How much does it cost to run a hot tub in the UK?

Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)

A typical hot tub (1,500 W) used 5 hours a day, every day costs about £59.56 a month (£714.76 a year) at 26.11p/kWh.

Inflatable hot tubs like the popular lazy-spa models are one of the most underestimated running costs in the home. The heater (1,000–2,000W) doesn't run constantly, but it cycles on regularly to hold the water at temperature — and in cold weather it runs far more to fight heat loss. Winter running costs can be several pounds a day, dwarfing the summer figure. A well-fitting insulated lid and keeping the tub sheltered from wind make the single biggest difference.

Work out your own cost

About £59.56 a month · £714.76 a year

Per hour39p

Per day£1.96

Per week£13.71

Per month£59.56

Per year£714.76

Uses about 2,738 kWh a year. Prefilled with the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh — edit any box for your own figures.

Cost by model power

The same hot tub can vary a lot between models, so here is the range from a low-power to a high-power example.

Based on 5 hours a day, every day, at 26.11p/kWh.
Model	Power	Per hour	Per day	Per month	Per year
Low-power model	1,000 W	26p	£1.31	£39.71	£476.51
Typical model	1,500 W	39p	£1.96	£59.56	£714.76
High-power model	2,000 W	52p	£2.61	£79.42	£953.01

How we model this: Hot tub energy use swings enormously with season, insulation and target temperature. The scenario shown is an illustrative winter average of effective heater time — your real figure could be much lower in summer or higher in a cold, exposed spot.

What changes the cost

Outside temperature and season (winter is far dearer)
Quality of the insulated lid and any ground mat
Target water temperature
How sheltered the tub is from wind

Save money: Use a well-fitting insulated lid whenever it's not in use, sit the tub on an insulating mat out of the wind, and drop the target temperature a degree or two — heat loss is the whole battle in winter.

Common questions

How much does a lazy spa cost to run in winter?

It varies hugely, but several pounds a day is common in cold weather because the heater works hard to replace heat lost to the air. Good insulation is the main way to cut it.

Related appliances

Immersion heater