Inflatable vs hard-shell hot tub: which should you buy?
Both types give you hot, bubbling water in the garden, but they differ in price, electrics, groundwork, lifespan and what happens if you move house. The right choice depends on your budget, your garden and how long you expect to keep it.
This guide compares the two using published UK figures, checked on 12 November 2026. We flag where a figure comes from a manufacturer with something to sell, and where we could not find a reliable number we say so instead of guessing.
The short answer
Choose an inflatable if you want the lowest entry cost, a plug-in install and the freedom to pack it away. Choose a hard shell if you want something permanent, expect to use it all year, and are prepared to pay for a proper base and electrics. Neither is better in every case.
Side-by-side comparison
| Inflatable | Hard shell | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | £400 to £1,300 (Lay-Z-Spa's figure; many start at a few hundred pounds) | £3,000 to £16,000 (the same manufacturer's figure, unsourced) |
| Empty weight | Around 31 kg for a 2 to 4 adult model | Roughly 250 kg to 750 kg dry |
| Weight when full | About 1 tonne with water and four adults (calculation below) | About 710 kg for a small tub; 1,500 to 2,000 kg for an average five-seater |
| Electrics | Usually a 13 amp plug | Plug-and-play 13 amp models exist; many need a 32 amp supply |
| Base | Flat, level grass or concrete, plus a mat | Concrete pad of at least 10 cm recommended by one UK retailer |
| Lifespan | 3 to 5 years typical; up to 7 to 10 or more with care | 10 years or more; one retailer cites about 15 |
| Moving or storing | Can be deflated and stored | Large, heavy, permanent |
Price
Lay-Z-Spa's comparison page puts inflatables at £400 to £1,300 and hard shells at £3,000 to £16,000. That page is written by an inflatable manufacturer and the hard-shell range is unsourced, so treat it as an indicator, not a quote.
Remember what sits on top of the purchase price. For a hard shell that includes the base, delivery (which can require a crane), and a dedicated electrical supply. For an inflatable it is mainly a safe outdoor socket, plus chemicals and filters.
Electrics
The difference here matters more than people expect.
Inflatable: a 13 amp plug
The Lay-Z-Spa Miami manual says to plug directly into a grounded socket protected by an RCD of 30 mA or less, with no extension lead. One retailer guide estimates £150 to £450 to install an outdoor socket; Lay-Z-Spa's page quotes £130 to £200 for an external plug. If you already have a suitable outdoor socket in the right place, the cost may be nothing.
Hard shell: 13 amp or 32 amp
A UK retailer guide explains the trade-off. On a 13 amp hot tub, the heater is capped at 2 kW and cannot run at the same time as the jet pump, so the tub may cool faster on cold days. A 32 amp tub cannot use a standard three-pin plug, can run up to two jet pumps with a circulation pump, and most can heat and jet together, with heaters of up to 3 kW on some models. The same guide estimates up to £750 for a 32 amp supply with an isolator. Lay-Z-Spa's page gives £250 to £400.
The IET notes that BS 7671 has no specific hot tub requirements, but recommends applying its swimming pool section (702) to outdoor hot tubs, protecting the supply with a 30 mA RCD, and burying cables at least 500 mm deep. In England, new circuits are notifiable under Part P. Use a qualified electrician and keep the Electrical Installation Certificate.
Ground and base
An inflatable is light when empty but heavy when full. For the Lay-Z-Spa Miami, 669 litres of water weighs about 669 kg. Add the tub (about 31 kg) and four adults at an average of 84 kg each (Hydropool's 185 lb planning figure), and the total is roughly 1,036 kg. A hard shell can be heavier still. Happy Hot Tubs lists a small tub at about 710 kg when full and an average five-seater at 1,500 to 2,000 kg.
The manual for the Miami recommends grass or concrete and does not recommend decks. A UK retailer recommends a concrete pad of at least 10 cm for a hard shell. Our base and placement guide covers this in detail.
Lifespan and durability
Gardening Etc quotes Lay-Z-Spa's team as saying inflatables typically last three to five years, or "up to seven to ten years or more" if looked after. For hard shells, Lay-Z-Spa's team describes a "slightly longer expected lifespan", while Hydrolife, which sells acrylic tubs, says you should get "well over ten years" and that customers often report about 15. Both sell the product concerned, so interpret these as plausible ranges, not guarantees.
On a cost-per-year basis, the gap is smaller than the purchase price suggests. A £600 inflatable lasting four years costs £150 a year; a £4,000 hard shell lasting twelve years costs about £333 a year, before running costs. Those figures are illustrations using the ranges above, not quotes.
Running costs and upkeep
We did not find a comparable independent running-cost figure for hard-shell tubs, so we cannot say which is cheaper to heat. Lay-Z-Spa's comparison page claims inflatable upkeep costs £50 to £100 a year for filters and water care, against £250 to £300 for a hard shell, plus a £150 to £300 annual service. That is a manufacturer claim. For a transparent calculation of inflatable running costs, see our running costs guide.
When you compare models, ask for the heater wattage, the heating-time table and the cover and insulation details. The pages we reviewed did not give comparable insulation data for either type.
Which should you choose?
An inflatable suits you if
- You want to try a hot tub without a large outlay.
- Your garden is small and you may want to move or store the tub.
- You are renting, or may move house within a few years.
- You are happy to treat the tub as a seasonal, replaceable purchase.
A hard shell suits you if
- You want a permanent feature and expect to use it year round.
- You can build a proper base and pay for a dedicated electrical supply.
- You will keep it long enough for the higher price to spread out.
- You have vehicle access for delivery, which can involve a crane.
Frequently asked questions
Are inflatable hot tubs worth it?
If your goal is hot water in the garden at a low entry cost, they can be. The trade-offs are shorter lifespan, a seasonal feel and less robust build. Work out the cost per year, not only the purchase price.
Do I need an electrician for an inflatable hot tub?
Only if you need a new outdoor socket or the existing one is not suitable. The Planning Portal says hot tubs need a safe and adequate electrical installation carried out by a registered competent person.
Do I need planning permission for either type?
Typically not, according to the Planning Portal, unless you live in a listed building or conservation area. Check with your local authority.
Can a hard-shell hot tub run from a normal plug?
Some can. Plug-and-play 13 amp models exist, but they have a smaller heater and cannot heat and run the jet pump together.
Related guides: choosing for a small garden and base and placement.
Sources (checked 12 November 2026)
- Lay-Z-Spa, Lay-Z-Spa vs hard shell hot tubs (price ranges, upkeep and electrics claims; manufacturer source): lay-z-spa.co.uk
- Gardening Etc, how long do hot tubs last (lifespan quotes): gardeningetc.com
- Happy Hot Tubs, 13 amp vs 32 amp hot tubs: happyhottubs.co.uk
- Happy Hot Tubs, best base for a hot tub (weights, concrete pad): happyhottubs.co.uk
- IET, domestic electrical supplies to hot tubs: electrical.theiet.org
- Bestway Lay-Z-Spa Miami AirJet (water volume): bestwaystore.co.uk
- Bestway Lay-Z-Spa Miami owner manual (RCD, plug, ground guidance): manuals.plus
- Appliances Direct, Miami listing (31 kg empty weight): appliancesdirect.co.uk
- Hydropool, what a hot tub weighs (185 lb per occupant planning figure): hydropoolhottubs.com
- Planning Portal, hot tub permissions: planningportal.co.uk