The Best Hot Tubs of 2024 - Best Outdoor Hot Tubs

AquaRest’s six-person hot tub is our top pick for great features at an excellent price point.

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When it comes to unwinding at home, few things can bring the same levels of luxury and relaxation as a hot tub. Whether you need relief for tight muscles, a place to socialize with friends, or simply need an escape from life’s everyday stresses, the best hot tubs offer both comfort and style.

Soaking in the warm, bubbling water of a hot tub can help ease muscle tensions, reduce stress, and even help with circulation. Many are designed with hydrotherapy in mind, featuring jets with different settings to target specific areas of the body. Along with jets, hot tubs come with a variety of other highlights that can make your experience comfortable and convenient, like built-in lounge seats, lighted waterfalls, and wireless control panels.

Depending on the included features, materials, and size, a hot tub can run you anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to over 10,000. There are also inflatable hot tubs that offer a similar experience for a lot less.

For this guide, we spoke with individuals from the leading pool and hot tub industry organization, sought advice from a pool and spa expert, and looked at features and vetted specs for hot tubs from the most well-established brands. Here are the best hot tubs we recommend, plus advice on the most important things to consider before shopping.

For some must-have accessories for your hot tub, check out our picks for the best hot tub covers and hot tub steps.

We cover two types of hot tubs in this story: semi-permanent plug-and-play models, and standard acrylic hot tubs that require professional installation.

Generally, setting up plug-and-play hot tubs is both affordable and easy; all you need is flat ground and a regular 110-volt outlet. These models are rotomolded from high-impact polyethylene, and are usually widely available online. These are just some of the reasons why the AquaRest DayDream 3500 6-Person hot tub is our top choice—plug-and-play could be the only option, based on your setup. The main disadvantage of these models is that they take longer to heat up, and their jets may not be as strong or properly placed.

Advanced planning is more crucial for standard hot tubs. It’s recommended to get the help of a skilled expert to install these models, which are equipped with quick heating and enhanced jet capability. They are usually more expensive and constructed from acrylic, featuring UV-resistant side panels to endure outdoor conditions throughout the year. You might also need to switch to a 220-volt power supply, which can be done by a certified electrician.

Next, think about how many people are going to regularly use the hot tub. If you have the space, consider sizing up, since max capacity usually doesn’t make for the most relaxing soak. Six- and four-person hot tubs are popular sizes, but there are plenty of two-person hot tubs that are more compact, and models that can accommodate up to eight adults. If you’re the frequent host, consider a hot tub that can comfortably and adequately fit a small group. If you’re using the hot tub mostly for hydrotherapy benefits, opt for a smaller model.

What may surprise you is that jet count isn’t the best way to gauge a hot tub’s performance — and more isn’t always better. “Placement, variety, and rotational adjustment are a far better indicator,” Jerabeck says, adding that higher-end spas often have a broader range of jet type. Look for hot tubs that offer different jet settings to customize your experience and target specific areas.

In general, look for features that help you keep up with maintenance—like filters and ozone purification systems—before considering the extra bells and whistles like waterfalls and LED lighting. Most hot tubs come with these features already built in, but high-end spas’ systems tend to over more advanced versions.

Hot tubs also usually include some type of insulated locking hot tub cover, certified by ASTM. And, according to Jerabeck, a good hot tub cover makes a tremendous difference in preventing energy loss, which ultimately can help save you money and make your hot tub more efficient.

Hot tub steps are almost always sold separately. Beyond a way to get in, features like multicolored LED lighting, waterfalls, and padded headrests are just a few extras to consider. Jerabeck advises against built-in Bluetooth speakers because performance isn’t reliable long term, and the markup is higher than the cost of a top-quality portable sound system. You’re better off getting an outdoor speaker with water-resistant properties, if you want to add music to your hot tub session.

We conducted a comprehensive research and selection process that involved discussing safety with representatives from the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), and sought expert advice from Allen Jerabeck, a pool and spa specialist at Tarson Pools & Spa in New York.

The hot tubs we recommend span multiple price points, from about $1000 for a four-person inflatable hot tub to roughly $10,000 for a premium six-person standard model. In addition to selecting hot tubs in a range of price points, we evaluated hot tubs’ features, capacities, and durability, We also considered the must-have and nice-to-have features, and weighed everything against cost to find the best hot tubs across categories, including “best overall,” “best value” and “best luxury.”

This six-person hot tub is made of durable, 100 percent recycled polyethylene, with a high water capacity for its size, 30 stainless steel hydrotherapy jets, and a two-speed pump, plus water filtration and ozone purification systems.

We appreciate its dual-side air controls and that it comes with an insulated ASTM-certified cover. Other highlights include a well-positioned lounge seat, exterior LED lighting, and nine settings for its multicolor LED-backlit waterfall. It’s available in two color options.

The warranty is in keeping with most of the plug-and-play hot tubs we cover—the shell is covered for five years, and there’s a one-year on parts and 90 days on labor.

Here's a six-person plug-and-play hot tub with a good selection of features for just over $3,000 at the time of this writing. Made of impact-resistant polyethylene, the hot tub also has water filtration and ozone purification systems, dual-side air controls, and a multicolor LED backlit waterfall with nine light options.

There’s also an insulated ASTM-certified cover and it comes in a choice of gray, dark brown, and light brown, all with sleek, geometric details on the exterior. It may not have as many jets as other six-person hot tubs, but it’s still a great value overall.

We suggest this luxurious six-person hot tub for a more lavish investment, especially if hydrotherapy is a priority for you. It comes with 50 stainless steel jets that can be adjusted, and many of them are placed in the seats for massaging purposes.

The tub has two energy-efficient pumps for deep-tissue massage, plus a lounge seat and padded headrests for relaxing alone or with friends. Other features include the ozone and water filtration system, a programmable digital control panel on top, and a locking insulated cover.

The underwater color-changing LED lights and included waterfall make this as good a pick for entertaining as it is for soothing sore muscles.

Like other standard hot tubs we write about here, this model comes with a two-year warranty on parts, plus five years of coverage on the shell and one year on labor.

You can fit the whole family and more in this generously-sized hot tub from Lifesmart Spas. It has a comfortable, seven-person capacity, holds 300 gallons of water, and features 65 adjustable jets.

Two of the main highlights are the jets—four foot jets and 14-jet turbo nozzles for deep tissue massage—along with its digital control panel. There’s also an ozone cleaning system, full-foam insulation, and has a thermal locking cover to keep water warm and crystal clear.

In terms of nice-to-have extras, there are underwater LED lights, a waterfall, and a dual-speed pump. Keep in mind that a 230-volt circuit breaker is required for installation.

With this four-person hot tub from Canadian Spa, everyone gets their own deep corner seat for ultimate relaxation. There are 15 adjustable hydrotherapy jets and air flow valves for a more personalized massage experience.

The hot tub has built-in filtration, an ozone generator, and a dedicated heater to keep water warm and clean. There's also LED lighting features to set the ambiance.

The Co Gander hot tub comes with a hardtop cover and wood paneling, which is a nice touch for making a plug-and-play hot tub look more permanent. It’s built with energy-efficient insulation, and structured with acrylic material to resist environmental elements.

This hot tub, designed for four people, is equipped with 20 hydrotherapy jets made of stainless steel positioned at different heights, along with important elements including water filtration and an ozone purification system.

We value the deep seats with lumbar support, which are useful for feeling comfortable in the tub, controls on both sides for accessibility, and a color-changing backlit waterfall and cup holders. The absence of a lounge seat may not meet the expectations of some, but it's not an unusual find for a hot tub of this size.

The hot tub is made of durable polyethylene, and comes with an ASTM-certified insulated locking cover. Like other AquaRest spas we write about, the warranty covers parts for one year. It also includes 90 days of labor if any issues arise, and five years of coverage on the shell.

If you’re thinking of getting a four-person hot tub but want more elbow room, a five-person model is the way to go. One of the best features of this hot tub is its dual-side air controls, which allow you to adjust jet power on each side.

The 215-gallon hot tub, which includes a lounge seat, is made of high-impact polyethylene, and has foam insulation that makes this model more energy-efficient than others. It also has a water filtration system and ozone purifier.

The bathtub comes with 29 stainless steel multilevel jets that have the option to either run non-stop or automatically turn off after 15 minutes, along with lumbar seating for arch support, and a backlit multicolor LED waterfall. One disadvantage is that the seats in this hot tub are relatively small for its size.

This Intex hot tub for six people was ranked the best inflatable hot tub in our roundup due to its combination of features, considering its size and cost.

It provides a large capacity, an extensive number of jets (170, to be exact), and includes a built-in system for treating hard water. Additionally, there is a heater, filter, multicolor LED light system, and wireless touch-button control panel. You can use the control panel for up to 48 hours off of a single charge, and then easily reattach it to the hot tub when it’s not in use.

Included in the package are additional items like headrests, a ground cloth, insulated cover, extra filter cartridges, and a carry bag, which are nice additions for a hot tub under $1000. Unfortunately, warranty information isn’t listed, so we suggest getting in touch with the manufacturer.

A quality standard hot tub, which typically requires professional installation, is the priciest at roughly $6,500 and up. Plug-and-play models are down a peg, ranging from about $3,500 to $6,000. The least expensive are inflatable hot tubs, which average around $500 to $600 for a four-person model and $700 to $900 for a six-person model. Inflatable hot tubs are an excellent alternative to more permanent models, because you can still get similar features as a standard but for a fraction of the price.

According to Jerabeck, he suggests budgeting around $30 to $35 during the spring and fall months, and an extra $10 to keep it warm during the winter. The average cost for chemicals is $300 to $350 a year if your hot tub has water management systems—if it doesn’t, tack on an extra $50 to $100. Disclaimer: These estimates are subject to variables like the hot tub size, the amount of energy the heater and pump use, the climate, thermostat settings, insulation, and the price of electricity.

While filters should be cleaned regularly during periods of heavy use, unless you notice a smell or foamy water you only need to replace the water every three to four months. This helps prevent bacteria from building up. Along with draining the water, it’s important to flush the lines and to use a bleach or bleach-alternative cleaning product to scrub the tub.

The longevity of your hot tub depends on the type you buy, the quality, and how well you maintain it. Inflatable hot tubs may give out in three to five years, whereas plug-and-play hot tubs can last for up to a decade. Standard acrylic hot tubs cost the most upfront and to manage, but the investment buys you up to 20 years of use.

If you follow guidelines, yes—hot tubs are safe for most people, unless your doctor says otherwise. For more on hot tub safety, check out the PHTA’s safety guide.

Amber is a Reviews Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on home, appliances, tech, and gaming. She also occasionally contributes lifestyle content to Best Products, Runner's World, and Bicycling. In her free time you can likely find her trading trinkets at an EDM festival, watching bad reality TV shows, or cuddling with her two cats.

Rachel Klein is the Deputy Editor of Popular Mechanics.

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