How much does it cost to run a hot tub?
We've pre-filled a typical hot tub below. Set your electricity rate and adjust the hours to match how you use yours — the cost updates instantly.
Typical power 1,500W
Usual range 1,000–6,000W
Category Outdoor & big-ticket
A hot tub costs money even when nobody's in it. The heater cycles on around the clock to keep 300+ gallons at temperature, and the pump runs for filtration — so the bill is driven by standby heat loss far more than by how often you actually soak.
That makes the cover, the climate and the setpoint the real cost levers. A well-covered tub in a mild climate is reasonable; an open tub in winter can be brutal.
What drives the cost of running a hot tub
- Holding temperature 24/7 against heat loss is most of the cost, soaks or not.
- Cold weather and wind make the heater work much harder.
- A worn, ill-fitting or waterlogged cover lets heat escape constantly.
How to cut it
- Keep a good, tight-fitting insulated cover on it — the highest-impact change by far.
- Lower the setpoint a few degrees, or drop it further when you'll be away for a while.
- Run filtration on a timer rather than constantly.
- Shelter it from wind and consider a floating thermal blanket under the cover.