Buying a hot tub begins with one simple question:
What size should you choose?
The answer to that is not always as simple as calculating the number of people in your family.
Whereas a two-person family will feel happy in a five-person spa, a family of four may go for a six or seven-person spa due to frequent visitors.
Moreover, your backyard plays a role.
A hot tub has to fit into the space while leaving room for stairs, a cover, maintenance access, and walking around the spa.
For a buyer in Tucson, where summers bring temperatures higher than 100 degrees, sun exposure becomes an additional factor to consider when choosing the size.
Here are some tips to finding the right hot tub size for your Tucson backyard.
Start with the Number of Regular Users
First, count the usual members of your family.
Who will use the hot tub the most?
Two people using it together will likely prefer a smaller spa.
But you need to look further than the information in the technical description sheet.
Just because the hot tub requires four people does not mean that four people will be able to fit comfortably in it.
Seats shape, legroom, footwell space, and water depth play an important role here.
Thus, it is wise to sit in the hot tub to make sure that you will be comfortable.
Do Not Go Large to Accommodate Rare Guests
One mistake people make when buying a hot tub is going too large to accommodate their friends or guests occasionally coming over once or twice a year.
Instead, ask yourself how you are going to use your hot tub most of the time.
If two people will use it, an eight-person spa is likely too large for you.
Larger hot tubs usually:
- Contain more water
- Occupy more space in your backyard
- Need more space around them
- Take more time to fill
- Have more seats to maintain
That does not mean that it is a bad choice to go large.
2- to 3-Person Hot Tubs
Small spas are perfect for couples and owners with limited backyard space.
These types of hot tubs provide good therapy options.
In addition, two people can comfortably stretch out in a small spa.
In fact, small hot tubs give a better hydrotherapy experience because a couple can choose two seats that are specifically designed for targeting certain areas.
Look for comfortable back, shoulder, leg, and foot jets placement.
If you and your partner are the only regular hot tub users, a small spa should be your primary consideration.
4- to 5-Person Hot Tubs
This size is a good compromise.
It is large enough to accommodate a couple stretching out, and at the same time, it is suitable for accommodating children or guests.
These hot tubs are more spacious than previous ones.
Besides, they can have various seat designs.
For example, one of the seats will target shoulders, whereas the second one will focus on lower back.
One of the seats can even be a lounge seat providing full-body support.
5- to 6-Person Hot Tubs
Five- and six-person hot tubs are very popular among families and hosts who entertain.
There is a bit of extra space in these hot tubs.
In addition, they provide more flexibility.
Two people can stretch out in them on a daily basis, whereas when friends or family members visit, you already have seats ready for them.
Moreover, compare the footwells.
Six people in one small footwell will feel cramped.
Interior configuration plays an important role here.
6+ Person Hot Tubs
Big hot tubs work best for bigger families and hosts who frequently entertain.
They can contain several upright seats, deep corner seats, bench seats, or other jet configurations.
Sometimes a big round spa creates a more social atmosphere because everyone will be facing the center of the hot tub.
Before buying such a spa, be sure to measure all the necessary dimensions.
It is only half of the story.
Measure Your Tucson Backyard First
Before you fall in love with a certain model, measure the installation space.
Do not just measure the size of a hot tub itself.
Think bigger, because you will need room for:
- Stairs
- A cover lifter
- Space to walk
- Maintenance access
- Drains
- Electrical equipment
- Patio furniture
- Shade structure
Leave enough space to make your hot tub look like it belongs to your backyard, and not squeezed in a corner.
Keep Service Access in Mind
Maintenance is inevitable with a hot tub.
Equipment, pumps, heaters, controls, plumbing, and other components are hidden behind the cabinet.
Therefore, access to them is needed during a service visit.
Thus, do not put a hot tub directly against walls on all sides.
Be also careful when building a deck around your hot tub.
Although a recessed hot tub looks beautiful, the maintenance access panels should be accessible.
Think about service beforehand.
Measure the Delivery Route
A good hot tub does not help if it cannot be delivered.
Therefore, it is necessary to measure the distance from the street to your backyard.
Check:
- Gates
- Side yards
- Air conditioners
- Roofs
- Block walls
- Trees
- Pool equipment
- Outdoor kitchen
- Tight turns
- Steps
Big hot tubs are often delivered sideways.
Thus, both width and height clearance become crucial here.
If normal access is not possible, crane placement can be an option.
Match Your Spa Size to the Foundation
A filled hot tub is very heavy.
And the heavier the hot tub, the more water it has in itself.
That is why it is so important to think about your hot tub foundation.
Most of the time, hot tubs require a sturdy, leveled surface able to carry the weight of a hot tub filled with water.
Popular options include properly designed concrete slab, engineered spa pad, patio pavers with appropriate structural strength, or an adequate deck.
Do not assume that any patio or deck in your backyard can automatically withstand the weight of any hot tub.
Think about Sun Exposure in Tucson
Tucson is known for its normal average high temperature above 100°F in June and July.
That makes it especially important to think about the sun exposure in your backyard.
A hot tub sitting in the direct sunlight may be uncomfortable to enter during the hottest hours of the day.
Besides, the cover of the hot tub and surroundings can become too hot.
Think about the sunlight trajectory in your backyard.
A shaded spot will be especially comfortable.
Moreover, you can plan for installing a pergola, patio cover, or another structure for shade.
Just leave enough room for opening the hot tub cover and for maintenance access.
Bigger Is Not Always Better for Hydrotherapy
Do not assume that the bigger hot tub is better for hydrotherapy.
Because the quality of hydrotherapy depends mostly on the hot tub seat design and jet placement.
For example, a small spa with two comfortable therapy seats is better suited for a couple than a big spa with eight seats they do not use.
When comparing the models, be sure to sit in each of the seats.
Check where the jets hit your:
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Upper back
- Lower back
- Hips
- Calves
- Feet
Choose a hot tub depending on how well your body fits, and not on the number of people printed on a brochure.
Lounge Seat or All Upright Seating?
Another thing to consider is the type of seats.
Lounging seat allows you to stretch your legs with support.
Lots of people like such seats.
Nevertheless, the lounging seat occupies much space inside the hot tub.
Two spas having the same dimensions can differ a lot in terms of seating capacity.
One of them can have a big lounging seat, thus, having fewer places.
For frequent entertaining, the upright seats will give you more usable positions.
For relaxation, a lounging seat will be exactly what you want.
Consider Different Heights of People in Your Household
Not everyone can feel comfortable in one hot tub seat.
Deep seats may become too deep for shorter people, whereas shallow seats can be unsuitable for taller users.
Thus, families should look for hot tubs with different seat heights allowing everybody to have a comfortable position.
Sitting in the hot tub will tell you more than looking at the dimensions.
Consider Electrical Requirements
Hot tub size also determines electrical requirements.
Smaller hot tubs use 120V plug-and-play power, while bigger ones have dedicated 240V electrical service.
It depends on the particular model.
Thus, you should choose the hot tub first and then consult your electrician with the manufacturer’s specifications.
Do not install a generic hot tub circuit beforehand.
Think about Water and Energy Usage
Bigger spas contain more water.
And it means that more water needs heating and more surface area loses heat.
However, the size is not the only factor in energy efficiency.
Thus, do not think that a smaller hot tub is always less expensive to run than a larger one.
Insulation, cover quality, equipment design, climate, temperature setting, and usage all play a role in efficiency.
When comparing hot tubs, ask about efficient features of each of them.
Couples May Prefer a Larger Spa
Do not take this rule to the extremes.
Even a two-person household will not automatically need a two-person hot tub.
Because maybe you both like to stretch out in the hot tub, or maybe grandchildren come over, or you have frequent visitors.
Or you just love changing seats while in the hot tub.
In that case, a four-, five-, or six-person spa will be better suited for you.
Families Should Plan a Little into the Future
Spas are long-lasting.
Think about future use of your hot tub.
Children grow up, teenagers bring friends, older relatives visit.
And maybe priorities within a family will change from recreation to hydrotherapy.
You do not have to know everything for sure.
Just planning ahead a bit will be helpful.
Test Different Sizes in Person
Online shopping is a good tool for selecting the options.
Nevertheless, the dimensions of a hot tub on a screen cannot tell you how the seats feel.
Visit a spa dealer and try different sizes.
Compare a small spa with a five-person spa.
Then try a large spa.
Pay attention to:
- Seat depth
- Footwell space
- Entry and exit
- Jets placement
- Lounge position
- Access to controls
- Comfort
You may discover that the spa you thought you wanted to buy is not the one you want.
Choose the Size You Will Enjoy
Choosing the best spa for your Tucson backyard is not about picking the biggest hot tub you can fit.
It is about choosing a hot tub that suits your needs.
Thus, you should consider:
- Regular number of users
- Your entertaining habits
- Space available
- Hydrotherapy preferences
- Type of seats
- Delivery route
- Spa foundation
- Electricity requirements
- Water and energy use
- Sun exposure
Sunset Spas Tucson offers various hot tubs starting with small models for couples and ending with big ones for hosting.
Visit our Tucson showroom, and we will compare seating layouts, spa dimensions, hydrotherapy systems, electricity, and installation requirements with you.
Take measurements of your backyard with you.
Then test a few hot tubs.
The right size should fit both backyard and your preferences.
