How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hot Tub?

Running an electric hot tub in the UK typically costs between £20 and £50+ per month, depending on usage, insulation, and current electricity prices. A wood fired hot tub, by contrast, mainly costs the price of firewood often £5 to £15 per heat-up session with little to no ongoing electricity draw for heating.

The real answer, though, depends heavily on which type of hot tub you own, how often you use it, and how well it retains heat. This guide breaks down the actual costs behind both electric and wood fired hot tubs, so you can work out realistic running costs before or after buying.

Electric Hot Tub Running Costs: The Breakdown

Electric hot tubs draw power in two main ways: maintaining water temperature and running the pump/filtration system continuously (or on a timer).

• Heating: Bringing water up to temperature from cold, and then maintaining it, is the biggest cost driver. A standard electric hot tub heater is often rated between 2kW and 3kW.
• Pump and filtration: Circulation pumps typically run for several hours a day even when the tub isn’t in use, to keep water filtered and hygienic.
• Standby costs: Many electric tubs are left always on to maintain temperature, meaning they draw power even when nobody is soaking this is where most of the ongoing cost comes from.

Based on typical UK electricity prices, this generally works out to somewhere between £20 and £50+ a month for an average household, more in winter when the tub has to work harder against colder ambient temperatures, and less in summer.

Wood Fired Hot Tub Running Costs: The Breakdown

A wood fired hot tub works differently. Instead of drawing continuous electricity, the stove heats water directly using burning firewood, with no standby power draw between uses.

Typical costs look like this:

• Firewood per heat-up: Roughly £5–15 per session, depending on log prices in your area and how much wood your stove size requires.
• No standby electricity cost: Since there’s no element keeping the water hot 24/7, there’s nothing being drawn from the grid when the tub isn’t in use.
• Minimal pump costs: Many wood fired setups rely on natural thermosiphon circulation rather than an electric pump, meaning there’s little to no electrical circulation cost either.

For someone who uses their tub once or twice a week, a hot tub wood fired setup can cost significantly less over a year than running an electric equivalent continuously, simply because you’re only paying for the fuel used during actual heat-up sessions rather than round-the-clock standby heating.

Side-by-Side Cost Comparison

This is a general guide rather than an exact figure, since actual costs shift with usage patterns, tub size, insulation quality, and local energy or firewood prices.

What Affects Running Costs the Most?

1. Insulation Quality

A well-insulated tub with a fitted thermal lid retains heat far more efficiently, whether it’s electric or wood fired. Poor insulation means more energy or fuel is needed just to maintain temperature, regardless of heating method.

2. How Often You Drain and Refill

Constantly draining and refilling requires reheating from cold each time, which is more costly than topping up and maintaining an existing volume of water.

3. Tub Size

Larger tubs hold more water, which takes more energy or fuel to heat and maintain, compared to a compact 2–4-person model.

4. Usage Frequency

An electric tub kept at a constant standby temperature cost roughly the same whether it’s used daily or once a month. A wood fire heated hot tub, on the other hand, only costs fuel when it’s actually being heated making it naturally more cost-efficient for occasional use.

5. Season

Winter heating costs more for both types, since colder ambient and starting water temperatures require more energy or fuel to reach a comfortable soaking temperature. Sheltered placement including tubs positioned in a small garden with hot tub setups tucked against a fence or wall can reduce heat loss from wind exposure.

Are Wood Fired Hot Tubs Cheaper Long-Term?

For most households that don’t use their tub daily, a wood fired hot tub tends to work out cheaper over a year, mainly because there’s no continuous standby electricity cost. You’re paying for fuel only when you actually heat and use the tub, rather than for round-the-clock temperature maintenance.

That said, the comparison isn’t purely about running costs it also depends on convenience. Electric tubs offer instant, app-controlled heating with minimal effort, while wood fired hot tubs require sourcing and storing firewood, and around 2-3 hours of heating time before use. Some owners find this ritual part of the appeal rather than a drawback, while others prioritise convenience over cost savings.

Tips to Reduce Hot Tub Running Costs

• Always use the lid when the tub isn’t in use, regardless of heating method.
• Choose a well-insulated tub with foam insulation around the tub body, not just the cover.
• Avoid unnecessary draining top up and maintain water rather than emptying and refilling from cold each time.
• Position the tub away from wind exposure, using fencing, walls, or planting as a windbreak.
• Use dry, seasoned firewood if running a wood fired system, as damp logs burn less efficiently and require more fuel per heat-up.
• Match stove size to tub volume when buying a wood fired hot tub, since an undersized stove takes longer and often uses more fuel overall to reach temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to run a hot tub per month?

Electric hot tubs typically cost between £20 and £50+ a month in the UK, depending on usage, insulation, and current electricity prices. Wood fired hot tubs mainly cost firewood per heat-up session, often £5-15, with no ongoing electricity draw.

Is a wood fired hot tub cheaper than an electric one?

For occasional use, yes a wood fired hot tub avoids the continuous standby electricity cost that electric tubs incur, so you’re only paying for fuel when you actually heat the water.

Do hot tubs cost a lot to run in winter?

Winter running costs are higher for both electric and wood fired hot tubs, since colder starting water and ambient temperatures require more energy or fuel to reach soaking temperature.

Does insulation affect hot tub running costs?

Yes, significantly. A well-insulated tub with a thermal lid retains heat far more efficiently, reducing how much energy or fuel is needed to maintain temperature between uses.

Can a hot tub in a small garden cost less to run?

Positioning doesn’t change the fuel or electricity cost directly, but a sheltered spot in a small garden hot tub setup can reduce heat loss from wind, which indirectly lowers how hard the heating system has to work.

Final Thoughts

Running costs for a hot tub vary widely depending on heating method, insulation, and how often it’s used. Electric tubs offer convenience but come with a steady monthly electricity cost from standby heating, while a wood fired hot tub shifts that cost to fuel used only when you’re actually heating and soaking. For anyone weighing up long-term running costs alongside upfront price, it’s worth checking a tub’s insulation rating and stove sizing carefully details Tamed Ocean’s wood fired range is built around to keep running costs as low as possible.