Buying a hot tub is easy to get wrong. The showroom looks great, the salesperson is keen, and it is only months later, when the running costs land or a part fails, that you find out what you actually bought.

So before you sign anything, here is what to check. Get these right and you will buy a tub that suits how you live and lasts for years.

Insulation, because it sets your running costs

This is the single biggest factor in what your tub costs to run, and it is the easiest to hide. A well-insulated four-seater on average UK electricity runs around £40 to £60 a month. A poorly insulated or oversized tub used hard in winter can hit £90 to £130. Same soak, very different bill. Ask exactly how a tub is insulated before anything else.

The shell and the parts

A quality acrylic shell, like Aristech, resists the weather and keeps its finish. A cheap shell fades and cracks. Underneath, look for industry-standard parts such as Balboa controls and Gecko systems. They perform well and, just as importantly, they are easy to service and source when the time comes.

The right size for how you will actually use it

Bigger is not better. A seven-seater is lovely at a party and a chore the rest of the year, costing more to heat and clean for seats nobody sits in. Be honest about your normal use. A couple is usually happiest in a compact tub, not a giant one.

Power supply

Most tubs are either plug-and-play on a 13 amp supply, which goes into a normal outdoor socket, or hardwired on a 32 amp supply, which needs an electrician but heats faster and holds temperature better in winter. Know which you are buying and what it needs to run.

Warranty and aftercare

A strong warranty tells you the maker trusts the build. Look at the cover on the shell structure, the surface and the components, and read what is actually included. Then look at aftercare. A local team that can service and repair your tub is worth a great deal more than a cheaper tub from a seller who vanishes after delivery.

Delivery and access

The tub is one price. Getting it into your garden is another. Check whether delivery is included, and whether your access needs a simple wheel-in or a crane. Plan the base too. A level concrete pad or properly rated decking is the biggest single extra, so factor it in early.

The extras that catch people out

A tub needs a cover, a cover lifter, steps and starter chemicals to actually use it. Some sellers price the tub keenly then charge for all of that on top. Ours does not. Our pricing includes a pre-delivery site survey, an insulated cover, a cover lifter, steps, starter chemicals, delivery and positioning, and water care training. That is over £1,900 of extras built in.

One more, if it is for a business

If the tub goes in a holiday let or any rental property, it has to meet HSG282, the safety guidance for commercial spa pools. A domestic tub will not do. Make sure it is compliant before you buy.

Want the full cost picture in plain numbers? Read our 2026 guide to what a hot tub really costs, or browse our hot tubs and ask us anything.