lay-Z-Spa 60001: 4 seats and 669 L
- Best 6 to 8 person inflatable hot tubs
MSpa Tidal: semi-rigid 6 seater, 930 L
- Best inflatable hot tubs for winter use
MSpa Denver: frost protection and 2,200 W heater
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Wave Spa hot tub range compared
Wave Pacific 4 person: 155 cm, foam core walls
Hot tub heat-up calculator
Open the calculator →Minimum, ignores heat loss
- Energy
- 26.0 kWh
- Heating time
- 11.8 h
- 11 h 50 min
- Cost to heat
- n/a
- Enter your unit rate
Real heating takes longer: heat escapes through the walls, the cover and the air, more so in cold or windy weather and with the bubbles running.
Common hot tub questions
The questions asked most often, each with causes and fixes.
- Slimy liner, seams or pipesWhy an inflatable hot tub feels slimy: what biofilm is, where it hides in pipes and liner seams, and a purge, scrub and refill routine to clear it.
- Pump will not start or bubbles do not runLay-Z-Spa pump or bubbles not working? Power, connectors, airlocks and pump settings checked in order, and how to tell a pump fault from a settings issue.
- Error code on the pump displayLay-Z-Spa error codes E01 to E09 in one table, with the usual cause, the first check to try and when a code points to a pump fault that needs Bestway support.
- Water level dropping or walls going softInflatable hot tub losing water or air? Tell air loss from water loss, use the soapy water test, patch the liner and check the valves and seals first.
- Heater not warming the waterInflatable hot tub heater not working? Check filter flow, timer and lock settings, the heater button, air temperature limits and when to call the maker.
- Green or green tinted waterWhy hot tub water turns green: algae versus metals in the water, how to tell which, and the shock, filter and drain and refill steps for each cause.
- Cloudy or milky waterWhy hot tub water goes cloudy: filters, pH, sanitiser level and hard water checked in order, with the fix for each and when a drain and refill is quicker.
- RCD or breaker trips when the tub runsHot tub keeps tripping the RCD or breaker? Damp plugs, extension leads, other loads on the circuit and pump faults explained, with when to call an electrician.
Hot tub topics
Choosing, sizing, heating, water care and keeping an inflatable tub going from spring to autumn.
- Choosing an inflatable hot tubJets, walls, insulation and app control: what separates one inflatable tub from the next.7 guides · 3 buying guides
- Sizes and shapesRound or square, two bathers or eight: footprint, water litres and seating space compared.2 guides · 2 buying guides
- Hot tub brandsLay-Z-Spa, Intex PureSpa, CleverSpa, MSpa and Wave Spa ranges laid side by side.4 guides · 2 buying guides
- Heating and running costsHeater kW, heat-up hours and kWh per week on a 13 A UK socket, through every season.6 guides · 1 buying guide
- Water careSanitiser, pH, test strips and hard water, set out as general guidance for clear water.12 guides · 0 buying guides
- Setup and upkeepBases, filling, error codes, leaks, draining and storing the tub at the end of the season.7 guides · 0 buying guides
Calculators
Heating time, kWh, litres and fill time worked out from your own numbers.
Comparisons
- Round vs square inflatable hot tubsRound vs square inflatable hot tubs compared on seating space, footprint, water litres and patio fit, with the volume worked out for both shapes.
- Lay-Z-Spa vs Wave Spa comparedLay-Z-Spa vs Wave Spa: walls, heaters, insulation, freeze protection, seats and shapes compared from the listings, with a clear pick for each type of buyer.
- Lay-Z-Spa vs Intex PureSpa: which inflatable tub?Lay-Z-Spa vs Intex PureSpa compared on wall build, heater, jets, covers, app control and UK parts, with a quick pick by budget and garden size.
- Intex vs Coleman SaluSpa inflatable hot tubsIntex PureSpa vs Coleman SaluSpa (made by Bestway): heaters, walls, covers, app control and UK parts compared, with the voltage check every buyer should make.
- Inflatable vs plug and play hot tubInflatable vs plug and play hot tubs: both run from a 13 A socket, but foam and rigid tubs differ in heat kept, weight, setup and lifespan. Here is how.
- Inflatable hot tub vs a hard shell hot tubInflatable vs hard shell hot tubs compared on heater kW, insulation, lifespan, base, electrics and weekly kWh, so the trade-off is clear before you spend.
Buying guides
Focused guides to one type of inflatable hot tub each, compared on what the listings state.
Guides & advice
- What chemicals does an inflatable hot tub need?What chemicals an inflatable hot tub needs: sanitiser, pH up and down, alkalinity, shock and test strips, and the order to add them, as general guidance.
- Inflatable hot tub sizes and water volumesInflatable hot tub sizes explained: a chart of outer sizes, water litres, gallons and seats for common models, plus how much space to leave round the tub.
- Can you use an inflatable hot tub in winter?Using an inflatable hot tub in a UK winter: heater air temperature limits, freeze protection, extra insulation and the kWh it takes to keep the water warm.
- Where to put an inflatable hot tub: base ideasInflatable hot tub base ideas compared: patio slabs, concrete, decking, gravel and mats, with the filled weight per square metre worked out so you can check.
- How to pack away and store an inflatable hot tubHow to store an inflatable hot tub: drain, clean, dry, deflate and fold, where to keep it over winter, and how to look after the pump and cover in storage.
- How to shock an inflatable hot tubHow to shock an inflatable hot tub: what shocking does, chlorine and non-chlorine options, when to do it and how long to leave the cover off, following the label.