American Whirlpool vs Caldera hot tubs
Best known for: built in Arizona (American Whirlpool) and Atlas neck and Euphoria leg jets (Caldera). American Whirlpool lists 22 hot tubs for 2 to 8 people, Caldera 23 hot tubs for 2 to 8 people. Caldera prices start at $5,499 (list prices, MSRP); American Whirlpool prices come from a dealer.
American Whirlpool
Shown: 101
Therapy seats laid out by medical specialists, on a steel frame warranted for life, wrapped in patented insulation a technician can open up and service in your backyard, all built in Arizona.
Price on request
Get the price range
Caldera
Shown: Florence
Every seat is designed as a massage station, the top Utopia line comes with salt water and hourly water testing, and you get Watkins engineering for less than a Hot Spring.
From $5,499
Get the price rangeHow they differ
- Built in Arizona
- Small models run on 120V
- Physician-designed therapy seats
- Atlas neck and Euphoria leg jets
- Insulation you can pull out
- Every seat a massage station
- Partly Self-supporting shell
- Not published Clamped plumbing
- Not published Manifold-fed jets
- Yes Standard parts
- Partly Self-supporting shell
- Partly Clamped plumbing
- Not published Manifold-fed jets
- Partly Standard parts
- Price relative to premium competitors
- Dealer relationship and local service
- Comfortable seating
- Insulation easy to service
- Thin, mostly unfavorable owner discussion
- Parts availability and lead time on older units
- No-heat from circulation faults
- Salt cartridges wearing out fast
Which lines compete? Tier by tier.
Each maker sorts its own series from entry to flagship; we group them the same way so you can price like against like.
- 100 Series4 models · 2–5 seats
- Fantasy Series5 models · 2–5 seats · from $5,499
- 200 Series7 models · 2–7 seats
- Vacanza Series6 models · 2–7 seats · from $9,999
- 800 Series2 models · 5–6 seats
- 900 Series1 model · 8 seats
- Utopia Series6 models · 3–8 seats · from $18,499
Which suits whom?
American Whirlpool, if you want
- Built in Arizona
Caldera, if you want
- Atlas neck and Euphoria leg jets
- A tub that plugs into a regular outlet (8 models)
Fit decides more than any figure here. Sit in both in the seat you would use most (dry is fine), feel the jets on a running display tub with the back of your hand, and read both warranty cards before you sign.
What’s a good deal on either?
Pick a brand. We send you the price range, then connect you with one dealer near you for it.
The details
Keeping it hot: standby power and cost2
Standby is what a tub draws to hold its heat with the cover on and nobody in it. California tests it for every spa sold in the state. At the US average 18.19¢ per kWh (January to July 2026), the middle American Whirlpool model costs about $32 a month to keep hot and the middle Caldera about $26 a month. In watts: 238 W (22 filings) and 199.5 W (18). Your bill also depends on your climate, how hot you keep it and how often the cover is off.
| Seats | American Whirlpool | Caldera |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 156 W | 107 W |
| 3 | 173 W | 152 W |
| 5 | 249.5 W | 195 W |
| 6 | 242.5 W | 198 W |
| 7 | 262 W | 214 W |
| 8 | 350 W | 307 W |
Complaint records2
American Whirlpool. Better Business Bureau grade A+, 2 complaints in three years. Latest U.S. recall: 2018.
Caldera. Better Business Bureau grade C-, 18 complaints in three years. ConsumerAffairs 1.3 of 5 from 50 reviews. No U.S. safety recall found.
Complaint counts grow with the number of tubs a company sells; how it answers them tells you more than the count.
Who owns them2
American Whirlpool belongs to Centerbridge Partners. Caldera belongs to Masco Corporation. Each company’s history: American Whirlpool and Caldera.
What to ask in the showroom2
- Clamped plumbing: American Whirlpool doesn't publish it. Ask: “Are the hoses on this model clamped at the barbs, or just glued?”
- Manifold-fed jets: neither brand publishes it. Ask: “Does each jet here get its own hose from a manifold, or are they chained?”
Every figure side by side30
No manufacturer pays us. How we make money
Common questions
Is American Whirlpool better than Caldera?
Neither is better for everyone. Caldera suits you if you want a tub that plugs into a regular outlet (8 models). Sit in both before you choose; dry is fine.
Which costs less, American Whirlpool or Caldera?
Caldera prices run $5,499 to $29,499 (list prices, MSRP). American Whirlpool doesn't post prices we can publish, so a dealer quotes them. Compare like with like: the lines that compete tier by tier are listed on this page.
Are American Whirlpool and Caldera made by the same company?
No. American Whirlpool belongs to Centerbridge Partners; Caldera belongs to Masco Corporation.
Where are American Whirlpool and Caldera hot tubs made?
American Whirlpool builds in Chandler, Arizona and Ottumwa, Iowa. Caldera builds in Vista, California and Tijuana, Mexico.
Sources
11
- California Energy Commission appliance database (spas)standby watts for American Whirlpool and Caldera models
- American Whirlpool warranty400 Series, 800 Series and 900 Series warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: American Whirlpoolrating and complaint count
- CPSC recall, 2018 (American Whirlpool)recall notice
- CPSC recall, 2003 (American Whirlpool)recall notice
- Ownership record: American WhirlpoolCenterbridge Partners
- Caldera Spas warrantyUtopia Series and Paradise Series warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: Caldera Spasrating and complaint count
- ConsumerAffairs: Caldera Spasowner rating
- Ownership record: Caldera SpasMasco Corporation
- CPSC recallsrecall search