Hot tub ownership is often discussed in terms of “installed base” (how many units are in use) and how owners actually use them. Below is a data-driven snapshot focused on ownership scale, owner motivations, and real-world usage habits.
hot tub ownership statistics
Key hot tub ownership takeaways
There are an estimated 7.3 million hot tubs operating in the U.S..
For context, estimates commonly cited for the U.S. include about 10.4 million residential swimming pools and about 309,000 public pools.
In a Hot Spring Spas survey (700+ respondents), 83.9% of owners cited relaxation/stress relief as a reason for hot tubbing.
In the same survey, 8.9% of owners reported using their hot tub daily, and 16.7% reported using it four or more times per week.
In the UK, a Direct Line Home Insurance study found 55% of owners rarely or never used their hot tub, and 80% reported buying since 2020.
How many hot tubs are owned (installed base)
Because many hot tubs are purchased for private residences (and some for short-term rentals or hospitality), the most widely reported ownership-style metric is the installed base: how many are currently operating.
U.S. installed base: pools vs hot tubs (units)
Label
Bar
Value
Residential swimming pools (U.S.)
10.4M
Hot tubs operating (U.S.)
7.3M
Public pools (U.S.)
0.309M
Max = 10.4M. Widths: Residential swimming pools 100.00%, Hot tubs operating 70.19%, Public pools 2.97%.
Why people own hot tubs: what owners say they use them for
Survey research suggests owners most often describe hot tubbing as a wellness and relaxation routine. In a Hot Spring Spas survey (700+ respondents), relaxation/stress relief was the top owner-cited reason, followed by exercise recovery, better sleep, and injury recuperation (multi-select question).
Top owner-cited wellness reasons (share of owners)
Label
Bar
Value
Relaxation / stress relief
83.9%
Improved recovery from exercise
49.0%
Better sleep
33.3%
Recuperating from injury
22.4%
Max = 83.9%. Widths: Relaxation/stress relief 100.00%, Improved recovery 58.40%, Better sleep 39.69%, Recuperating from injury 26.70%.
How owners actually use hot tubs
Ownership is strongly tied to routines. The Hot Spring Spas survey also captured how frequently owners use their hot tub and when they tend to soak.
8.9% of owners reported hot tubbing daily.
16.7% reported using their hot tub four or more times per week.
The most commonly cited time was weekends and/or after work (53.8%), followed by right before bedtime (44.7%).
10.7% of owners reported that a “first thing in the morning” soak is likely for them.
Owners also reported social patterns: more than 60.5% said they’d choose to hot tub with a spouse, and 21.4% selected hot tubbing with their children.
Most-cited times owners soak (share of owners)
Label
Bar
Value
Weekends and/or after work
53.8%
Right before bedtime
44.7%
First thing in the morning
10.7%
Max = 53.8%. Widths: Weekends/after work 100.00%, Right before bedtime 83.09%, First thing in the morning 19.89%.
UK hot tub owner behavior during the cost-of-living squeeze
UK survey research in 2022 highlighted how operating costs can shape ownership behavior after the pandemic-era surge in purchases. In Direct Line Home Insurance research, more than half of owners reported they rarely or never used their hot tub, and many said they had purchased recently (since 2020).
UK owner usage and purchase timing (survey findings)
Label
Bar
Value
Bought since 2020
80%
Rarely or never use
55%
Never use
19%
Cited running costs too high (among those who stopped using)
23%
Max = 80%. Widths: Bought since 2020 100.00%, Rarely/never use 68.75%, Never use 23.75%, Running costs too high 28.75%.
Ownership signals to watch
If you’re tracking hot tub ownership trends (not just sales), these metrics tend to be the most revealing over time:
Installed base (how many units are operating) versus annual sales.
Utilization rates (daily/weekly use, seasonal usage drops, and “rarely/never” shares).
