Swim spa or hot tub?
Short answer
A swim spa is a longer spa with a current to swim or walk against; a hot tub is built to sit and soak. The median swim spa we track is 15 ft 8 in long and weighs about 18,600 lb full; the median hot tub is 7 ft and about 4,200 lb. Where makers post prices, swim spas start at $24,599 and hot tubs at $5,499.
| Measure | Swim spa186 models | Hot tub390 models |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Models we track | 186 | 390 |
| Outside length | 15 ft 8 inMedian of 186 | 7 ftMedian of 384 |
| Water | 1,940 galMedian of 186 | 345 galMedian of 363 |
| Weight, filled | 18,600 lbMedian of 166 | 4,200 lbMedian of 294 |
| Seats | 4Median of 161 | 6Median of 386 |
| Power | ||
| Standby powerCalifornia tests | 431 WMedian of 44 filings | 197 WMedian of 317 filings |
| Energy at standbyper month, at the median | 315 kWh | 144 kWh |
| Electrical service | 60 AMedian of 173 (total amps) | 50 AMedian of 227 (breaker) |
| 120V plug-in models | 0 of 186 | 74 of 390 |
| Use | ||
| Separate hot tub section | 30 of 186Dual-zone models | Does not apply |
| Price | ||
| Makers' list priceswhere the maker posts them | $24,599 to $74,99945 models, 4 brands, checked Oct 2026 | $5,499 to $30,395128 models, 6 brands, checked Oct 2026 |
| Reported pricesMaster Spas | $25,499 to $54,49912 models, September 2026 | $9,999 to $21,99925 models, October 2026 |
Verdict: A swim spa suits buyers who want to swim, walk or train at home every day and have room for a 15 ft 8 in shell on a pad built for about 18,600 lb, starting at $24,599 at list. A hot tub suits buyers who want to sit and soak: it is smaller, starts at $5,499, costs less than half as much to keep warm, and 74 models plug into a 120V outlet.
No manufacturer pays us. How we make money
Is a swim spa a hot tub?
Not quite. Both hold heated, filtered water in an insulated shell with jets. A swim spa adds a current, from jets or a propeller, and the length to swim or walk against it. 30 of the 186 swim spas we track split the shell in two, with a swim end and a separate hot tub end at its own temperature. See dual-zone swim spas for the list.
How much bigger and heavier is a swim spa?
About twice as long and four times as heavy full. The median swim spa is 15 ft 8 in long and holds 1,940 gal, so it weighs about 18,600 lb full against about 4,200 lb for the median hot tub. All of that load sits on the swim spa's footprint, so have a builder check the pad or deck before you order.
Size by size: hot tub sizes and swim spa sizes.
Does a swim spa cost more to run?
Yes, because there is more water to keep warm. California tests the standby power of every spa sold in the state: the power a tub draws to hold its temperature with the cover on and nobody in it. The median swim spa draws 431 W, about 315 kWh a month, and the median hot tub 197 W, about 144 kWh. Jets, heating fresh water and cold weather add to both.
In dollars: hot tub running cost and the swim spa running cost guide. Every filed hot tub is on the measured standby watts page.
What does each cost to buy?
Where makers post prices on their own sites, hot tubs list from $5,499 to $30,395 and swim spas from $24,599 to $74,999 (checked Oct 2026). A list price is the maker's base price, not what people pay. Master Spas' reported prices run $9,999 to $21,999 for its hot tubs and $25,499 to $54,499 for its swim spas (September 2026). Brands that post no price read “Price on request”. Swim spa cost covers delivery, the pad and the electrician, and hot tub prices covers the rest.
What electrical service does each need?
The median swim spa calls for 60 A in total, and none of the 186 we track plugs into a household outlet. The median hot tub calls for a 50 A breaker, and 74 of 390 run on a 120V plug. A licensed electrician sizes the circuit for the model you buy. See hot tub electrical requirements and swim spa electrical requirements.
Where to go from here
Ready to compare models? See the best swim spas, Endless Pools vs Master Spas, or the full list of swim spas and hot tubs. Weighing a pool instead? Read swim spa vs pool.
Common questions
Is a swim spa the same as a hot tub?
No. Both hold heated, filtered water in an insulated shell with jets, but a swim spa adds a current to swim against and the length to use it: a median 15 ft 8 in against 7 ft for a hot tub.
Can you use a swim spa as a hot tub?
A dual-zone model is built for it: 30 of the 186 swim spas we track have a separate hot tub section with its own temperature. A single-zone swim spa heats all of its water to one setting.
Does a swim spa cost more to run than a hot tub?
Yes. In California's tests the median swim spa draws 431 W on standby and the median hot tub 197 W, about 315 kWh against 144 kWh a month before anyone uses the jets.
How much heavier is a swim spa than a hot tub?
About four times as heavy full: a median of about 18,600 lb against about 4,200 lb. Have a builder check the pad or deck before delivery.
Sources
7
- California Energy Commission appliance database (spas)standby watts for 317 hot tubs and 44 swim spas
- Catalina Swim Spas Catalina 16' 2-Pump (C-610) specificationsthe median swim spa length
- American Whirlpool DM8 specificationsthe median swim spa water
- Endless Pools R500 specificationsthe median swim spa filled weight
- Nordic Hot Tubs Crown XL specificationsthe median hot tub length
- American Whirlpool 471 specificationsthe median hot tub water
- Vita Spa Grand specificationsthe median hot tub filled weight