How much does it cost to run a hot tub?
A typical hot tub draws about 1500 watts. Used 6 hours a day, that works out to roughly $1.53 per day, $46.54 per month, and $558.45 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Keeping water hot year-round makes hot tubs a steady, significant cost.
Hot Tub running cost calculator
- Per day
- $1.53
- Per month
- $46.54
- Per year
- $558.45
- CO₂ / year
- 1314 kg
Based on 3285 kWh per year. Adjust the price per kWh to match your latest electricity bill for an exact figure.
The number that matters most is your own electricity rate. Rates range from under 11¢ per kWh in some regions to over 30¢ in others, so the same hot tub can cost two or three times as much depending on where you live. Enter your exact rate in the calculator above to get a figure tailored to your bill.
Over a full year this hot tub uses about 3285 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 1314 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Reducing run time, or switching to a more efficient model, lowers both the cost and the footprint.
If this hot tub is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $111.69 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a hot tub per hour?
- At 1500 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a hot tub costs about $0.26 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a hot tub use per month?
- Running 6 hours a day, a hot tub uses roughly 273.8 kWh per month, costing about $46.54.
- Is a hot tub expensive to run?
- Yes — at around $558.45 per year, a hot tub is one of the more costly appliances to run, so efficiency upgrades pay off quickly.
- How can I reduce my hot tub running costs?
- Use it during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing, reduce daily run time, and consider an ENERGY STAR rated hot tub, which uses less power for the same job.