Number of jets, number of seats, side lengths, how many gallons; there are a lot of numbers and measurements thrown around when talking about the specs of a hot tub. These numbers are all important and should be looked at; however, there are a couple of measurements that tend to get overlooked when thinking about a hot tub – the height and depth of the tub.
Knowing the height and depth of your hot tub will obviously be necessary if you are planning to build decking around your tub, or when determining if you need to add steps to make it easier to access. You also might want to know these things to make sure that the water depth is appropriate for your height.
Defining Terms
Before we get into things any further, let us define some terms. When talking about the depth of a hot tub, people are referring to the actual water level. When the height measurement is given for a hot tub that is the actual wall measurement. It is important to distinguish between the two because the depth of a hot tub is usually 5-6” less than the measurement of the walls. That can leave a big discrepancy if you are making plans off of the wrong measurement.
How Deep Is It
Now that we have defined our terms, let us get down to the meat of things. Hot tubs are typically around 36” high with a depth of about 31”. Of course, that can vary. Some are as shallow as 24” deep with 28” walls, but that is not as common. The average tub will not exceed 42″ high with a depth of 36”. Most people agree that anything higher is just too much and difficult to get in and out of. By keeping hot tubs around 36”, people find they get a more comfortable soak.
Deeper Isn’t Always Better
This mindset can be difficult to get used to because it might seem like deeper is better. In reality, a deeper tub means more water to heat. Not just more water, but unnecessary water. Think about it, when you are soaking in a hot tub you are sitting down so you really don’t need as much water as you think to get a nice relaxing soak.
Steps
If you do go with a deeper hot tub, closer to 42”, you will definitely want to add some sort of steps to your tub. Most people report that is difficult to climb in and out of a 42” hot tub without having some sort of steps to assist them. That being said, if you or the people using your hot tub are on the shorter side, an average 36” hot tub may need a few steps as well. When adding steps to a hot tub there really is no standard. Some people take the steps all the way from the bottom to the top. While others, just add a few steps so that leg lift isn’t quite so high. The choice is really yours.
Paying attention to the water depth and wall height will help to ensure that you know exactly what you are getting. At Texas Hot Tub Company, we want our customers to be 100 percent satisfied with their purchase, so come out to the showroom and take a look at our Caldera hot tubs for yourself. There is really no substitution for seeing the height difference in-person before you make your decision.