Hot tub running cost UK — 4 sizes at 26.11p/kWh
A 4-person inflatable hot tub used once a week costs approximately £2.43/week. In daily evening use it costs £11.79/week. A large 6-person hard-shell tub in daily use costs £39.84/week at the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026).
Energy consumption: Which? — How much does a hot tub cost to run (electricity consumption data). Unit rate: Ofgem cap 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026). Published 2026-06-20.
Hot tub running costs at 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026): 4-person inflatable once a week = £2.43/week. 4-person inflatable daily (1 h) = £11.79/week. 6-person hard-shell daily = £39.84/week. Source: Which? — How much does a hot tub cost to run (electricity consumption data) (2024) + Ofgem (OGL v3.0).
Weekly cost by tub size and usage scenario
| Hot tub | Heater | Once a week (2 h use) | Twice a week (2 h each) | Every other day (1 h) | Daily evening soak (1 h) | Party/summer weekend (4 h) | Standby / maintain temperature only | Winter daily use (1.5 h, tub covered) | Summer daily use (1.5 h, warm ambient) | Three times a week (2 h each) | Economy mode (heat off overnight) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-person inflatable hot tub | 0.8 kW | £1.30 | £2.59 | £2.69 | £6.29 | £4.18 | £3.51 | £9.32 | £6.03 | £3.89 | £7.02 |
| 4-person inflatable hot tub | 1.5 kW | £2.43 | £4.86 | £5.05 | £11.79 | £7.83 | £6.58 | £17.48 | £11.31 | £7.28 | £13.16 |
| 4-person hard-shell hot tub | 3.0 kW | £4.07 | £8.15 | £8.93 | £20.84 | £12.53 | £13.16 | £30.84 | £18.51 | £12.22 | £20.84 |
| 6-person hard-shell hot tub | 6.0 kW | £7.62 | £15.25 | £17.08 | £39.84 | £22.98 | £26.32 | £58.94 | £34.27 | £22.87 | £38.02 |
Weekly cost. Active use + standby maintenance at 10% heater load (adjustable in the per-page calculator). Energy: Which? — How much does a hot tub cost to run (electricity consumption data). Unit rate: Ofgem cap (1 July to 30 September 2026, OGL v3.0).
Hot tub running cost FAQs
How much does a hot tub cost to run per week in the UK in 2026?
At the Ofgem cap rate of 26.11p/kWh (1 July to 30 September 2026), a 4-person inflatable hot tub used once a week (2 h active + 22 h standby at 10% heater load) costs approximately £2.43/week. In daily evening use (1 h/day) the same tub costs approximately £11.79/week. A 6-person hard-shell hot tub in daily use costs approximately £39.84/week. Source: Which? 2024 (energy consumption); Ofgem (OGL v3.0) for unit rate.
How much electricity does a hot tub use per day?
A 4-person inflatable hot tub (1,500 W heater + 1,500 W pump) used for 2 hours plus 22 hours of standby at 10% heater load uses 9.30 kWh. A 4-person hard-shell hot tub (3 kW heater + 1.5 kW pump) in daily 1-hour use with 23 h standby uses more. Use our per-model calculator to see your specific scenario.
Does a hot tub cost more to run in winter than summer?
Yes. In winter, the ambient temperature is lower, so the heater must work harder to maintain the water temperature — we estimate the maintenance load fraction rises from around 5% in summer to 15% in a cold UK winter. A well-insulated hot tub cover significantly reduces this difference. See our "winter daily" vs "summer daily" pages for specific cost comparisons.
Track hot tub running costs
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Sources
Energy consumption: Which? — How much does a hot tub cost to run (electricity consumption data). Heater and pump specs from Lay-Z-Spa, Hydropool, and Jacuzzi manufacturer data (2024). Unit rate: Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (1 July to 30 September 2026), OGL v3.0. Which? · Ofgem.