IDOL SPAS real costs 2026
How much does it cost to operate a hot tub per month?
The most common question we hear in the showroom is not "how much does a hot tub cost", but „"how much will it cost me to operate it"“. For a hot tub that you will use for 10 or more years, operating costs determine the total price more than the purchase price.
The good news: for a well-insulated outdoor acrylic hot tub, the costs are lower than most people expect.
Quick answer
For a well-insulated acrylic hot tub for 3–5 people, expect these costs as a guide. Calculated with an electricity price of 27 €/kWh.
Summer
Electricity: 400–34 €
Chemistry: 200–17 €
Water: approximately 5 €
Total per month: 700–54 €
Winter
Electricity: 900–75 €
Chemistry: 200–17 €
Water: approximately 5 €
Total per month: 1,200–96 €
The specific numbers depend on the model, the set temperature, the frequency of use and, most importantly, the quality of the insulation.
What do the costs consist of?
Water heating
The largest item. A hot tub typically maintains water at 36–38 °C. A well-insulated hot tub uses about 2–4 kWh per day in the summer, and 5–9 kWh per day in the winter.
Filtration and circulation
The pumps run for several hours a day, but the consumption is small compared to heating. In practice, it is about ten crowns a day.
Chemistry and water
Disinfection, pH adjustment and filter cleaning usually cost 200–17 € per month. Water, when changed once every 3–4 months, will only add a few hundred crowns per quarter.
What determines whether you pay 700 or 130 €?
The difference between an economical and a "guzzling" hot tub is huge. It is mostly explained by four things that are good to consider when choosing a model.
1. Insulating the hot tub body
Cheap hot tubs often save money here because the insulation is not visible at first glance. In the winter, you pay double or triple the price. Hot tubs IDOL SPAS we build it as a year-round outdoor space.
2. Thermal cover
Up to 60 % of heat escapes through the surface. A quality sealing thermal cover is the cheapest cost-saving measure. A damaged or soaked cover quickly becomes more expensive in winter.
3. Set temperature
Reducing from 38 to 36 °C can save a significant amount of costs in winter. During longer absences, it makes sense to use the economy mode.
4. Location
A hot tub protected from the wind, for example against a wall or under a pergola, loses less heat than a tub on a completely open terrace.
What will affect consumption the most in practice?
With an outdoor hot tub, costs are not only determined by the heating power. In practice, the decisive factors are the insulated seat, a high-quality thermal cover, and technology that is easy to service even after years.
High-quality thermal cover It holds heat where it escapes most quickly — above the surface.
Good location and leeward helps mainly in winter, when heat loss is highest.
Plug-in hot tub, 400 V and comparison with a swimming pool
From a consumption perspective, it doesn't matter whether the hot tub is 230 V or 400 V — the kWh costs the same. Hot tub in the socket It mainly has a slower heating rate, so it is suitable where you keep the water at a constant temperature. The insulation, not the type of connection, remains decisive for operating costs.
A classic outdoor pool has colder water, but many times larger volume and surface area. A heated pool at 28 °C can cost more in season than a year-round hot tub. The compromise for swimmers is swim spa, which has an insulated body and a thermal cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth turning off the hot tub for the winter?
Usually not with a well-insulated hot tub. Repeated heating of cold water consumes a lot of energy and a drained hot tub in the cold risks damaging the pipes. Switching off only makes sense when it is shut down for several months with professional winterization.
How much electricity does a hot tub consume per year?
A well-insulated hot tub for 3–5 people costs around 1,500–2,500 kWh per year, which means at a price of 27 €/kWh, it costs around 10,000–670 €. A poorly insulated one can be twice as expensive.
Will a heat pump reduce costs?
Yes, significantly so for larger volumes. That's why we offer it as standard with swim spas. With a regular hot tub, the investment returns more slowly, so we calculate it according to the specific model and use.
How do I find out exactly the consumption for a specific model?
Come to the showroom in Modletice near Prague, or use our hot tub configurator. We will also tell you the expected operating costs for your conditions for the configuration.
Do you want to know the operating costs of your hot tub?
IDOL SPAS is a Czech manufacturer of acrylic hot tubs and swim spas. We produce in Jílové near Prague, we provide up to 15 years of warranty on acrylic and service throughout the Czech Republic. Check out our hot tubs or stop by the showroom.