How Much Electric
Do Hot Tubs Use?
A hot tub is the single biggest electrical load most homeowners ever bring into the garden. The honest UK 2026 figure ranges from £450 a year for a small inflatable in summer use only to over £1,800 a year for a 13A plug-and-play hard-shell tub used year round.
A typical UK plug-and-play hot tub uses 5 to 13 kWh of electricity per day depending on size, insulation, ambient temperature plus whether it stays heated when not in use. At the current Q2 2026 Ofgem unit rate of 24.7p per kWh that means roughly £1.24 to £3.21 per day or £450 to £1,170 per year. Larger 32A hard-wired tubs that recover faster after use can run higher in winter, sometimes £1,500 to £1,800 per year, although they are more efficient per heating cycle.
The figures that matter
Inflatable summer
Lay-Z-Spa or similar in summer, used 2 to 3 times per week. Around £1.24 per day.
13A plug-and-play
Year-round hard-shell on a 13A circuit, kept warm. Around £2.47 per day.
32A hard-wired
Larger 32A premium tub with stronger heater plus pumps. Around £3.95 per day.
Mid-range total
Mid-range 13A plug-and-play tub, year-round, full UK winter cycle factored in.
Four things to consider
heater is the main draw
Heating water from cold uses 90 percent of the electricity. Maintaining temperature is far cheaper.
insulation matters most
A well-insulated cover plus side panels can halve daily running costs versus a cheap inflatable.
winter doubles costs
Cold ambient air plus cold ground temperatures push winter usage up 60 to 100 percent versus summer.
hard-wired runs cheaper
32A hard-wired tubs heat faster plus cycle less often. Per-use cost is lower than a 13A plug-and-play.
Where the electricity actually goes in a hot tub
Hot tub running costs surprise most first-time owners. The advertised figure on the box (often something like "3kWh per day") is best-case summer use with a perfect cover plus daily air temperatures above 15°C. Real UK winter use produces very different numbers.
Three components draw power:
- The heater. Typically 1.5kW to 3kW on plug-and-play models, 4kW to 6kW on hard-wired premium tubs. This is by far the biggest electricity user.
- The circulation pump. Around 0.2kW to 0.5kW. Runs continuously or on a schedule to filter the water.
- The jets pumps. 1kW to 3kW combined when in use. Only run when someone is in the tub.
How daily kWh adds up:
- Heater bringing tub up to temperature from cold: 8 to 25 kWh depending on tub size plus starting temperature.
- Heater maintaining temperature once warm: 3 to 8 kWh per day depending on insulation plus weather.
- Circulation pump running 6 to 24 hours daily: 1 to 5 kWh.
- Jets used 30 minutes per day: 0.5 to 1.5 kWh.
What changes the cost the most:
- Cover quality. A 75mm insulated cover halves heat loss versus a thin one.
- Ambient temperature. Winter use can double summer running costs.
- Use frequency. Counterintuitively, tubs used more often often cost less per session because the water is already at temperature.
- Heater wattage. 13A plug-and-play tubs heat slowly which means the heater runs for longer each cycle. Larger 32A tubs heat fast plus cycle less.
The dedicated circuit question. Inflatable plus 13A plug-and-play tubs run from a standard outdoor IP-rated socket. Larger 32A models need a dedicated circuit installed from the consumer unit. Either way, the install must be carried out by a Part P registered electrician under BS 7671 18th Edition Amendment 3 because outdoor electrical installations sit in special location categories with stricter rules.
Real number ranges
Annual running cost by hot tub type (UK 2026)
A typical UK hot tub year
light use
Mild weather, water holds heat. Around 7 to 9 kWh per day. Roughly £50 per month.
cheapest months
Air temperature high, minimal heat loss. 5 to 7 kWh per day. Roughly £38 per month.
costs rising
Ambient cooling. 9 to 12 kWh per day. Roughly £70 per month.
peak draw
Cold ambient plus ground temperature. 12 to 18 kWh per day. Roughly £85 to £130 per month.
Four ways to cut hot tub running costs
Invest in a thermal cover
A good 75mm insulated cover pays for itself in one winter through reduced heat loss when the tub is not in use.
Lower the set temperature
Dropping from 40°C to 38°C reduces heat-loss differential plus saves around 10 percent on running costs.
Use a heat retention liner
Floating thermal blankets sit on the water surface under the cover. Cuts evaporation plus heat loss further.
Place out of wind
Wind exposure dramatically increases heat loss. Sheltered positions plus side panels reduce running costs.
Compare the options
Inflatable hot tub
- •£300 to £700 to buy. Lowest barrier to entry.
- •5 to 8 kWh per day in summer. Roughly £1.24 to £1.97 daily.
- •Often packed away in winter. Annual cost can stay under £500.
- •Plugs into standard 13A outdoor socket. No electrician usually needed.
- •Lifespan 3 to 5 years with care. Cover plus liner wear out faster than hard-shell.
Hard-shell plug-and-play tub
- •£2,500 to £6,000 to buy. Higher up-front investment.
- •8 to 13 kWh per day year-round at temperature. Roughly £2 to £3.21 daily.
- •Year-round use typical. Annual cost £900 to £1,170.
- •Often hard-wired on a dedicated circuit by a Part P registered electrician.
- •Lifespan 12 to 20 years. Better insulation, more efficient long term.
Hot tubs are one of the bigger appliance loads to plan for. Our full Appliances hub covers running costs across the full domestic appliance range so you can build an honest picture of your electricity bill.
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This article is one chapter inside our complete Appliances knowledge base. The hub covers running costs across every major household appliance from kettles to heat pumps.
More on appliance running costs
Three further appliance running cost articles. how much electricity does a jacuzzi use covers the same category from a different angle. how much electricity does a house use per day uk sets the baseline household figure. how much electricity does a heat pump use shows another large outdoor load.