InstaBidsFor homeowners
Types of hot tub: which one fits how you will use it?
Choose Standard portable spa for a soak with hydrotherapy jets, which standard spas may include; Inflatable spa for a spa that is typically easily stored and needs little or no assembly; Swim spa (exercise spa) for swimming in place against a current of rushing water; Combination swim spa for one body of water for swimming and another for hydrotherapy in one unit.
The right choice depends on whether you want to swim or only soak, how cold your winters get, and whether you want a factory-built unit or a permanent built-in spa.
| Type | Best for | Main advantages | Main drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard portable spa | a soak with hydrotherapy jets, which standard spas may include | may include hydrotherapy jets that send streams of water at different pressures from several spots (California Energy Commission staff, 2018); can be rigid or non-rigid; some have separable parts for easier storage and relocation (California Energy Commission staff, 2018) | heating freshly filled water to 102°F can take from 5 to more than 24 hours (California Energy Commission staff, 2018) |
| Inflatable spa | a spa that is typically easily stored and needs little or no assembly | typically non-rigid and easily stored, with little or no assembly (California Energy Commission staff, 2018) | the inflatable material may be damaged when outdoor temperatures are below 40°F (California Energy Commission staff, 2018); keeping the water hot: one tested 210-gallon inflatable model drew 2.7 times the standby power limit California then set (California Energy Commission staff, 2018) |
| Swim spa (exercise spa) | swimming in place against a current of rushing water | uses include swimming, aquatic fitness or exercise, and hydrotherapy (California Energy Commission staff, 2018) | no official source names one |
| Combination swim spa | one body of water for swimming and another for hydrotherapy in one unit | two separate bodies of water at different temperatures (California Energy Commission staff, 2018) | no official source names one |
| Built-in (in-ground) spa | no official source names one | no official source names one | one city's example (Wheaton, Illinois): the permit application for an inground spa needs a cross-section of the proposed construction with all dimensions, materials, features, and elements of construction; local rules differ |
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Sources for the facts on this page
- California Energy Commission, Final Staff Report: Analysis of Efficiency Standards and Marking for Spas (Docket 18-AAER-02, February 2018), government, read 22 October 2026.
- City of Wheaton, Illinois: Above-Ground Spas and Hot Tubs - Residential (permit requirements page), government, read 22 October 2026.