Hot Tub Sizes: 2 to 8 Person Dimensions, Gallons and Weight

Hot tub dimensions by number of seats

Seat count is the maker's figure for how many adults fit, and it counts every seat including the lounger. For relaxed use, assume one fewer adult than the rating. Sizes below cover typical acrylic tubs; any one model can sit a few inches outside these ranges.

Hot tub size chart
Seats	Footprint	Metric	Height	Water	Weight filled (no people)
2-3 person	66-78 in 5.5-6.5 ft	168-198 cm	28-32 in 71-81 cm	200-300 gal 760-1,140 L	2,100-3,100 lb 950-1,400 kg
4 person	78-84 in 6.5-7 ft	198-213 cm	32-36 in 81-91 cm	300-400 gal 1,140-1,510 L	3,000-4,100 lb 1,360-1,860 kg
5-6 person	84-91 in 7-7.6 ft	213-231 cm	34-38 in 86-97 cm	350-500 gal 1,320-1,890 L	3,500-5,100 lb 1,590-2,310 kg
7-8 person	91-96 in 7.6-8 ft	231-244 cm	36-40 in 91-102 cm	400-600 gal 1,510-2,270 L	4,100-6,100 lb 1,860-2,770 kg
Swim spa	12-20 × 7.5-8 ft	3.7-6.1 × 2.3-2.4 m	50-60 in 127-152 cm	1,500-2,500 gal 5,700-9,500 L	15,000-25,000 lb 6,800-11,300 kg
Inflatable, 4 person	70-80 in round	178-203 cm	26-28 in 66-71 cm	175-250 gal 660-950 L	1,550-2,200 lb 700-1,000 kg

Footprints are for square tubs; the larger number in each range is common for models with a lounger. Water weighs 8.34 lb per US gallon (1 kg per liter), so the water alone in a 450 gallon tub weighs 3,750 lb (1,700 kg).

8-person 96 × 96 in6-person 88 × 88 in4-person 80 × 80 in2-person 72 × 60 in

Typical hot tub footprints to scale, in inches: 8-person 96 in square, 6-person 88 in, 4-person 80 in and a 72 × 60 in 2-person tub.

Shapes and seating layouts

Square: by far the most common. Corners give extra seats, so a square tub seats more than a round tub of the same width.
Rectangular: 2-person and swim-spa sizes, and some 4- to 5-person tubs with two loungers. Fits against a wall or along a narrow deck.
Round: rotomolded plastic, wood-fired and inflatable tubs. Everyone faces the center; there is usually no lounger.
Lounger vs open seating: a full-length lounger takes the space of two upright seats and is about 5.5 to 6 ft (1.7 to 1.8 m) long, so it suits taller users only on tubs of 84 in or more.

Depth inside is about 32 to 38 in (81 to 97 cm) at the footwell, with seats stepped at different heights so shorter and taller people both sit with shoulders under water.

How much space a hot tub needs

Allow for the tub, a cover lifter, access panels and a path around it:

Start with the footprint from the spec sheet, e.g. 88 × 88 in (7 ft 4 in square) for a 6-person tub.
Add the cover lifter. Most lifters fold the cover off the back of the tub and need clearance behind it, from about 6 in for low-clearance designs to around 18 to 24 in for standard ones.
Keep the equipment panel open. Leave at least 2 ft (60 cm) in front of the side with the pump and heater access, and ideally a path to every side for leak repairs.
Add steps. A tub 34 in or taller needs a step of about 2 × 3 ft (60 × 90 cm) on the entry side.

A 7 ft 4 in tub with an 18 in lifter clearance, a 2 ft service gap and a step therefore needs a patch about 10 × 12 ft (3 × 3.7 m). For a roof over it, the gazebo size guide and pergola dimensions list the common frame sizes.

Pad, deck and floor load

A filled hot tub with people in it is one of the heaviest things in a yard. Spread over its footprint, the load is far higher than a normal deck is built for.

Floor load of a filled hot tub with occupants
Tub	Footprint	Total with people	Load per sq ft
4-person, 350 gal	80 in square 44.4 sq ft	about 4,300 lb 1,960 kg	about 97 lb/sq ft
6-person, 450 gal	88 in square 53.8 sq ft	about 5,600 lb 2,540 kg	about 104 lb/sq ft
8-person, 550 gal	94 in square 61.4 sq ft	about 6,900 lb 3,150 kg	about 113 lb/sq ft

Totals assume 700 to 950 lb of dry tub and 175 lb per seat at full occupancy. The IRC designs ordinary residential decks for a live load of 40 lb per sq ft, so a hot tub on a deck needs beams, joists and footings designed for that point load, usually by an engineer. On the ground, the usual base is a level concrete slab about 4 in (10 cm) thick and a little larger than the tub, or a compacted gravel pad if the manufacturer allows it. See the deck size guide for standard deck framing.

Delivery: will it fit through the gate?

Hot tubs travel on edge on a spa dolly, so the tub's height becomes its width on the way in.

Path width: the tub's height plus about 4 to 6 in for the dolly and hands. A 36 in tall tub needs about 40 to 42 in (102 to 107 cm) of clear width. Standard 36 in garden gates often have to be removed.
Overhead: on edge, the tub stands as tall as its width. A 91 in tub needs about 8 ft (2.4 m) of clear height under eaves, branches and wires along the route.
Turns: a 90 degree turn in a narrow side yard needs much more width than a straight run. Walk the route with a tape measure and the tub's dimensions before delivery day.
Crane: where no ground route works, tubs are lifted over the house. Crane access needs a clear street position close to the house.

Electrical requirements

Under Article 680 of the National Electrical Code, an outdoor hot tub needs a disconnect switch within sight of the tub and at least 5 ft (1.5 m) from its inside wall. General-purpose 120 V receptacles must be at least 6 ft (1.8 m) away and GFCI-protected. Most full-size tubs need a dedicated 240 V circuit of 40 to 60 A; plug-and-play models run on 120 V but heat slowly in cold weather. A licensed electrician should size the circuit to the tub's nameplate.

Hot tub cover sizes

Covers are rigid foam lids made to the shell's outside dimensions, and they are not interchangeable between brands.

Measure the acrylic lip edge to edge in both directions, not the cabinet, which can be a little smaller or larger.
Measure the corner radius by laying a straight edge along two sides and measuring from the corner point to where the curve begins.
Choose the taper. Common thicknesses are 4 in tapering to 2 in, and 5 in to 3 in, so rain runs off. Thicker covers suit cold climates.
Skirt length: the flap that hangs down the side is usually 3 to 5 in (8 to 13 cm).

Covers for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools work differently; see the pool cover size guide. If you are choosing between a tub and a small pool, the swimming pool size guide lists plunge pools and stock tank pools, and sauna dimensions covers the other common backyard build.

Frequently asked questions

What are the dimensions of a 6-person hot tub?

Typically 84 × 84 in to 91 × 91 in (213 to 231 cm square) and 34 to 38 in (86 to 97 cm) tall. It holds about 350 to 500 gallons (1,325 to 1,890 L) and weighs 3,500 to 5,100 lb filled, before anyone gets in.

How many litres does a 5 or 6 person hot tub hold?

A 5- to 6-person acrylic hot tub holds roughly 1,300 to 1,900 liters (350 to 500 US gallons). Models with a lounger hold less water than open-seat models of the same footprint, because the lounger fills part of the shell.

What is the diameter of an 8-person round hot tub?

Round 7- to 8-person hot tubs are about 7.5 to 8 ft (91 to 96 in, 231 to 244 cm) in diameter. Round tubs fit slightly fewer people than square tubs of the same width, because the corners of a square tub become extra seats.

What are the typical dimensions of a rectangular 2-person hot tub?

Rectangular 2-person tubs are about 6 to 7 ft long and 4.5 to 5.5 ft wide (183-213 × 137-168 cm), 29 to 32 in tall, and hold 200 to 300 gallons. Many have two loungers side by side, or one lounger and one upright seat.

What size hot tub fits under a 10x10 gazebo?

A 7 to 7.5 ft tub fits under a 10 × 10 ft gazebo with about 1 to 1.5 ft between the tub and the edge of the roof, less at the posts. For room to walk around the tub and open the cover, use a 10 × 12 or 12 × 12 ft gazebo.

Do hot tubs need a 240 volt circuit?

Most full-size tubs need a dedicated 240 V circuit, commonly 40 to 60 A (50 A is typical), with a GFCI disconnect at least 5 ft (1.5 m) from the tub and within sight of it. Smaller plug-and-play tubs run on a dedicated 120 V, 15 or 20 A GFCI outlet but heat slowly.