Those in the market for their first hot tub may find themselves asking the question, “How much hot tub do I need?” It’s a completely valid concern as you don’t want to end up with something that’s too small, nor do you want to have a surplus of unused hot tub space. In order to help those asking themselves this important question we’ve come up with a list of concerns that you should keep in mind when trying to decide on the right hot tub for you.
How Many People Will Use the Hot Tub Regularly?
You might have a family of twelve people, but if two of them are moving out soon and six more them absolutely hate the water, then it makes no sense to get the biggest hot tub on the market. On the other hand, if you live on your own and plan to use your hot tub for your personal hydrotherapy, it’d be very easy to get away with buying the smallest hot tub available. Ask yourself how many people will use the hot tub on a regular basis and how long they’ll actually be living in your home. This will give you a good idea of a base number when it comes to the size of the hot tub that will work best for you.
How Many People Will Use the Hot Tub Irregularly?
Every potential hot tub owner likes to think that they’ll be having hot tub parties every weekend. Not to say that it won’t happen, but most people grossly overestimate how often they’ll have guests over to use their hot tub. Usually, it only happens a few times a year. Unless you’re absolutely positive that you’ll be entertaining regularly you could easily get away with a hot tub that fits your immediate family. Just remember that you’ll only be spending 20 minutes at a time in the water and if you have guests over you can easily take shifts when it comes to soaking.
Seats Versus People
When a hot tub says it’s a six-seater it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s actually room for six people all at the same time. This has more to do with the amount of legroom available than it does with the number of seats. When it comes to hot tubs, more seats usually mean less legroom. You don’t want your legs tangled up and touching with people you don’t know very well, so it’s important to size your hot tub based on the amount of space available in the footwell. Not taking this into account could lead to some uncomfortable situations.
Lounge Seating
Another thing you need to keep in mind when it comes to the number of people a hot tub holds is if there are any lounge seats. Although extremely comfortable for the person seated in one, lounge seats can take up space normally allocated to regular seating positions. This is especially true when it comes to the footwell. If you’re looking at a hot tub with lounge seating, see how this affects the space available to the other bathers.
Installation Space
It may seem funny to read about, but it’s no joke when your new hot tub doesn’t fit into the area you’ve allocated for installation. There have been more than a few last-minute, off-the-cuff renovations due to trying to get a hot tub installed into a space that was revealed to be too small at the last minute. Don’t make this all-too-common mistake and make sure to measure properly before buying a hot tub to make sure it will fit.
To learn more about different models and size options, download a hot tub buyer’s guide.