How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hot Tub?

Typically 150 to 500 kWh a month depending on climate, cover condition and use. At the national average rate that is $25 to $85 a month. In a 30 cent state it is $45 to $150. Winter months in cold climates are at the top of that range.

Yes, for regular use. Reheating from cold takes 15 to 20 kWh, roughly two days of holding temperature. If you will not use it for a week or more, turning it down to a low setpoint or off saves money.

Per kWh it costs the same, but the smaller 1,500 W heater cannot run at the same time as the jets, and takes much longer to recover temperature. In a cold climate a 120 V tub can struggle to hold temperature at all, so the heater runs continuously and the bill ends up similar to a 240 V tub.

A typical 240 V hot tub heater draws about 4,000 W, plus 100 to 300 W for a circulation pump or 1,000 to 2,500 W when the jet pump also does the circulating. Smaller 120 V plug-and-play tubs use a 1,000 to 1,500 W heater. Start-up draw can reach about 6,000 W.

About $1.66 a day in a temperate climate with a good cover: 4,000 W x 4 hours x 0.6 duty cycle = 9.6 kWh, and 9.6 x $0.173 = $1.66. That is about 3,500 kWh or $606 a year, and more in cold climates.

Yes. At about 3,500 kWh a year, a typical hot tub uses roughly a third of what EIA reports an average US home uses in total. In a cold winter a tub can use 500 kWh or more in a month.

A 2 HP jet pump draws about 2,000 W, so a 30 minute soak with the jets on uses about 1 kWh, about 17 cents at the national average rate. An air blower adds 500 to 1,000 W and also cools the water.

Reheating about 400 gallons from cold takes roughly 15 to 20 kWh, which is about $2.60 to $3.46 at 17.3 cents per kWh (15 to 20 x $0.173). A 120 V tub with a smaller heater takes much longer to get there.

Only a large generator with 240 V output, since the tub needs about 4,000 W running and up to about 6,000 W at start. A portable power station cannot run the heater. During a winter outage the main concern is keeping water circulating so the plumbing does not freeze.

Replace a waterlogged cover first, since a failed cover can make the heater run twice as long. Lower the setpoint to 100 or below between uses, add a floating thermal blanket and a windbreak, and keep filtration cycles to what the manual recommends.