United Kingdom Outdoor and garage
How much does it cost to run a hot tub?
A hot tub kept hot all the time uses 3 to 12 kWh a day depending on the season, the cover and the insulation. The heater is 1,500 watts on a plug-in (110 volt) tub and 4,000 to 6,000 watts on a hard-wired tub, but it only runs to replace the heat that leaks out.
A hot tub uses about 7.0 kWh a day kept at temperature, which costs about £1.84 a day in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh, £56.08 a month and £672.94 a year.
- Price: Ofgem cap, Oct to Dec 2026
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 7.0 kWh a day, 213 kWh a month, at 26.32 pence per kWh (Great Britain (price cap average)).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A hot tub uses about 7.0 kWh a day kept at temperature, which costs about £1.84 a day in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh, £56.08 a month and £672.94 a year.
What this assumes
The default is 7.0 kWh a day. Owners report 3 to 12 kWh a day depending on insulation, cover, climate and use, so this is the one appliance where your own meter reading beats any estimate.
The price is the Ofgem price cap unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026, average for England, Scotland and Wales, paying by Direct Debit. The cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027 is announced in late November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost by energy a day, at the price cap rate
| Energy a day | Per day | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 kWh | 79p | £5.53 | £24.03 | £288.40 |
| 5.3 kWh | £1.38 | £9.67 | £42.06 | £504.70 |
| 7.0 kWh | £1.84 | £12.90 | £56.08 | £672.94 |
| 7.5 kWh | £1.97 | £13.82 | £60.08 | £721.00 |
| 9.8 kWh | £2.57 | £17.96 | £78.11 | £937.30 |
| 12 kWh | £3.16 | £22.11 | £96.13 | £1,154 |
How a hot tub uses electricity
Energy per day, not watts, is the right way to think about a hot tub. A well insulated tub with a tight cover in a mild climate sits near 3 to 5 kWh a day. An inflatable tub outdoors in winter can pass 12 kWh a day, because thin walls leak heat and the small heater runs for hours.
Each use adds energy: the cover is off, the jets and blower run (the pump alone is 1,000 to 2,000 watts), and the water is reheated afterwards.
Heating from cold is the expensive part. Warming 300 gallons (about 1,100 litres) by 60 degrees Fahrenheit takes roughly 50 kWh, which is why keeping it hot usually beats heating it up for every use.
Ways to cut the cost
- A good cover and a thermal blanket on the water are the two biggest savings.
- Drop the set point by a few degrees when you will not use it for a week.
- Keep the filter clean so the pump runs less.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a hot tub per month?
At 6 kWh a day, about 180 kWh a month, which is about 33 dollars at 18 cents per kWh or 47 pounds at 26.32p per kWh. In winter outdoors it can be double.
Is an inflatable hot tub expensive to run?
Per day, often more than a hard-shell tub, because it is poorly insulated and its small heater runs for hours. UK owners commonly report 7 to 10 kWh a day in cold months.
More in the UK
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.