How much does it cost to run a hot tub?
A hot tub drawing 200 watts, running around the clock, uses about 4.80 kWh per day and costs about $0.93 per day, $28.36 per month, and $340.06 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A hot tub's cost comes mostly from keeping water hot around the clock, not from the hours you spend in it. Averaged over a day, a well-insulated modern tub draws roughly 200 watts continuously; a poorly insulated or older tub in a cold climate can draw twice that. Heater and jet pumps spike much higher, but only briefly.
Cost at different daily usage
Same hot tub at 200 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h/day | 1.20 kWh | $0.23 | $7.09 | $85.02 |
| 12 h/day | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 | $170.03 |
| 18 h/day | 3.60 kWh | $0.70 | $21.27 | $255.05 |
| 24 h/day | 4.80 kWh | $0.93 | $28.36 | $340.06 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 24 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 100 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 |
| Typical | 200 W | 4.80 kWh | $0.93 | $28.36 |
| High-draw model | 400 W | 9.60 kWh | $1.86 | $56.72 |
Cost by state
A hot tub at 200 W for 24 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.80 | $24.50 | $293.81 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $1.36 | $41.25 | $494.59 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.73 | $22.25 | $266.83 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.69 | $20.98 | $251.59 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $1.60 | $48.58 | $582.54 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.78 | $23.61 | $283.12 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $1.31 | $39.99 | $479.52 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.93 | $28.32 | $339.54 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $1.22 | $37.11 | $445.01 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.73 | $22.17 | $265.78 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.76 | $23.14 | $277.52 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $2.50 | $75.98 | $911.04 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.59 | $18.04 | $216.37 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $1.14 | $34.85 | $417.85 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.87 | $26.52 | $317.99 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.68 | $20.66 | $247.73 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.73 | $22.11 | $265.08 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.72 | $21.89 | $262.45 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.68 | $20.67 | $247.91 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $1.37 | $41.83 | $501.60 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $1.04 | $31.81 | $381.41 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $1.38 | $42.11 | $504.93 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $1.06 | $32.16 | $385.62 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.81 | $24.77 | $296.96 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.78 | $23.61 | $283.12 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.66 | $19.99 | $239.67 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.70 | $21.43 | $257.02 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.65 | $19.86 | $238.10 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.65 | $19.87 | $238.27 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $1.31 | $39.93 | $478.82 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $1.12 | $34.00 | $407.69 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.68 | $20.63 | $247.38 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $1.44 | $43.73 | $524.37 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.72 | $22.05 | $264.38 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.65 | $19.89 | $238.45 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.94 | $28.52 | $341.99 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.64 | $19.55 | $234.42 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.78 | $23.77 | $285.05 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $1.03 | $31.49 | $377.56 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $1.41 | $43.04 | $516.14 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.78 | $23.64 | $283.47 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.76 | $22.98 | $275.59 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.69 | $21.14 | $253.51 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.79 | $24.02 | $288.03 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.62 | $18.94 | $227.06 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $1.19 | $36.37 | $436.07 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.85 | $25.73 | $308.53 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.72 | $21.84 | $261.92 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.81 | $24.55 | $294.34 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.95 | $28.84 | $345.84 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.71 | $21.62 | $259.30 |
How to cut the cost
- Use a well-fitting, uncompressed cover — a waterlogged or gapping cover is the single biggest cost driver.
- Lower the setpoint a few degrees, or drop it further when you'll be away for more than a few days.
- Add a floating thermal blanket under the cover in cold climates.
- Keep filters clean; restricted flow makes pumps work longer.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How much does a hot tub add to your electric bill?
Most owners see a meaningful monthly increase driven by continuous heating. Insulation quality, cover condition, and outdoor temperature matter far more than how often you actually use it.
Is it cheaper to leave a hot tub on all the time?
For regular use, yes — maintaining temperature usually costs less than repeatedly reheating a full tub from cold. For long absences, lowering the setpoint saves more.
How do you calculate what a hot tub costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a hot tub: 200 W × 24 h ÷ 1,000 = 4.80 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.93 per day.
How many watts does a hot tub use?
Typically 200 watts, with most models falling between 100 and 400 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.