Hot tub buying guide.
Updated October 2026 · By the Lone Star Spas team in Texas
Pick a hot tub in this order: how many people soak at once, lounger or open seating, the power you can run, the space you have, then the jet package. Then check insulation, the cover, who delivers it and who services it locally.
1. Seats
Count the people who will usually soak together, not the biggest party you might host. Two people do well in a corner tub like the Corpus. Most families land on five or six seats. Eight or more points to a 92-inch or 11-foot tub.
2. Lounger or no lounger
A lounger lets one person lie back with jets from shoulders to feet. It takes up about two seats. If you usually soak with five or more, open bench seating fits more people.
3. Power
Most full-size tubs need a 240V 50A circuit, which an electrician installs for roughly $800 to $2,500. Plug-in 120V tubs skip that but heat more slowly.
4. Space and access
Measure the pad and the path. An 82-inch tub needs a level area about 7 by 7 feet; a 92-inch tub about 8 by 8. The path to the backyard should be about 4 feet wide, or we will quote a crane.
| Tub size | Pad | Typical seats |
|---|---|---|
| 72 in corner | 6 × 6 ft | 2 |
| 68 × 90 in | 6 × 8 ft | 4 |
| 82 in | 7 × 7 ft | 5 to 6 |
| 92 in | 8 × 8 ft | 6 to 7 |
| 11 ft family | 8 × 11 ft | 9 |
5. Jets and pumps
More jets is not automatically better. Look at where they sit: neck and shoulder jets, a foot dome, and seats at different depths matter more than the total count. Two pumps let you run more jets at full pressure.
6. Insulation and cover
Full insulation and a fitted, thick cover decide most of your electric bill. In Texas, a good cover also protects the shell from sun.
7. Who delivers and who services it
Ask who sets the tub, who fills and starts it, and who shows up if something breaks. We only sell where our own Texas team can deliver and service.