Choosing the Best Hot Tub for Your Home: 5 Brands Compared
Picking a hot tub is one of those purchases where the sheer volume of options can make the process feel more stressful than relaxing. With dozens of brands, hundreds of...
What to Know Before You Buy a Hot Tub in the UK
Buying a hot tub involves more than picking a shape and a colour. Understanding the practical side - power requirements, insulation quality, running costs, and installation - makes the difference between a purchase you are happy with for years and one that brings unexpected complications. This section covers the key decisions to consider before you commit.
Electric vs Wood-Fired Hot Tubs
Electric hot tubs connect to your mains supply and hold your preferred temperature, so the tub is ready whenever you want it. Most smaller models in our range are 13A plug-and-play, running from a standard UK socket without any additional electrical work. Larger models typically require a dedicated 32A supply, meaning a qualified electrician will need to install a circuit in line with Part P building regulations and BS 7671 standards.
Wood-fired hot tubs work quite differently. They heat via a wood-burning stove, either integrated into the tub or positioned externally, and reach bathing temperature in roughly two to three hours depending on the model and ambient conditions. No electrical connection is required, which makes them a practical option for gardens without a nearby power supply. The experience is also distinctly different - slower, more deliberate, and for many buyers, that is part of the appeal.
Capacity, Jet Count, and What They Actually Mean
Hot tub capacity is listed in persons, but the practical figure matters more than the headline number. A four-person tub used regularly by two people is a very different purchase to a six-person model bought for family and social use. Think honestly about how you will actually use it.
Jet count is frequently used as a marketing figure, but placement and quality matter more than volume. A well-positioned set of jets targeting the lower back and shoulders will deliver a more satisfying hydrotherapy experience than a high jet count spread thinly across less effective areas of the shell.
If you are buying for commercial use - a holiday let, wellness studio, or gym facility - it is worth speaking to our team directly. We can advise on models suited to higher-frequency use and discuss professional installation and longer-term support options.
Hot Tub Running Costs, Heat Retention, and Which Model Suits You
The question most buyers ask before committing is practical: what will this actually cost to run each month? It is a fair concern, and the honest answer is that it depends significantly on which model you choose and how well it retains heat.
Energy consumption varies considerably between hot tub types. According to consumer energy research, an energy-efficient hot tub uses 878 fewer kilowatt-hours per year than a typical model. This difference adds up over the product’s lifetime. That figure deserves to be part of your buying conversation, not an afterthought.
Electric Hot Tubs, Plug-and-Play Convenience with Thoughtful Running Costs
Electric hot tubs in our range fall into two categories: 13A plug-and-play models and hardwired units that require a dedicated supply installed by a qualified electrician, in line with BS 7671 and Part P building regulations.
Plug-and-play models are the most accessible starting point for most UK homeowners. They connect to a standard 13A socket, need no additional electrical work, and can be operational the day of delivery. They tend to heat more slowly and suit smaller capacities, typically two to four persons.
Hardwired electric models offer more power, faster heat-up times, and are better suited to larger tubs accommodating five or more people. If you are planning a permanent garden installation with a proper base, a hardwired unit is usually the more capable long-term choice.
Whichever electrical format you choose, insulation quality is the single most important factor governing running costs. Well-insulated cabinets with full-foam construction retain heat far more effectively, reducing the energy needed to maintain your set temperature between sessions.
Wood-Fired Hot Tubs, Lower Running Costs and Off-Grid Appeal
Wood-fired hot tubs remove electricity from the heating equation entirely. They heat using firewood, which makes them well-suited to gardens without a convenient power supply nearby, or for buyers who prefer a simpler, more traditional experience.
The trade-off is time. A wood-fired tub takes two to three hours to reach bathing temperature from cold, so spontaneous evening dips require planning. For households that treat the hot tub as a weekly ritual rather than a daily habit, this is rarely a practical problem.
Running costs are typically lower because firewood is the only ongoing fuel expense - there is no pump controller drawing electricity overnight to maintain temperature. Wood-fired models in our range are constructed from high-quality Nordic spruce and Canadian red cedar, both species well-suited to outdoor use in the British climate, and each comes with a manufacturer warranty included as standard.
Matching the Right Model to Your Household
A few practical questions usually point buyers toward the right choice.
- How often will you use it? Daily users generally benefit from an electric model that holds temperature without reheating from scratch each time.
- How many people will use it regularly? Smaller households of two to three people often find plug-and-play electric models entirely sufficient. Larger families or those entertaining regularly tend to prefer a five-person-plus hardwired or wood-fired tub.
- Is a power supply readily accessible in your garden? If not, a wood-fired model sidesteps the cost and disruption of running a dedicated electrical circuit.
- How important are running costs? Premium electric models with advanced insulation minimise heat loss between sessions, keeping water at your chosen temperature for longer and reducing energy draw - a factor worth comparing carefully across models.
If you are unsure which format suits your garden, budget, and habits, our team is happy to talk it through before you commit. You will speak to a real person, not a chatbot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How energy-efficient are modern hot tubs?
Significantly more so than most people expect. Today’s premium hot tubs rely on two engineering priorities to keep running costs manageable: insulation quality and pump efficiency. Advanced perimeter insulation systems trap warmth inside the cabinet rather than losing it to ambient air - a meaningful difference during colder British months. High-performance pumps and filtration systems reduce the energy burden of maintaining water cleanliness and temperature at the same time. When both systems work well together, a well-insulated hot tub running on a standard 13A supply can be considerably cheaper to operate than older designs suggest.
Do I need a special power supply?
It depends on the model. Plug-and-play hot tubs connect to a standard 13A socket and require no additional electrical work, making them the straightforward choice for most residential gardens. Larger models with higher jet counts or extra heating capacity typically require a dedicated circuit installed to UK standards by a qualified electrician. If you are unsure which supply your chosen model needs, our team can advise before you commit.
Can a hot tub be used year-round in the UK?
Yes, and for many customers, that’s exactly the point. A well-insulated hot tub holds temperature efficiently even through winter, and soaking outdoors on a cold evening is genuinely enjoyable. Wood-fired models heat independently of mains electricity, which some buyers prefer as a more self-sufficient option through the colder months.
What is included with every hot tub from Heracles Wellness?
Every hot tub we sell includes a manufacturer warranty, free delivery to UK mainland addresses, and access to our team for pre-purchase guidance and post-delivery support. You will speak to a real person, not a chatbot. Installation is available as an additional service if you need someone on-site to get everything set up correctly.
I am still not sure which model suits me. What should I do?
Get in touch. Our team has guided over 1,000 customers through purchases like this, and we never pressure you. Reach us by phone, email, or live chat, and we will help you narrow down the options based on your garden space, household size, and budget.
Let customers speak for us
West Sussex Sept 2026
I am very happy with the Camilla Sauna
I am very happy with the Camilla Sauna. I elected for the Sauna to be constructed by Heracles which I'd recommend as the fitters know exactly what they are doing and it's more than a normal DIY job. My elecrician found it trickey to wire in but once sorted the results are excellent. The Sauna is a good size and will fit 4 people easily. It heats up quickly and looks good. Great value against some others.
Camilla 3–4 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
Darius
Great sauna, smooth order and installation process
Had the Camilla 3-4 person sauna installed by the Heracles team — delivered and fully assembled the same day.
Our electrician needed a bit of time to get to grips with the wiring, but Abdul from customer support helped talk him through it. Abdul was helpful throughout, always quick to respond to questions.
Heats up quickly in the current weather, though we haven't tried it in winter yet so can't speak to performance in colder conditions.
Very happy to recommend Heracles.
Camilla 3–4 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
Graham O
Kuro Infra Red Sauna
From my initial enquiry to installation Keith from Heracles has been very helpful. The whole buying journey was smooth and customer focused. The installation team were on time and cleaned up after installing the sauna. The sauna itself is great quality and looks even better than the website photos. Highly recommend this product
Kuro 2 Person Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna with Red Light Therapy
Jeremy Lake District
Great sauna but more importantly great service
Summary: A great sauna and more importantly a very good experience buying, installing and minor issue resolution.
I bought this sauna for a holiday let I own in the Lake District. Keith and the team talked me through the options particularly as this is quite an exposed location. Unlike the other companies I spoke to, they were very upfront about the work needed and costs to install above the unit purchase price.
Unit bought and arranged a few weeks ahead when I didnt have guests and I would be in the area and on hand. Team and pack arrived at the right time and installed without issue. The electrician then attended the following day from a list of recommendations who also did a straight forward ontime on price good job.
A couple of months on there was a minor issue with the door and teh huum controller, both sorted very quickly and not noticed by the holiday guests
I am sure you can buy a cheaper sauna but in this case I have no issues during and after the installation. Will use again when I need more equipment like this in future
Leil® Round Cube Double Outdoor Sauna with Changing Room 5-6 Person
Sam G
Exceptional ice bath!
This is a very high quality product, backed by exceptional service from all members of the team.
The ice bath is beautifully constructed and feels really to use The seat is deep enough to get water over the shoulders and you can fully submerge as needed.
The chiller is easy to use on the app, gets the water cold quickly and maintains a clean and cold bath ready to use any time.
Pairs beautifully with the sauna, thank you Keith, Pawel and the rest of the team!
Glacier Cold Plunge with 2HP Smart Chiller
Joao Pedro Jorge
Brilliant and spacious sauna
We're super happy with the Leil Patio sauna. Not only it looks great it seems extremely well built. Keith's team did a great job assembling it and we're looking forward to many sauna sessions.
The changing rooms is a lot more spacious than it seems in the photos and definitely a plus for a break without having to go outside.
Leil® Patio M 5 Person Outdoor Sauna with Changing Room
Rog L
Löyly in Lancashire!
I recently received the Camilla sauna from Heracles Wellness, and the entire experience, from initial enquiry through to installation and daily use has been absolutely first-class.
A massive thank you to Keith and the wider sales team. Keith was fantastic to deal with: knowledgeable, patient, and completely transparent throughout the process. Keith answered all my questions with genuine expertise and made sure I chose the exact setup suited to my space and needs.
The assembly team deserves equal praise. They arrived promptly, worked cleanly and efficiently, and paid meticulous attention to detail during the build. They treated our property with total respect and took the time to walk us through the controls and maintenance before leaving.
As for the Camilla sauna itself, it has exceeded all expectations!
Stunning Design: It looks gorgeous—the craftsmanship, wood finish, and overall aesthetics make it a real focal point.
Flawless (and easy) operation: It heats up quickly, maintains consistent temperature effortlessly, and delivers an incredible sauna experience every single session. I'm generally having 2-3 sessions as week at ~90deg for 20mins.
If you are considering investing in a high-quality sauna and want seamless customer service from people who genuinely care about what they do, look no further than these guys. I cannot recommend Keith and the entire HW team highly enough!
Camilla 3–4 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
Anonymous
Absolutely delighted with the modus sauna
Absolutely delighted with the modus sauna. Very high quality product. I would highly recommend this model as the kit is high spec, I put it together with my dad who is a tradesman. If you build this yourself I would recommend getting someone who is experienced in tools/building. We got an electrician to install all the heater. Couldn’t fault the customer service with the Heracles and Wellness team who kept me updated with the delivery of sauna and any queries I had. A special mention to Abdullah who has been really efficient. If buying a sauna would highly recommend Heracles and Wellness.
Modus Outdoor Sauna 3-4 Person with Harvia Cilindro PC70 Heater and Stones - Kit
Chris Trodd
First class service and highly competitive pricing
First class service and highly competitive pricing.
The whole process went really well.
We had an issue with the lifter supplied and so it was returned and a timely refund issued.
The delivery team from Trinity spa's were first class too. All highly professional.
Remember the tub comes without a flex and plug so we purchased from Screwfix Flexi cable 10m coil 3 core 1.5mm and a plug ! Easy installation.
If you purchase a rear mounted lifter, I suggest you add a additional piece of 3" x 2" to attach to the main frame to help support the lifter.
I am running the tub on eco3spa chlorine free products. Water remains crystal clear and odourless.
All in all a great investment and a lot of fun too.
Equinox EQ570 Lite 5 Person Hot Tub 13 Amp
Natalie Allison
So pleased with our Camille cube sauna
Really pleased with my Camille cube sauna. I did lots of research before purchasing and Heracles came out top. Evem our beach sauna guy sang their praises. Keith and team were great, moving delivery date when I wasn't ready and with lots of advice during our build. Though I had my own joiner I would recommend using their installation team as they have the expertise. We are so happy with the purchase and look forward to enjoying the benefits for many years to come.
Camilla 3–4 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
Steve Daniel
Honest Review…..and its Big Yes from me
The only way to truly rate a product is by considering the whole process start to finish and I will say with all honesty, that I found the information before hand and the purchasing process very satisfying. It certainly helped that the web page was extremely thorough so there was no doubt about what you were receiving.
The delivery was seamless on a date of my choice, and the team of fitters who turned up shortly afterwards, were very polite and friendly. I had concerns over freshly laid grass but I need not have worried. They laid a ground sheet and worked precisely and efficiently to a finish about 4hrs later. Although they left the waste, it was left tidily and made disposing of it a simple task. A real pleasure to deal with tradesmen who clearly enjoyed their work and did it with an old fashioned ethic.
I’ve since treated the outside of the sauna but not the inside so I’m yet to use it but it blends wonderfully in with my garden.
On a final note, I reviewed and researched garden saunas for a long time before deciding that Herecles ticked all my boxes. The materials used plus the extras made it stand out from the crowd and I can honestly say that the reality certainly matched the hype.
Camilla Mini 2 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
Calum Smith
New Garden Sauna
Our Camilla 3-4 person suana does exactly as stated on the box. It heats up quickly and you can get in after about 20 min although 30 allows it to reach the temperature we like. I built it myself and found that it went together relatively easily. You have to be a bit careful with the thermowood as it is very brittle and when interlocking the ends can sometimes split away but this is not a real issue if you are careful with it.
I had my local electrician wire up the heater and again that was a relatively simple job.
We have only had two people in it to date but more than enough room for 3 or 4.
Bought a cheap and cheerful cold water plunge pool and works well with the sauna.
Overall very pleased and would recommend one if you are looking at a simple set up for your garden.
Camilla 3–4 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
Neil Martin
Superb in every way!
They say ‘happy wife, happy life’. Well I can vouch for that, we are both extremely happy with our latest addition to home set-up.
From the beginning the sauna was easy to purchase and get delivered (with in a couple of weeks due to stock levels). I had to hand ball off the lorry as the pallet it comes in was too big for the tail lift but that’s about the most difficult part of the whole process.
Instructions were fairly straightforward though I am a builder so have experience in this sort of thing. But most handy DIYers will find this easy enough to build.
If you plan in the time to paint various woods at different stages of the build it will help. i.e paint interior wall and benches prior to fitting the benches makes its easier to reach those otherwise hard to reach places.
The guys sent a really great link with electrical details needed for your electrician so you can prep ahead of time and get materials in place for their arrival. Think it took my guy about three hours to hook it up.
Quality of the thermo wood is excellent keeps the heat in really well. The Heater is easy to operate and within 20mins it’s ready to jump in. Max heat will in time reach 90+degrees which is too hot for me.
Already have friends and family asking about it.
Camilla 3–4 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
Dean Wilde
Amazing product, exceptional service
The quality of the black cube sauna really is top notch, from the roof shingles to the heater every component is quality.
Delivery was perfect, on time and professional. The driver contacted me on route with an ETA and went out of his way to help me get the large pallet into my garage.
I chose to build the sauna myself which was relatively straightforward and quite enjoyable. The construction guide was comprehensive and easy to follow.
We use our new sausa almost every day and couldn't be happier.
Would certainly recommend Heracles and the black cube to anyone considering an outdoor sauna.
Leil® Black Cube Classic 4 Person Outdoor Sauna Kit
Jemma
Fabulous Sauna
We are delighted with our sauna. Ordering was easy and we opted for the install option too. Make sure you use electricians willing to ask for advice from the Heracles team if needed as that supports a smooth installation. Really happy that we chose Heracles. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a quality product that does the job beautifully.
Camilla 3–4 Person Traditional Outdoor Sauna Complete Kit
What customers think about the store
Specializes in premium wellness products including saunas, hot tubs, and ice baths. Known for exceptional customer service with highly responsive support from Keith and team. Offers professional installation services with skilled teams. Products are high-quali...
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