Choosing a location for your hot tub

Xavier Labelle

Where you put your hot tub makes a big difference to how often you use it, how well it copes with the weather and how easy it is to look after, so it's worth settling on the spot before delivery day. When thinking about where to position your hot tub, you should consider:

  • The view from the house to the spa, and the view from the spa itself.
  • Ensure quick and easy access from your house to the spa.
  • Direction of drainage. Water should always drain away from the spa. Do not locate your spa in a low run-off area – rainwater could flood the area and cause pump and equipment damage.
  • If you are installing the spa within a deck, the entire spa base must be sitting directly on the prepared base. The lip of the shell must not support any weight.
  • The minimum clearance for entry to the spa’s access panel for servicing is 1 metre.
  • The spa should not be located near or under overhead wires and must be kept clear of all electrical appliances.

Give it a solid base

A filled hot tub is extremely heavy. An average-sized spa full of water can weigh more than the car on your driveway, so it must be properly supported for a safe and reliable installation.

We recommend installing your hot tub outside on a concrete pad. If you are planning to put it on a wooden deck, your local building surveyor can tell you what support the deck needs, so check this well before the spa arrives.

Keep the working parts accessible

As well as leaving 1 metre of clearance in front of the access panel, think about how an engineer will reach the pumps and other working parts in future. If you sink the spa into decking, make sure the side panels can still be removed, so that components can be reached and replaced if they ever need to be.

Installing a hot tub indoors

An outdoor installation is our recommendation. If you do decide to install your hot tub inside the home, make sure your contractor provides proper ventilation in line with local building regulations. A hot tub gives off a lot of warm, moist air, and without good ventilation that moisture ends up as condensation in the room.

You can find the manual for your model on our Owners Manuals & Downloads page. If you are still choosing a spa, our guide to what to look for before you buy a hot tub covers the other questions worth asking.

Sun, shade and wind

Think about when you are most likely to use the spa. Most people soak in the evening, so a spot that catches the evening sun in summer is pleasant, while too much midday sun can fade the cover and make the shell hot to the touch. Wind matters more than many people expect. It cools the cover and cabinet, so the heater works harder, and it makes the walk back to the house colder. A hedge, fence panel or gazebo on the side of the prevailing wind can help. Our guide to pergolas, gazebos and canopies covers shelter options.

The delivery route

Before you settle on a spot, check the spa can actually get there.

  • Measure every gate, door, side passage and corner from the road to the base.
  • Note any steps, slopes or soft ground on the way.
  • Check overhead clearance, such as low branches, porches or cables.
  • If the route is tight, ask about delivery options before you order. Our delivery options guide explains what is involved.

Base and drainage

Base type Points to check
Concrete pad Our recommended option. Level, reinforced where needed and larger than the spa's footprint
Paving slabs Laid on a properly compacted sub-base so they cannot sink or rock
Decking Must be engineered for the full weight of a filled spa plus bathers. Ask a building surveyor or structural engineer

Water from the spa, the cover and rain must drain away, not pool under the cabinet. For more on the pros and cons of each surface, see our deck vs patio guide.

Power supply distance

A plug and play spa needs a weatherproof outdoor socket with RCD protection, close enough for the spa's own lead to reach without an extension. A 32 amp spa needs a dedicated supply from the consumer unit, run by a qualified electrician. The further the spa is from the house, the longer the cable run and the higher the cost, so it is worth getting a quote before you fix the location.

Privacy and neighbours

  • Check the view from neighbouring windows and gardens.
  • Screening, planting or a pergola can add privacy within a season.
  • Keep the spa and its equipment away from boundary walls next to bedrooms, as pumps make some noise.
  • Point lighting downwards so it does not shine into neighbours' windows.

Planning permission

A hot tub on its own in a back garden does not usually need planning permission. A building or large shelter around it may count as an outbuilding, and there are extra rules for listed buildings and some protected areas. Check the Planning Portal outbuildings guidance or ask your local council.

Location checklist

  1. Short, safe path from the house, with lighting.
  2. Level, solid base that drains well.
  3. About 1 metre of clear access in front of the equipment panel.
  4. No overhead wires or overhanging trees.
  5. Power supply planned and quoted.
  6. Delivery route measured.
  7. Shelter from the prevailing wind.
  8. Privacy from neighbours.
  9. Room to fold the cover back or fit a cover lifter.

Frequently asked questions

Can a hot tub go on grass?

No. Grass and soil can sink unevenly under the weight. Use a properly prepared base.

How close to the house should it be?

Close enough that the walk is short and safe in winter, but with room around it for access and servicing.

Can I put a hot tub under a tree?

It is best not to. Leaves, needles and sap end up in the filter and on the cover, and branches can fall.

Does the spa need a drain nearby?

It helps. You will drain the spa every three months, so plan where the water can go, using a hose to a suitable drain.

Choosing a hot tub?

Compare our hot tubs and swim spas, or visit our showroom near Gatwick.

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