How Much Does It Cost to Run a Hot Tub in California? (2026)
A hot tub heater runs several hours a day to maintain temperature, and the circulation pump runs much longer. Inflatable hot tubs are the most expensive to run because they lose heat quickly through thin walls.
A typical hot tub (3,000 W) costs $1.04 per hour, or about $125.06 per month at 4 hours a day in California. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 1,500 W | $0.52 | $2.08 | $62.53 | $760.81 |
| Typical 3,000 W | $1.04 | $4.17 | $125.06 | $1,522 |
| High 6,000 W | $2.08 | $8.34 | $250.13 | $3,043 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 4 h/day ≈ 4,380 kWh per year.
One hour of a hot tub (3.0 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 17km in an electric car
- 30hours of TV
- 67hours of a laptop
- 333hours of an LED bulb
In California, with electricity at 34.7¢ per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical hot tub costs $1.04 per hour and about $1,522 per year at 4 hours a day. That is about 89% more than the national average for the US ($66.02 per month), because electricity in California costs 34.7¢ per kWh against 18.3¢ nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 1.0 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a hot tub
- Keep the insulated cover on whenever the tub is not in use. Most heat escapes through the water surface.
- Lower the set temperature by a few degrees between uses.
- Place the tub out of the wind or add a windbreak.
- Inflatable tubs can use two to three times the electricity of a hard-shell model.
In standby it draws about 100 W, which adds roughly 876 kWh ($304.32) per year if it is never unplugged.
Is an efficient hot tub worth it?
Inflatable hot tub outdoors, about 12 kWh a day: about 4,380 kWh a year. Insulated hard-shell tub with a thermal cover, about 5 kWh a day: about 1,825 kWh. The difference is worth $887.61 a year in California.
- Replacing one that still works pays back in 5.6 years.
- When yours needs replacing anyway, the extra cost of the efficient model pays back in 4.5 years.
Usage assumed: kept hot all year. Typical prices: $5,000 for the efficient model, $4,000 more than a basic one. Work it out with your own prices
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hot tub add to the electricity bill?
Commonly 3 to 8 kWh a day in mild weather and much more in winter, so it can be one of the largest household loads.
Is it cheaper to keep a hot tub on all the time?
For regular use, yes. Reheating from cold uses more than maintaining temperature under a good cover.
How much does an inflatable hot tub cost to run?
Often 8 to 15 kWh a day because of poor insulation, especially outdoors in cool weather.
Compare with
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery)1,200 W typical
- Electric Pressure Washer1,800 W typical
- Electric Sauna Heater6,000 W typical
- Infrared Sauna1,800 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz