Contents
At a glance
- Advantage: programmable heating, with no smoke and no supervision.
- Limitation: a full heat-up often takes far longer than with wood.
- Cost: around 52 kWh to heat 1,500 L from 10 to 40 °C (roughly £14 at the current price-cap rate of about 26p/kWh), before losses.
- The sweet spot: the wood + electric hybrid.
How does an electric wooden hot tub work?
An electric heater, combined with a circulation pump, heats the water in the tub. It is often paired with filtration, which lets you keep the water for longer. Heating is controlled by a thermostat, sometimes remotely.
How long does it take to heat?
Heating time depends directly on the heater’s output. A worked example: raising 1,500 litres by 30 °C takes around 52 kWh. With a 3 kW heater, that is roughly 17 hours, not counting losses. A more powerful heater shortens the wait accordingly. In practice, you pre-heat the day before or keep the water at temperature.
By comparison, a wood-burning stove usually reaches temperature in 1.5 to 3 hours. That is why many buyers opt for a hybrid model.
Electric, wood or hybrid: the comparison
| Wood | Electric | Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat-up | Fast (1.5 to 3 h) | Slow without a powerful heater | Fast on wood |
| Ease of use | Fire to tend | Programmable | Both |
| Running cost | Price of firewood | Price of electricity | Your choice |
| Installation | No connection needed | Dedicated electrical circuit | Dedicated electrical circuit |
| Smoke and neighbours | To be considered | None | Depends on use |
| Purchase price | The lowest | Higher | The highest |
Who is it for?
- You will use it several times a week: electric or hybrid with filtration saves draining and reheating every time.
- You live in town or close to neighbours: no smoke.
- Holiday let or glamping site: guests find a tub that is ready, without handling a fire.
If you mostly use it at weekends and enjoy the ritual of the fire, a wood-fired hot tub remains simpler and cheaper.
Electric wooden hot tub prices
Expect to pay generally a few hundred to more than a thousand euros more than for an equivalent wood-fired model, depending on output, filtration and options. Electric models with jets usually sit in the high-end tier, above €5,000. Add the cost of the electrical work and, for UK buyers, delivery and any import charges. See all prices.
Electric or wood-fired, the water is set the same way: 37 to 40 °C for a comfortable soak. Durations and precautions in our guide to hot tub temperature.
Sources and method
Figures checked on 4 November 2026. Prices taken from the makers’ public product pages; rules and data from the official sources below.
- Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges — Ofgem : 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026: 26.32p/kWh for electricity (Direct Debit, GB average)
Frequently asked questions
Does an electric wooden hot tub use a lot of power?
Fully heating 1,500 litres from 10 to 40 °C takes around 52 kWh — at the current price-cap rate of about 26p/kWh, roughly £14 — before heat losses. After that, keeping the water hot under an insulated lid uses much less. Your bill therefore depends mainly on how often you drain the tub and how well it is insulated.
Can I plug an electric hot tub into a normal socket?
It depends on the heater’s power. In every case, the installation must meet the rules for outdoor equipment near water (RCD protection, a suitable circuit). In England and Wales, a new outdoor circuit is typically notifiable electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations: have the connection carried out or signed off by a qualified, registered electrician.
What is a hybrid hot tub?
A model that combines a wood-burning stove with an electric heater. Wood is used to bring the water up to temperature quickly, electricity to pre-heat or keep it hot. It is often the best compromise for frequent use.