Hot tub costs

The sticker price is the smaller half of the decision. A hot tub has four cost layers: the tub, getting it to the spot, the base it sits on, the power to run it, and then the running costs that never stop. Dealers quote the first one loudly and the rest quietly.

Here are the 2026 numbers we could source. By type, per Fixr: inflatable $500-$3,000, portable/above-ground $1,000-$15,000, soft-sided $4,000-$6,000, saltwater $2,000-$20,000, built-in/in-ground $15,000-$20,000, and swim spa combos $15,000-$40,000. By seating, prefab: 2-person $1,800-$6,000, 4-person $3,300-$8,000, 6-person $4,800-$11,000, 8-person $6,800-$12,000, 12-person $8,800-$14,500. This Old House reports a similar spread and puts above-ground installation at $3,000-$16,000 and in-ground starting around $16,000.

Installation add-ons, per Fixr: delivery $250-$400, crane about $200 more if the tub cannot be walked in, foundation about $1,600, professional setup $200-$800. For in-ground: excavation around $2,000 and electrical wiring $1,800-$2,000, for a total in-ground installation of roughly $5,800-$7,000. A 220V outlet for a portable tub is $120-$200, plus around $70 if the run has to be buried.

Get the electrical priced before you buy the tub, not after. Most full-size tubs need a dedicated 220V circuit, and if your panel has no spare capacity you are looking at a panel upgrade that has nothing to do with the tub's price tag. A dealer who says 'the electrician will sort it out' is handing you an unknown number.