Anytime is a great time of year to buy an inflatable hot tub. Who doesn’t enjoy relaxing and destressing in a warm, bubbling spa-like experience all year long?
Less expensive than a permanent hot tub, an inflatable hot tub is a great option if you don’t have a lot of space for a permanent hot tub or want to deal with continual maintenance.
Our Top 3 Picks
An inflatable hot tub can vary a lot depending on size, jets, and build. Depending on the options you choose, the price can vary especially if you want the higher-end features. Not only is this a great way for a family to spend time together, but it can also be handy for parties or small get-togethers.
It’s important to do your homework and find out what options are available in an inflatable hot tub, what maintenance is required, and what capacities you have to choose from. That way you can ensure you are getting a hot tub within your budget that will last you a while and is also easy to set up and takedown. Here are a few tips and reviews to help you find the best inflatable hot tubs for winter and summer for your backyard fun needs.
Our Recommended Inflatable Hot Tubs
ALEKO HTIR6BKW Hot Tub
Equipped with a cover, this six-person portable hot tub helps to relieve stress, improve your sleep, and offer personal relaxation. The Aleko HTIR6BKW Hot Tub is a great value for a high-quality product. Allowing you to create your own personal backyard oasis, this hot tub gives you all the physical and mental health benefits along with a handy installation process.
A great addition to any outdoor living area, the Aleko HTIR6BKW Hot Tub can be placed in your garden or your patio. Perfect for treating muscular and joint pain, this hot tub is also nice to have for parties and easy to operate with the included digital panel. Featuring 130 high-powered bubble jets, this tub has a 210-gallon capacity that will fit up to four people.
This personal spa is equipped with a built-in 1500-watt power pack and a 12-volt AC filter pump. The Alek HTIR6BKW Hot Tub includes a fitted cover that has a foil underside that keeps the water warm and locks in the heat. It easily snaps into place with the included buckles. The digital panels allow you to heat up the water to a maximum temperature of 108 degrees.
Pros:
- It’s easy to assemble and the cover snaps into place quickly
- This hot tub has a bunch of jets and has enough room for four people
- This spa will help to relieve stress and offer you a relaxing experience at home
Cons:
- The filter system doesn’t create a swirling effect
- The drain doesn’t connect to a standard hose
Bestway 60038E St. Lucia Inflatable Tub
The Bestway 60038E St. Lucia Tub is easy to inflate to provide you with a convenient bubbling spa in your backyard. This hot tub gives you a soothing massage experience for up to three people and offers an easy and fast setup. All you need to do is attach the pump and it will quickly inflate as you watch.
Featuring 110 jets, the Bestway 60038E St. Lucia Tub has an AirJet system that releases bubbles from the spa’s bottom to create a bubbling and warm hot tub environment. Allowing you to unwind and relax in the comfort of your own home, this spa is equipped with durable construction and includes puncture-resistant walls using DuraPlus material that stops damage while retaining its shape after repeated deflation and inflation.
You can easily reach the pump from the inside of the hot tub as well as operate the controls on the massage system. The Bestway 60038E St. Lucia Hot Tub runs filtration and includes handy cup holes for snacks and drinks. The ChemConnect dispenser allows you to maintain healthy and clean water by dispersing the right amount of chlorine evenly, and the included reinforced cover locks in heat when you aren’t using it.
Pros:
- This is a surprisingly comfortable hot tub
- The jets are incredibly powerful
- It doesn’t use up a lot of electricity
Cons:
- You lose some heat when the jets are on
ALEKO HTIR4WHBR Hot Tub
With enough space for four people, the Aleko HTIR4WHBR Hot Tub comes with a cover and an easy-to-operate digital panel. This jetted hot tub spa offers deep relaxation in your garden, patio, or wherever you like to relax. A great self-care product, this hot tub is perfect for anyone that suffers from insomnia or chronic pain as well as athletes and families.
The Aleko HTIR4WHBR Hot Tub with Cover is easy to inflate and deflate as well as store. Equipped with up to 130 high-powered bubble jets, this easy to operate tub offers several health benefits including anxiety and stress relief, muscle and joint pain relief, and improved sleep. Great for personal relaxation or parties, this tub includes a polyurethane cover and is made out of PVC.
The included fitted cover features a foil underside allowing water to stay warm by locking in the heat. It easily snaps into place with buckles, and the tub will quickly deflate and inflate in just a few minutes without requiring any tools. The Aleko HTIR4WHBR has a 210-gallon water capacity and holds a max temperature of 104 degrees with its 1200-watt heater.
Pros:
- It’s easy to assemble and takedown
- This is a high-quality product that fits four people
- Water stays nice and warm when the cover is in place
Cons:
- It doesn’t heat up very quickly
- It shuts itself off after seven days
ALEKO HTIR4GRW Hot Tub
If you’re looking for a great value, the Aleko HTIR4GRW Hot Tub holds four people and offers incredible physical and mental health benefits. With a very handy installation process, this hot tub is a great addition to your outdoor living area. This personal spa can help relieve muscle and joint pain while also helping you relax and sleep better.
Easy to operate, the Aleko HTIR4GRW Hot Tub comes with a digital panel that is easy to operate and 130 high-powered bubble jets. It has a capacity of 210 gallons and also includes a fitted cover that keeps water warm and snaps into place easily with buckles. The bubble jets offer a soothing massage while the cushioned floor provides a comfortable place to sit and relax.
This personal offers a place to relieve anxiety and stress after a hard day at work or use for parties. The built-in 900-watt heater and 12-volt AC filter pump allow the spa to heat up to a max temperature of 108 degrees while the digital panel allows you to control the heating time.
Pros:
- This easy to use hot tub is a great place to relax and destress
- It’s super comfortable to sit in and set up
- The fitted cover is easy to install
Cons:
- It collects debris and pollen
- It has very basic controls and doesn’t include a timer function
Bestway SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub
Portable and easy to use, the Bestway SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub is a four-person air-jet spa made out of durable materials. Offering an effective massage, this spa allows you to relax in your own backyard with air-jet bubbles that are released from the spa’s button to create a bubbling and warm hot tub experience. Allowing you to relax and unwind, this spa features a puncture-resistant and durable Tritech material that is also UV-resistant.
The Bestway SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub also includes a reinforced cover that includes easy-to-use safety clips to provide extra insulation. It also includes the ChemConnect dispenser that allows you to maintain healthy and clean water with a stable chlorine level that is dispersed evenly throughout the spa. Easily operate the digital control panel from inside the spa to change the temperature of the water and the jet flow.
Featuring lift handles, the Bestway SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub can be moved easily ad deflates compactly for optimal transportation and storage purposes. You won’t need tools for setup or maintenance, and the I-beam construction makes sure the hot tub won’t lose its stability and shape when you sit up against the sidewall.
Pros:
- It’s super durable and low maintenance
- It has very strong bubbles
- The hot tub is very comfortable to sit on
Cons:
- Set up is more difficult than expected
- It’s too cold to use in the winter
Intex 28481E Simple Spa
Featuring 100 bubble jets, the Intex 28481E Simple Spa sits four people comfortably and comes with a cover and filter pump. This is an easy-to-setup and use spa that gives you all the features you want in a hot tub. This easy-to-inflate hot tub will provide a refreshing massage with a heating system that is easy to adjust to your preferences.
Featuring a strong mesh hull, the Intex 28481E Simple Spa is easy to inflate and includes a ground cloth to give protection to the bottom of the spa and reduce heat loss. It also includes easy-to-use button controls and simple to replace filter cartridges. A great way to pamper yourself, this four-person spa provides a soothing massage and water that can reach 104 degrees.
Ready in 20 minutes for water, the Intex Simple Spa Inflatable Hot Tub Spa is made out of laminate PVC that can deflate easily for transport or storage. It also includes two filter cartridges, an inflation hose, thermal ground cloth, and a carry bag.
Pros:
- This is an easy to set up hot tub
- It’s got great jets that keep the perfect temperature
- It’s super comfortable to use and sit-in
Cons:
- The panel is hard to read during the day
- There isn’t any light
Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki Hot Tub
Capable of holding up to seven adults, the bestway SaluSpa Helsinki Hot Tub is a great way to relax with friends in your backyard. Equipped with a wooden panel print, this AirJet system is portable and inflatable. Featuring 81 Helsinki air jets, this inflatable hot tub has a cushioned floor that includes a ground mat.
An easy way to unwind at the end of the day, this hot tub will inflate in just a few minutes and the built-in rapid heating system will quickly heat up the water to 104 degrees. The easy-to-use digital control panel allows you to adjust the temperature without having to get out of the hot tub. With its stylish wood design, you won’t even notice that this hot tub is inflatable.
The Bestway SaluSpa Helsinksi Hot Tub also comes with a ChemConnect chemical dispenser that will keep your at-home spa clean. It also comes with a repair kit, hand inflating pump, spa pump, two filter cartridges, and a cover.
Pros:
- It quickly inflates and doesn’t look like its inflatable
- You can fit seven people in it
- The temperature is adjustable from inside the hot tub
Cons:
- It’s difficult to heat up
- The instructions are hard to follow and vague
COSYSPA Inflatable Hot Tub Spa
Large enough for two to six people to sit inside, the COSYSPA Inflatable Hot Tub Spa is made for extreme relaxation and comfort in your own home. Equipped with an air pump and filtration kit, this hot tub has straightforward assembly and maintenance. It comes with a variety of additional high-end accessories that include two headrests and drink holders along with filters for increased cleanliness and an optional inflatable lid.
The setup of this hot tub is simple thanks to the integrated pump that is found within the wall of the hot tub. The COSYSPa Inflatable Hot Tub Spa was designed for fast and seamless assembly that includes a 600-watt air pump and a 3 ½ m long power cable. You also get a ground cover, filter, and cap.
Made with premium materials, the COSYSPA Hot Tub has a 211-gallon capacity for the smaller unit and a 264-gallon capacity for the larger one. Made with hard-wearing PVC fabric, the deluxe foil lid along with the fast water heating system provide optimal heat retention.
Pros:
- This is a durable hot water tub that can hold quite a few people
- It retains heat well so that water stays warm for a while
- It’s really easy to assemble and maintain
Cons:
- It doesn’t heat well when its cold out
- You need to change the filter frequently, and they aren’t cheap
Things to consider when choosing a hot tub
When choosing the best inflatable hot tub for your needs, it’s important to first decide on the size you need as far as capacity as well as what’s going to fit in your yard or on your patio. Also, pay attention to what the inflatable hot tub is made of since durability will be key here. You want it to be made of a heavy-duty puncture-resistant material like layered vinyl or PVC. Make sure you look for material names like Rhino-Tech, DuraTech, and Tri-Tech as well as reinforced walls.
If you like higher-end features, you will want an inflatable hot tub that comes with cupholders, removable headrests, carrying handles, bubble jet settings that you can adjust, and an LED panel that is easy to operate. Other features like a hard water treatment system or an ergonomic design may also be among your required features while lights that make the water different colors may not be as important.
An intuitive control panel that is easy to reach can also be a handy addition to your inflatable hot tub. There’s a lot of benefits to being able to change the water temperature while you are in your spa. Having an air pump can be extremely helpful when you own an inflatable hot tub but a built-in pump will also help you to quickly drain the water.
You also want a spa that will retain its heat for a long time, so having a heating unit that can maintain your desired temperature whether it’s covered or not is a plus. A fitted cover that has a heat-retaining design can also be helpful so your spa will always be ready when you are. Also, make sure it’s easy to set up and take down as well as store if you don’t plan to leave it up all the time.
There is nothing like taking a relaxing dip at the end of the day in your inflatable hot tub. Not only can it help you relax from a long day, but it can soothe muscle and joint pain and help you have a great night’s sleep. An inflatable hot tub is a great addition to anyone’s household.
Common Questions Regarding Hot Tubs
Do inflatable hot tubs stay warm in winter?
Yes, an inflatable hot tub will be able to stay warm during the winter months as long as you purchase an inflatable tub that has the modification that is needed to ensure that it stays warm. Always check the features and reviews to see if the inflatable hot tub that you are buying will be able to stay warm in a cold climate during the winter.
Do inflatable hot tubs use a lot of electricity?
Typically, a hot tub manufacturer will advertise that their product will only consume about $1 of power every day. If you use the hot tub each day, this will easily increase. It all depends on how long you use it, what its power requirements are, and the units that the hot tub consumes. The amount of electricity that a hot tub uses will depend also on where you live in the U.S.
Are inflatable hot tubs worth the money?
It all depends on what you are looking to get out of your inflatable hot tub when considering if it’s worth the money. An inflatable hot tub can be a lot of fun and definitely worth the money if you are looking for a relaxing body massage instead of a therapeutic penetrating massage. If you want something easy to use and maintain that is also right in your backyard, an inflatable hot tub is a great way to unwind at the end of the day as well as soothe an aching body or destress after a hard day at work.
Is it cheaper to keep the hot tub on all the time?
Yes, it actually is cheaper to keep your hot tub on all the time than to turn it off. Why do you ask? Well, a hot tub is designed to be kept on all the time making it more economical to keep the water in the hot tub hot than to heat it up every time that you want to use it. It will take a while to heat up the water to the temperature that you want it, so, not only is it economical, but it will also be a lot faster to keep it around the temperature that you want than to heat it up every time you want to use it.
What temperature should I keep my hot tub when not in use?
Typically, it will depend on your preferred temperature as to what is the best hot tub temperature when it’s not in use. However, a good rule of thumb is to keep it about five degrees under what you typically prefer. Not only will this save you time when you are reheating your tub, but it also helps you to avoid using up too much energy when you are reheating your tub, and it will also help you to protect the internal system of your hot tub. So, decide what is your preferred temperature and subtract five to determine what is the best hot tub temperature when you are not using it.
