Hot tub prices: what goes into the cost
The price of a hot tub depends on its size, how it's built and what comes with it. The installed cost depends just as much on your yard. Here's what you're paying for, so you can compare quotes on the same terms.
A hot tub's price comes from two places: the tub itself (its size, construction, pumps, insulation and water care system) and the installation (delivery into your yard, the base, the electrical connection and start-up). Two quotes for similar tubs can be far apart simply because one includes the installation and the other doesn't, so compare what's included, not just the headline number.
We quote every tub together with its installation, in writing, so you can see the full cost before you decide.
What sets the price of the tub
- Size: more seats means more shell, more water, more insulation and often a second pump.
- Shell and frame: acrylic shell quality, reinforcement, and a frame that won't rot or flex.
- Insulation and base pan: how well the tub keeps its heat through a Fraser Valley winter.
- Pumps and jets: pump size and number, and how well the jets are placed. More jets doesn't always mean a better tub.
- Water care: ozone, UV, or a built-in saltwater system.
- Controls: a basic topside panel, or app control over Wi-Fi.
- What comes with it: a cover, cover lifter and steps are sometimes included and sometimes extra.
- Warranty: how long the shell, structure, equipment and labour are covered, and who comes out to fix it.
What sets the cost of the installation
| Part of the job | What changes the cost |
|---|---|
| Delivery and placement | How easy the path into the yard is: gate width, steps, slopes and turns. A crane adds cost but is sometimes the only way in. |
| The base | Whether there's already a suitable level surface, or a new pad is needed, and its size. |
| Electrical | The circuit size, the distance and route from your panel, whether the panel has capacity, and the permit. See hot tub electrical. |
| Removal of an old tub | With us, it's included when we install your new tub. |
| Start-up | Filling, first water balance, start-up chemicals and showing you how it all works. |
Inflatable, plug-and-play and full-size tubs
- Inflatable tubs cost the least up front, but they heat slowly, struggle in our winters and have short lives. See inflatable vs hard-shell hot tubs.
- Plug-and-play tubs are hard-shell tubs on a 120-volt outlet, so the electrical work is simpler, but they heat more slowly than 240-volt tubs.
- Full-size 240-volt tubs cost more to buy and install, and give you faster heating, stronger jets and more seating choice.
How to compare quotes
Put every quote side by side and check:
- Is delivery into the backyard, or to the curb or driveway?
- Is the base included, and what is it?
- Is the electrical included, with the permit, or is it up to you to arrange?
- Are the cover, cover lifter and steps included?
- Are start-up chemicals and a walkthrough included?
- Is removal of your old tub included?
- What does the warranty cover, for how long, and who does the repairs?
Our guide to buying from a big-box store or a local dealer goes through these in more detail.
Don't forget running costs
The purchase price is only part of owning a tub. Electricity, water care and the occasional replacement filter or cover add up over the years, and a well-insulated tub with a good cover costs less to run. See our hot tub running costs guide.
FAQ
Questions
Something else on your mind? Ask us when you request a quote.
How much does a hot tub cost?
It depends mostly on the size, how it's built and what the installation involves at your home. Ask us for a written quote that covers the tub and the installation together, so you're comparing the full cost.
How much does it cost to hook up a hot tub?
The electrical cost depends on the circuit the tub needs, how far it is from your panel, the route the cable takes, whether your panel has room, and the permit. We include the electrical in our installation quote.
Is a cheap hot tub worth it?
A low price can be fine if it fits how you'll use it, but check what's left out: delivery to the backyard, the base, the electrical, the cover and who does warranty repairs. Those often decide the real cost.
Does the price of a hot tub include a cover?
Not always, so ask on every quote. In our wet winters a good, well-fitted cover matters a lot for running costs and water care.
Guides
Related guides
How to choose a hot tub: a Fraser Valley buying guide
The best hot tub is the one that fits your yard, your power supply and the way you'll actually use it. Here's what to compare, in the order it matters.
Running costsHow much does a hot tub cost to run in BC?
A hot tub's electricity cost is its monthly kWh times your BC Hydro rate. Here's how to estimate the kWh, worked examples at both BC Hydro steps, and the habits that keep the bill down.
Valley Hot Tubs
Get a written quote
Tell us which tubs you're looking at and where it'll go, and we'll quote the tub and installation together.