A hot tub is a welcome addition to your garden space, especially in those colder months when you want to be outdoors but it's not warm enough. Even though hot tubs have become an accessible luxury, with more brands and variety than ever before, they are still a huge investment and commitment. So knowing which hot tub brands are worth looking at is essential before deciding to invest.
Each year brings the promise of exciting new garden trends that will help transform your outdoor space and each year that goes by sees the return of the hot tub. Creating your own spa in your garden is still as popular as ever, who needs to go abroad or to a fancy spa when you can create the ultimate relaxation area in your very own garden with some of the best hot tub deals.
The best hot tub brands at a glance:
• Best value Lay-Z-Spa hot tub: Lay-Z-Spa AirJet Miami 4 Person Inflatable Hot Tub - View offer on Appliances Direct
• Best for hard water area Intex hot tub: Intex PureSpaTM Bubble Round 4 Person with updated control base - View offer on Amazon
• Best for features Canadian Spa hot tub: Canadian Spa Company Calgary 4 Person Plug and Play Hot Tub - View offer on Argos
• Best for quick inflation CleverSpa hot tub: CleverSpa Cotswolds 4 Person Round Hot Tub - View offer on Homebase
Thankfully, we've researched the best hot tub brands, so you don't need to. With that, Modern Gardens has hand-picked the best hot tub brands that deserve your attention this year.
Best hot tub brands
Lay-Z-Spa
Well-known and reliable
If you've been shopping around for a hot tub or already own a hot tub, you'll probably be well acquainted with Lay-Z-Spa. According to verified reviews from Trustpilot and Amazon, Lay‑Z‑Spa is the UK’s most 5‑star reviewed hot tub brand and has an ever‑growing community of over one million customers. Not to mention a huge variety of products. Despite the names of the hot tubs being from around the globe, it is a UK-based company and is proudly known for variety, versatility, convenience, and energy efficiency.
Lay-Z-Spa is also incredibly committed to self-care. An independent study recently found using a Lay‑Z‑Spa for 30 minutes has positive benefits including reducing anxiety, elevating heart rate, increasing blood flow, reducing stress hormones, and reducing blood pressure.
For more options, check out our selection of the best Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs.
Best value Lay-Z-Spa hot tub
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
For a fab price, you can experience ultimate relaxation with the Lay-Z-Spa Miami Airjet, perfect for couples and families, accommodating up to 4 people. Even though is great value, you can still immerse yourself in the 120 all-surrounding AirJet massage system, while the rapid heating technology ensures water temperatures of up to 40 degrees. The tub also features a digital control pump with cup holders, an energy-efficient timer, and Freeze Shield™ for year-round enjoyment.
Customer review: "Easy to set up. Perfect size for our family of three."
Pros
- Great value
- Easy setup
- Energy-efficient timer
Cons
- A little cramped
| Dimensions: | 180 x 66 x 180 cm (WxHxD) |
- Quick and easy to set up - takes less than 5 minutes
- Low running costs - Approx. £10.00 per week
- Experience the benefits of hydrotherapy with 120 airjet massage system
- Built-in power-saving timer to regulate your heat settings and save you money
- Free weatherproof cover to increase insulation and reduce energy costs (worth £49.99GBP)
- Freeze Shield technology protects your hot tub during cold weather
- A full manufacturer's warranty included for peace of mind
Intex
Affordable and convenient
Intex is an American brand that is well respected here in the UK and all over the world. The brand is well known for producing airbeds, above-ground pools, hot tubs, toys, furniture, boats, and so much more. It is also committed to decreasing our carbon footprint. For over 10 years, Intex have worked with suppliers to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used.
Often found in Aldi's Specialbuy aisle, Intex hot tubs combine hot tub knowledge with great value, providing a unique spa experience and providing ultimate comfort and relaxation at the touch of a button.
Best for hard water area Intex hot tub
Many areas of the UK have to deal with hard water, which can be harsh on skin and clothes. As well as having heated bubble jets, the Intex PureSpa tub is its built-in hard water treatment system, designed to ensure the water is gentler on the skin and clothes, as well as on the hot tub itself. It is a great option for those living in areas of the UK with harder water, such as in the South. We love the natural beige colour of this hot tub - great for blending into a natural environment.
Customer review: "Well this is the first hot tub we’ve purchased and we took a while deciding… I’m so glad we chose the intex pure spa. Putting it up was easy it literally goes up in 5 minutes! The filling didn’t take as long as I anticipated which was a bonus! The bubbles are amazing it’s a roomy tub definitely worth the extra money you pay if you want quality you have to pay for that. I would definitely recommend this spa to anyone thinking about getting one."
Pros
- Heated bubble jets
- Built-in water treatment system
- Simple maintenance with an easy-to-replace filter system
Cons
- Cleaning filters is harder than expected
| Dimensions: | 196L x 196W x 71H cm |
- 6 person Hot Tub
- Built-in hard water treatment system
- Suitable for ages 6+
- An improved control panel that adjusts the heating system
Canadian Spa Company
Trusted and Premium
Built to withstand the harsh Canadian winters, Canadian Spa Company hot tubs stock both hard-shell and inflatable hot tubs that can accommodate between two to seven people. It is well known for hard-shell tubs and can cost up to more than £20,000 for high-end models. You can order direct from the website, but the products are also available to buy from B&Q and Argos.
Best for features Canadian Spa hot tub
www.argos.co.uk
This Canadian Spa Company Calgary Plug & Play spa fits in almost any location. It is roomy but compact and packed with all the features of a full-sized spa (including 24 adjustable hydrotherapy jets and mood lighting) and easily accommodates 4 adults. Easy to install and more energy efficient than some on the market - just plug in and go. Also includes a hard shell top safety cover and Ozone generation system to react and kill bacteria and reduce the chemicals needed for maintenance.
Customer review: " The enclosure looks great. Took the installers a fair time to build up, it is more substantial looking than we expected. The installers were very helpful and polite. I have only had it a few days so can't comment on the longevity of it but I am very happy with the overall look and quality. Looks fab!"
Pros
- Energy efficient
- Loads of features despite being compact
- Simple to set up
Cons
- Have to remember to change filters every 4 to 6 months
| Dimensions: | Depth 213, Width 160, Height 79 cm |
- Aromatherapy system including a canister that mixes scented beads (purchased separately) with warm air to release the smells when in the spa
- 4 hydro-massage jetted seats that direct flows of water to provide a massage
- 24 hydro-massage jets use water mixed with air to give an invigorating massage in a number of different styles
- Requires 13A socket
- Made with microban acrylic to help inhibit the growth of microbes
- Waterfall feature of cascading, back-lit stream of water that flows into the spa
Jacuzzi®
The original spa bath
The Jacuzzi brand is almost synonymous with a spa bath and has been around for 65 years. It has a unique hydrotherapy system featured in its tubs, with customisable options to suit your every need.
At the higher end of the budget, you're investing in the Jacuzzi experience with one of these tubs that range from £4,999 right up to £22,000.
Best for hydrotherapy jets
Jacuzzi/Outdoor Livingwww.outdoorlivinghottubs.co.uk
The most simple and stylish hot tub by Jacuzzi, this seats up to four people and is compact for smaller gardens. It's also easy to move, too, so finding the right place for socialising isn't going to be difficult. There are 19 jets that give you an exceptional massage no matter where you sit, so no fighting over the strongest jet for that ultimate spa experience. The Jacuzzi J210 Round Hot Tub also features multi-coloured LED lighting to set the mood for a party or for a relaxing evening.
Customer review: "I have been looking for a space saving tub for ages! I have a pretty small garden, and so having a hot tub always felt out of the question. I cannot thank the team at Outdoor Living enough. They gave me shed loads of advice when I contacted them, I was even able to try a tub before I committed. I love that this tub is circular too, it gives me my own piece of holiday home in my garden. Which was a dream in lockdown!"
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to move
- Multi-coloured LED lighting
Cons
- Maintenance is a big commitment
Cleverspa
Easily available and lots of choice
Another well-known and trusted hot tub brand, Cleverspa, offers a wide variety of affordable inflatable hot tubs sold at many high-street retailers, including Tesco, Homebase, The Range, B&Q and Asda. Prices start at around £250. The hot tubs and the accessories are all readily available too.
Best for quick inflation CleverSpa hot tub
www.homebase.co.uk
This soft green CleverSpa hot tub comfortably fits 4 people, boasts a rapid inflation time of under 5 minutes, and has 110 powerful massaging air jets to give you a taste of blissful relaxation in your own garden. The Cotswolds Hot Tub also includes CleverSpa’s unique 365 FreezeGuard protection technology, enabling you to use your new Hot Tub all year round.
Pros
- Inflates in less than 5 minutes
- Thick and robust material
- Unique colour
Cons
- Colour exclusive to Homebase
| Dimensions: | (H)65 x (W)180 cm |
- 110 powerful massaging air jets
- Space saving integrated pump & heating system
- 365 Freezeguard enables all year round use
- Inflates in less than 5 minutes
- Manufactured with durable, Triple S PVC fabric
Skargards
Authentic and environmentally friendly
Wood-fired hot tubs are a different option from ones that require electricity and are much more traditional and environmentally friendly. A lower-running-cost option, a woodfired hot tub will really stand out in your garden and is powered by logs. Skargard hot tubs produce a small range of authentically Swedish wood-fired hot tubs. There are three types that come in two different sizes, and prices range from £3,000 to £5,000.
Best easy-to-use Skarsgards hot tub
www.skargards.com
This classic wooden hot tub from Skargards and the tub features Thermowood cladding to keep the heat in. Suitable for 4-5 people. The ergonomic seating ensures superior comfort.
Customer review: "The Skargards is a well made product, has a good quality finish and is simple to use. It is great fun watching heat up, and then relax in the hot tub with a drink. It heats up from 12 Cº to 39Cº in 3 hours. I'm sure we'll get many years of use out of it."
Pros
- Simple to use
- Made of eco-certified Thermowood
- Delivered ready to use
Cons
- Need to keep on top of cleaning and changing logs
| Dimensions: | Not specified |
- Wood stove made of high-grade stainless steel
- Thermowood cladding & fence
- Ergonomic fibreglass tub
- Galvanised steel base frame
- Draining plug with floater
- Suitable for chlorine and seawater
VERDICT: What is the best make of hot tub?
Modern Gardens Magazine recommends all of the above as reputable hot tub brands. But, overall, the best brand to buy a hot tub from is Lay-Z-Spa. Buying a hot tub is an investment, and though Lay-Z-Spa isn’t a budget brand, there are many models to choose from, and the reviews speak for themselves.
What kind of hot tub should I buy?
If this is your first hot tub purchase, then we advise you to consider a budget option to test out how much use you will get out of it. If you are unsure about such a large purchase, then opt for an inflatable hot tub, this way you can test how often you use it, the enjoyment you get from it, and then after six months to a year, decide whether you want something a little more fixed and permanent.
Hot tubs can cost from anything as low as £200 right up to £6,000+, and then you have to factor in the cost of using extra electricity on top of that and in the current climate with climbing energy prices, that is quite the bump on your bills.
After a year of using an inflatable hot tub, you figure out that you want to invest a few extra thousand pounds, then you can sell your inflatable hot tub, go for a hard shell hot tub or installation, or even build a hot tub gazebo to make it a feature in your garden.
Can inflatable hot tubs be used in winter?
While the British climate may not be the best for the hot tub season year-round, most contemporary inflatable hot tubs are made with a heat maintenance system that will keep the water warm even during the winter months. Therefore, unless it’s raining – you can go into the hot tub for most of the year.
Inflatable hot tub maintenance: A quick guide
After selecting an inflatable hot tub, read through the manufacturer's instructions so you know how to best take care of it so it will last a long time.
Draining and flushing your hot tub should be done three to four times a year - or every quarter to make it easy to remember. However, despite some hot tubs coming with cleaning kits, they should be cleaned weekly and routinely treated with chemicals. Always refer to the manual when it comes to chemicals, depending on the brand of your hot tub, the hot tub filters should also be cleaned every month. You will need first to clean the tub itself and the filter, plus test the pH and alkalinity of the water.
pH and alkalinity: If your inflatable hot tub doesn't come with a test kit, you'll need to purchase one to test the pH and alkalinity of the hot tub water at least once a week. The recommended amount of pH levels should be around 7.4 to 7.6 pH. If it is too acidic or has too much alkaline, you could damage the material of the inflatable hot tub and irritate your skin.
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Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, A Modern Kitchen, Yours and Take A Break. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands, including John Lewis, Daily Mirror and Grazia. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle.