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How Much Does a Hot Tub Weigh? (Empty, people & water)

It’s not uncommon to buy a hot tub and have it delivered. But when you do that, especially if you need friends to unload it or if you’re putting it on a wooden deck, it’s natural to wonder how much does a hot tub weigh?

An empty 2-3 person hot tub weighs 500-600 lbs but will weigh up to 3000 lbs with water and people. A 4-5 person hot tub will weigh 750 lbs empty or 4400 lbs with water and people, and a 6-8 person hot tub will be 800 lbs empty or 5,500 lbs full of water and people.

And even those can vary depending on the brand.

So, there’s a lot more to know about hot tubs and weight. And we didn’t even cover (yet) inflatable hot tubs which will also weigh a lot when full. Not only is a hot tub heavy, but you might find it quite difficult to end up moving them as well. So if you’re curious about the weight, and how to move a hot tub, please pay close attention.

Luckily, we’ll be showing you how much hot tubs weigh, both the dry weight of the hot tub and the total weight of the hot tub, and how you should go about moving them as well.

So let’s dive right in.

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Hot tub weights by size and capacity

Here’s a handy chart showing an estimate of each of those and how much they weigh (roughly) empty, full, and at capacity with occupants:

Type of Hot Tub Dry Weight of the Hot Tub With Water Weight With People & Water Weight
Small 2-3 person hot tubs 600 lbs 2,575 lbs 3,000 lbs
Medium 4-5 person hot tubs 750 lbs 3,700 lbs 4,420 lbs
Large 6-8 person hot tubs 800 lbs 4,300 lbs 5,500 lbs
Inflatable hot tubs (2-3 people) negligible 2,200 lbs 2,700 lbs
Inflatable hot tubs (4-6 people) negligible 2,700 lbs 3,700 lbs

The weight of a hot tub is entirely dependent on its capacity.

This number is not made up of just the number of gallons of water, but also by the number of people that it’s designed to hold. Typically, before you purchase your hot tub, you should have at least a rough idea of whether it is large or small in size.

So let’s take a look at how much each type of hot tub tends to weigh

A small hot tub, one that is designed for only two or three people, only weighs about 600 pounds when it contains zero water. But the total weight of the hot tub can be upwards of 3,000 lbs.

This makes it relatively easy to move a smaller hot tub around on your own, but make sure you don’t have any water in it, or that number could reach up to 3,000 pounds.

A larger hot tub, one that is designed to hold up to around 6 people at a time, is going to weigh about 800 lbs.

Many larger hot tubs tend to weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds. And with water, that number can reach up to 6,000 pounds.

Therefore, when you want to move a larger hot tub, you’re going to need some real help.

Are those numbers universal for all hot tubs?

Unfortunately, those numbers are just industry averages when it comes to hot tub weight by capacity. After all, hot tubs come in many different shapes and sizes and capacities.

So if you’re unsure about how much your particular hot tub weights, please pay close attention to the brief list that follows:

  • A 150-gallon hot tub (5 feet by 7 feet) will tend to weigh about 300 pounds without the water (these are considered to be the smallest on the market)
  • A 7 feet by 7 feet hot tub can weigh upwards of 855 pounds on average without the water
  • Other hot tubs may fall between these measurements, and in some cases, larger tubs can weigh over 1,000 pounds

Why does weight matter?

Weight matters for a few reasons. But aside from making them easy to move, you need to consider where you’ll be putting your hot tub.

If you have a large hot tub, being held up by a deck, 3,000 pounds could be too much weight. The result could leave you with a broken deck, broken hot tub, and potential injuries. So depending on the weight of the hot tub and how high your deck is off the ground, the deck might need extra support.

A ground level deck, however, is better for handling the total weight of the tub. Always consult a structural engineer though to be sure and safe.

In a recent article, I break down EXACTLY how to determine if your deck can support the weight of your hot tub.  My current hot tub is indeed sitting on a deck. So figuring this out was crucial.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Of course, if you are placing your hot tub on a concrete slab, the weight is less important. But for almost any other hot tub base, how much water it holds and the total weight, including the weight of the people, is crucially important.

But a wooden deck, or deck made with composite decking will have a max weight capacity depending on how far off the ground it is. So knowing the weight of your hot tub is vital to ensure the structural integrity of your deck.

How can I find out the exact weight of my hot tub?

The numbers we gave you above were industry averages. And, not all hot tubs or spas are made the same way. If you want to find the exact weight of an empty hot tub, you can always find that number in your owner’s manual.

Don’t have the manual? Just note the model number and Google it.

Knowing how heavy your hot tub is can be crucial for when it comes time to move it, or if you’ll be having it supported by a wood-based deck.

How much does it cost to move a hot tub?

On average, expect to pay between $300 and $400 to move a portable hot tub locally from one house to another. But disconnecting power at one location and connecting power at the new location will add to the cost.

If you want to have a hot tub moved to a new home (or maybe you bought a new one), by professionals, it is not going to be cheap.

It’s likely not as expensive as you may think, but anything that requires professional help is going to cost you some of those hard-earned dollars. So before you think about moving your hot tub, please keep that in mind.

At my last house, I bought a used hot tub on Craigslist for $150.  I paid 2 guys to move it who did an outstanding job. They charged me $350 to move it from point A to point B, about 30 miles apart from each other.

So how much do most professional movers charge to move a hot tub?

At first, you’ll need to consider the size of your hot tub. If your hot tub is on the larger side, it’s obviously going to cost you quite a bit to have it moved.

Not only do you need to worry about the size of the tub, but also keep these features in mind:

  • Additional components
  • Electrical fixtures
  • Additional wiring needs
  • External plumbing equipment
  • Any additional technology (ozone system, water softener, etc)

The more technology your hot tub has, the more money it will be to have it moved.

Okay so how much does it cost, then, on average?

The average cost to move a hot tub, as I mentioned above, is anywhere between $300 and $400 dollars.

As we mentioned before, this price may vary depending on the hot tub. But that’s the price tag you’ll likely be looking at. Plus, believe it or not, most companies will actually provide you with free estimates as well.

Some factors you should also keep in mind are:

  • The distance it will be moved
  • How far away the new location is that it will be moved to
  • Any additional work needs to be done to the new location it will be moved to
  • If you’ll only be moving it across your backyard

When you’re considering having your hot tub moved by professionals, please keep in mind some of the factors we talked about above.

This can help you determine where your price tag may fall between those two numbers provided.

How much does a swim spa weigh?

A swim spa will weigh a minimum of 3,000 pounds empty and as much as 12,000 lbs or more when full of water. However, swim spa lengths can vary considerably as ones that are 18 feet in length can weigh more than 15,000 lbs.

Swim spas are a bit different.

As the name suggests, it’s a hybrid between a small pool and a hot tub. Sometimes they are built into the ground like an in-ground pool.

But they have freestanding versions too. And they can be indoor or outdoor. While they can be heated, many use them at normal water temperature. They use a paddlewheel to generate a current of water so you can swim in place but it feels like you’re moving.

Since anything in-ground isn’t designed to be moved, we’ll focus mostly on freestanding swim spas.

So how much would a swim spa weigh?

When it comes to determining this number, it’s a bit more tricky than usual. Some can weigh up to 12,000 pounds with water added. Just know that the size is the biggest factor as they can be as long as 14′ or up to 18′.

The width isn’t much different than a large hot tub. But an extra 4 feet add a lot of water and a lot of water weight.

For the exact weight of a spa pool, you’ll need to consider taking a look at your owner’s manual.

Why do swim spas weigh more than hot tubs?

Swim spas tend to be bigger, and require more power to operate the giant paddlewheel.

So while they might not seem that different, swim spas tend to weigh almost double the standard weight of most portable hot tubs.

How do you move a hot tub by yourself?

To move a hot tub by yourself, follow these steps:

  • Disconnect power to the hot tub
  • Remove the cover and set it aside
  • Drain the hot tub fully
  • Using 2 or more individuals and a hand truck, set the hot tub gently on its side
  • Use furniture sliders to slide the hot tub across the grass to the location of the moving vehicle
  • Use a flatbed truck, gently laying the hot tub back down flat

If you’re bold, or just have a low-weight hot tub, you can feel free to try and move it on your own.

Please keep in mind that this should only be done with hot tubs that fall at or under 600 pounds. Any hot tub over that weight can be incredibly heavy, and you could injure yourself in the process.

So how should I go about moving it?

Moving a hot tub is not a one-person job. Even if your hot tub only weighs 300 pounds, it’s probably too big for you to carry it on your own.

So, when it comes to moving your hot tub, you’ll want to consider bringing some strong friends with you (place at least 2 people on each side and turn it over).

The next thing you’ll want to do is place the hot tub on its side.

This will allow you to grab a better grip on it, and make things easier on you overall. If you’ll be moving it across properties, make sure you bring the appropriate trailer that you need.

I paid a company to move a used hot tub I bought at my previous house.

2 guys and a moving truck knocked that out in no time and I was impressed! They did stand it up on end and they had a thick plastic piece with built-in handles that they set under the bottom of it which made sliding it incredibly easy!

Now, this is crucial, before you put the hot tub down on the trailer, make sure you line the metal surface with a type of plywood or two by four. This will make sure the hot tub does not get scratched.

Can you transport a hot tub on its side?

A hot tub can be moved on its side from the original site to the moving vehicle. However, once on the vehicle, it is ideal to lay it flat for driving. This is to minimize damage and ensure safety. But if securely strapped, it can be kept on its side while driving.

Just make sure if you have it standing on end in a moving vehicle or flatbed trailer that you really secure it with straps.

Again, even empty these can weigh between 600-800 lbs.

You don’t want that falling over in a truck, or (worse) flipping out of a flatbed trailer and possibly causing damage or serious injury to others. And that’s to say nothing of destroying the hot tub if that happened.

So if possible, lay it flat once you get it to the transport vehicle.

Final thoughts

The weight of a hot tub is going to vary based on the size of your hot tub or spa. It’s not that the weight is hard to manage, it’s that the weight can make it difficult to move or place it on a deck.

When you consider the weight of your hot tub, be sure to only use this as a guide. If you want exact numbers, always refer to your owner’s manual.

Also, please keep in mind that when it comes time for a hot tub move, you should always consider using a professional service.

Not only will this make the job easier and hassle-free, but it could save your hot tub from becoming damaged along the way. When it comes to time to move your hot tub, make sure you handle it with care, and you’ll get the job done right.

One common question all hot tub owners have is about what chemicals to add.

After all, there are tons out there and it can be confusing. It can also waste your money buying things you don’t need. Plus some chemicals can really irritate your skin.

I break it all down in a comprehensive guide to take the mystery out of it. That way you only buy what you need, and can skip the rest.

Just click the link to read it on my site!

Jeff Campbell