How Long Should You Be in a Hot Tub? (Time & Temp Guide)

Written by Jeff Campbell in Hot Tub Health Tips,Hot Tub Operational Tips

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Without a doubt, soaking in a hot tub after a hard day is one of life’s most relaxing pastimes. But how long is too long, and how long should you be in a hot tub?

At 104 degrees Fahrenheit, a hot tub soak should be kept to 15 minutes. But the lower the temperature, the longer the soak time can be (up to 30 minutes). But how much water and/or alcohol has been consumed can affect that.

The above is just the tip of the iceberg, so there’s a lot more to know.

In this article, we’ll look at all the factors and I’ll give you specific times at specific temperatures. After all, yours might be set lower than 104° (mine is).

Let’s get going.

How long can you stay in a hot tub at 100 degrees?

On average, it will be safe to stay in a hot tub at 100 degrees for up to twenty minutes.

But the time you can spend in a hot tub can also be impacted by whether you are pregnant, dehydrated, how deep you’re submerged, the ambient temperature, age, and alcohol consumption.

It’s important to be mindful of these factors because staying in a hot tub longer than the recommended time can lead to nausea, dizziness, and dehydration!

Let’s find out more.

Age

The elderly and young people need to exercise caution with the temperature and soak times. The concern with the elderly is that they are more susceptible to infections in the water. And the effects of the infection can be severe.

Other concerns relate to heart conditions and high blood pressure. And because they are not as strong as they used to be, there’s also the risk that they could fall.

And when it comes to kids, never let them use the hot tub unsupervised. I do not allow my kids to be in water that is 104° F (40° C).

If you allow your kids to use it at that temperature, it’s good to know that the Association of Pool and Spa professionals say that kids under the age of twelve should not soak longer than five minutes.

Some experts also advise that kids below the age of 5 should not be allowed to use the hot tub.

The preferred temperature for my hot tub is 98° F (36.67° C), and at this temp, I allow my kids 15 minutes of soak time with an adult.

Pregnancy

At or above a temperature of 102° F (38.88° C), pregnant women should avoid hot tub use.

It is recommended that they should never let their body temp rise above 102.2º F and only soak for about 10 minutes even when the temp is lower than that.

Can you use a hot tub in the summer?

That’s the theme of a recent article I published. In it, I shared the ideal temp you should set your hot tub during summer and how to cool down your hot tub. But I also shared how to cool down your hot tub when the weather starts to get brutally hot.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

How long is too long in a hot tub?

On average, spending more than thirty minutes in a hot tub is not advisable. This is because the longer one spends in the water, especially at really high temperatures, the higher the risk of dehydration.

Relaxing in hot or warm water is incredibly enjoyable and may have health benefits. But like most things in life, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.

15 to 30 minutes is the ideal range. If you often stay in the hot tub for a longer time than is recommended, you’re exposing yourself to negative side effects such as:

  • Headache
  • Hyperthermia (overheating)
  • Dehydration
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Dry skin

Earlier, we looked at some of the factors that impact how long you could stay in a hot tub. You want to keep this in mind, at all times.

If you’re having a drink while in the hot tub or if it’s the first trimester of your pregnancy, be doubly mindful of the time you’re spending.

How long should you stay in a hot tub at 104 degrees?

The general recommendation is to limit a hot tub soak at 104 degrees Fahrenheit to 15 minutes. However, even that long may be too long if not enough water has been consumed or if alcohol is being consumed.

I would recommend that at 104 degrees, you stay for no longer than 15 minutes. If you are pregnant, you also want to keep the time a lot shorter than fifteen minutes.

But many people just get out or sit on the perimeter for a bit and then get back in a short while later.

The rule of thumb is that the higher the temperature, the shorter the time one should spend in a hot tub. It makes sense, right? If you want to stay in the hot tub for a longer time, I suggest you set it to between 95-100° F.

So, what should be temp be in a hot tub?

Check out a recent article of mine. In it, I shared what temperature a hot tub should be set at and the maximum safe temperature for a hot tub. But I also shared what temperature is too cold for a hot tub.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Why can you only spend 15 minutes in a hot tub?

15 minutes is the recommended soak time at 104 degrees. This is to limit the probability of falling victim to overexposure and/or dehydration. However, lower water temps can extend soak times to up to 30 minutes.

This recommendation applies only when the temperature of the water is 104 degrees Fahrenheit. You could spend more time if the temperature is lower than 104 degrees.

If you’re concerned about whether it’s safe to stay in a hot tub for long, check out a recent article I published.

I explained in detail what happens when you stay in a hot tub for too long and the factors that impact how long you can stay in a hot tub. But I also revealed if a hot tub can kill you.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

What is the lowest temp for a hot tub?

Theoretically, the lowest temperature for a hot tub could be set to a range in the 50s. However, unless the ambient temperature is exceedingly cold, it’s highly unlikely that the temperature would be in that range or even close to it.

As you know from experience, the temperature of any substance does not operate in a vacuum.

If one were to place hot tea in a freezer, we know that in a short time, it would become cold. In a similar vein, the temperature of your hot tub is greatly impacted by the weather. If the weather is very hot, it would probably not hit the 50s.

And, ideally, you do not want to be adjusting the temperature downward and upward frequently. You might think that adjusting it downward could save you some money.

But the reverse is often the case because more power is actually consumed when you’re reheating the hot tub and, in the long run, has an adverse impact on its heating element.

The below table shows the ideal time to soak in a hot tub at different temperatures.

Hot Tub Temperature Max Soak Time
95° F 25 minutes
97° F 20 minutes
99° F 15 Minutes
101° F 15 Minutes
103° F 10 minutes

Conclusion

In the article, we learned how long you could stay in a hot tub at 100 degrees and how long is too hot in a hot tub.

We looked at how long you should stay in a hot tub at 104 degrees. Then, we found out why you can only spend 15 minutes in a hot tub.

Lastly, we wrapped things up by considering the lowest temp for a hot tub.

Jeff Campbell

Jeff Campbell is a father, martial artist, budget-master, Disney-addict, musician, hot tub lover, and recovering foodie having spent over 2 decades as a leader for Whole Foods Market.

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