Cal Spas vs Master Spas hot tubs
Best known for: one maker for the whole backyard (Cal Spas) and full foam, clamped manifold plumbing (Master Spas). Cal Spas lists 57 hot tubs for 3 to 11 people, Master Spas 29 hot tubs for 3 to 8 people. Master Spas prices start at $7,295 (reported prices and list prices); Cal Spas prices come from a dealer.
Cal Spas
Shown: Aloha PZ-614L
A big Pomona factory that packs more jets, horsepower and options into a tub for the money, builds fast, and can sell you the grill island and fire pit too.
Price on request
Get the price range
Master Spas
Shown: LSX 850
A big Indiana factory that builds all of its hot tubs in the USA, puts Michael Phelps's name on its flagship, and fits a mineral cartridge to every model.
From $7,295
Get the price rangeHow they differ
- One maker for the whole backyard
- More jets and horsepower per dollar
- ATS seat with its own pump
- Full foam, clamped manifold plumbing
- Built in its own Indiana plant
- Copper-zinc mineral filter standard
- Partly Self-supporting shell
- Partly Clamped plumbing
- Yes Manifold-fed jets
- Partly Standard parts
- Yes Self-supporting shell
- Yes Clamped plumbing
- Yes Manifold-fed jets
- Yes Standard parts
- Strong jets
- Good value for features
- Strong sales and installation ratings
- Good local dealers earn praise
- Warranty claims denied or deflected
- Repeat pump and board failures
- Slow dealer-handled warranty repairs
- Control panel and pump failures
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.
- Patio5 models · 3–6 seats
- Patio Plus12 models · 3–6 seats
- Getaway Spas5 models · 3–5 seats · from $7,295
- LH Series5 models · 3–7 seats · from $9,695
- Escape13 models · 5–6 seats
- Escape Plus4 models · 6 seats
- Escape X-Series13 models · 5–6 seats
- Clarity Spas7 models · 5–7 seats · from $11,999
- Deck2 models · 6–11 seats
- Platinum8 models · 6 seats
- Twilight Series7 models · 3–7 seats · from $14,499
Which suits whom?
Cal Spas, if you want
- One maker for the whole backyard
- A lounger (32 models against 17)
- Room for 11
Master Spas, if you want
- Full foam, clamped manifold plumbing
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 Cal Spas model costs about $29 a month to keep hot and the middle Master Spas about $25 a month. In watts: 218 W (39 filings) and 191.5 W (28). Your bill also depends on your climate, how hot you keep it and how often the cover is off.
| Seats | Cal Spas | Master Spas |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 157 W | 148 W |
| 4 | 157 W | 169.5 W |
| 5 | 242 W | 190.5 W |
| 6 | 218 W | 198 W |
Complaint records2
Cal Spas. Better Business Bureau grade A+, 20 complaints in three years. ConsumerAffairs 2.4 of 5 from 911 reviews. No U.S. safety recall found.
Master Spas. Better Business Bureau grade A+, 20 complaints in three years. ConsumerAffairs 4.1 of 5 from 1,476 reviews. Latest U.S. recall: 2019.
Complaint counts grow with the number of tubs a company sells; how it answers them tells you more than the count.
Who owns them2
Cal Spas is privately held. Master Spas is privately held. Each company’s history: Cal Spas and Master Spas.
Every figure side by side30
Model against model1
No manufacturer pays us. How we make money
Common questions
Is Cal Spas better than Master Spas?
Neither is better for everyone. Cal Spas suits you if you want a lounger (32 models against 17) and room for 11. Sit in both before you choose; dry is fine.
Which costs less, Cal Spas or Master Spas?
Master Spas prices run $7,295 to $21,999 (reported prices and list prices). Cal Spas 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 Cal Spas and Master Spas made by the same company?
No. Each is a separate, privately held company.
Where are Cal Spas and Master Spas hot tubs made?
Cal Spas builds in Pomona, California. Master Spas builds in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Sources
11
- California Energy Commission appliance database (spas)standby watts for Cal Spas and Master Spas models
- Cal Spas warrantyPlatinum, Escape, Escape X-Series and others warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: Cal Spasrating and complaint count
- ConsumerAffairs: Cal Spasowner rating
- Ownership record: Cal SpasPrivately held
- Master Spas warrantyMichael Phelps Legend Series and Twilight Series warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: Master Spasrating and complaint count
- ConsumerAffairs: Master Spasowner rating
- CPSC recall, 2019 (Master Spas)recall notice
- Ownership record: Master SpasPrivately held
- CPSC recallsrecall search