How Long Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Last?

When considering an inflatable hot tub purchase you will likely wonder how long inflatable hot tubs last and if inflatable hot tubs are worth the price. I have owned multiple inflatable hot tubs of different brands and I remember asking the same questions.

How long do inflatable hot tubs last?

Inflatable hot tubs last an average of three years. Most have a one-year warranty, and often inflatable hot tubs last up to five years.

Are inflatable hot tubs worth it?

Inflatable hot tubs are worth the price and risk. They are easy, fun and almost always have at least a one year warranty. Most will last far longer than one year, but even if you only got one year of use (which is rare) you would pay very little per month for the experience of owning and using a hot tub at home.

My first inflatable hot tub was so awesome that we bought a second one.

– Hundreds of reviewers of inflatable hot tubs….including me!

When you read reviews for inflatable hot tubs, you will find that to be a reoccurring theme. Inflatable hot tub users often report having bought two or three of the same hot tub in a row after the first one stopped working.

We are used to thinking that a few years isn’t a good lifespan for a product, but when it comes to inflatable hot tubs, those of us who use them at our homes to get our families outside looking at the stars all year long would have to disagree. We feel that they are workhorses that give us a huge return in enjoyment for our dollar.

The few years of use from an inflatable hot tub are the best value that my family has ever spent to get us outside together.

Inflatable hot tubs last from one to five years with three years being the average. Let me show you some of the reasoning for why we think that is such a good return on our purchase.

• I could buy over 20 inflatable hot tubs for the same price as a low-end non-inflatable hot tub.
• The life-span of expensive $7000 non-inflatable hot tubs is only 5 years on some models and up to 10 years on others, making the “real” hot tub experience $700 a year at best, while an inflatable hot tub (about $360) usually averages less than $10 a month or $100 to $120 a year at its average life of 3 years.
• Even if you were one of the very few unlucky ones and your inflatable hot tub only lasted 1 year, the cost of use per month is very low at less than $30, and a year of having a hot tub to enjoy is epic and was worth every penny. At least for our family.
• I am able to get my family outside all year round. We sit and talk, look at the stars or listen to music or audible books while we relax together, even in the snow and rain.
• We are renters and love the adaptability of having an inflatable hot tub.

I remember researching inflatable hot tubs before we bought one and wondering if they were legit and if it was going to be worth it. I wanted to sit outside with my kids at night in the hot water. I missed going to the natural hot springs in Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah where I grew up. Finally, I bought one for our family Christmas time. Looking back, I only wish I had bought one years sooner.

If you go into it realizing that they are not going to last forever, but that they have a warranty for a year and that they are likely to last longer than that, then you have the right perspective and you can have confidence it’s a fun and cost-effective purchase. Plus, you get to try out owning and using a hot tub for just a few hundred dollars and see how you like it and how often you use it.

We tried the two most popular hot tubs for sale online.

The first hot tub we bought was a Coleman SaluSpa 4 person Hot Tub and it held its heat very well. It had jets, a timer for energy efficiency, a super cushy floor.

Then we upgraded to a larger hot tub. The second hot tub we bought, which we still have now and use almost daily is an Intex Pure Spa 6 Person Hot Tub. It has been really nice to have the extra room now that my 3 boys are bigger (11, 9 and 4-years-old) and yes, we all 5 get in together. This one had a light on the bottom of the pool that the kids really like.

We liked both of them. They both work great.

They both need a tiny bit of help during the coldest days of the year keeping at hot as we like.

Here is a little secret shared by long-time inflatable hot tub users…the secret to how we use the hot tubs all year around

How to keep your inflatable hot tub HOT all winter…

Inflatable hot tubs are designed to be used at outdoor temps of 40 degrees and up. We knew many other people use their inflatable hot tubs year-round and after researching what other hot tub users do to stay hot, we were able to solve that problem by buying an extra piece of foam called a Hot Tub Thermal Cover for insulation during the cold months.

Other users cut it to size and float it on top of the water between the water and the cover, but we were lazy the first day we got it and just threw it over the top of our hot tub with a heavy-duty tarp on top and a few cinderblocks on the edges of the tarp. We always meant to cut it to size later and float it like the other users do, but the hot tub has stayed so hot with the foam/tarp solution that we just kept using the foam and tarp which solved the problem of super frigid temps and we have been able to keep it hot all year round, even in our New England winters. Read more about keeping your inflatable hot tub hot all winter here.

Well, I think you get the idea that we love our hot tub.

We absolutely love sharing it with the kids, and we also really love it after the kids go to bed – if you know what I mean. Amazing.

It gets us one step closer to nature by helping us relax outside as a family.

Worth every penny.

Take one step closer to nature by soaking outside with your family in steamy hot water while snowflakes melt on your eyelashes. Inflatable hot tubs last an average of three years and even if you get a dud that lasts only one year they are double worth the price.

Happy Soaking!

-MJ