Pros and Cons of Building a Hot Tub: Build or Buy?

Last updated: September 2026

Building your own hot tub can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. I should know: I built mine because I couldn’t get a shop-bought tub into the space I wanted, and I’ve since helped more than 1,500 people build theirs.

But there are real downsides too, and you should weigh them up before you pick up a spade. This post lays out the pros and cons of building versus buying so you can decide whether the project is right for you.

Build or buy: the quick comparison

Option	Typical cost	Best for
Inflatable	£300–800 (UK); $400–1,500 (US)	Trying hot tubbing on a tight budget. HomeGuide says they last up to about 5 years.
Hard shell (acrylic), bought	£2,000–20,000+ (UK); $4,000–18,000 plus $1,000–3,000 to install (US)	Quick, warrantied, and no building
Professionally built in-ground spa	$8,000–25,000 custom (US)	A permanent custom tub without doing the work yourself
DIY stock tank tub	Around $2,000–2,500	The cheapest proper DIY hot tub
DIY block or ICF in-ground tub	From around $6,000 (my 2021 estimate), more for bigger or fancier builds	Full control over size, shape, finish and spec

Sources: UK bought-tub prices from Hot Tub Geek’s 2026 price guide; US bought-tub prices from HomeGuide; in-ground spa prices from HomeGuide’s in-ground hot tub guide; stock tank costs from my post What is the cheapest hot tub to build?. Prices vary a lot by size, region and spec, so treat these as a rough guide.

The pros of building your own hot tub

Pro: complete control over the design

This is the big one. You choose the size and shape, where it goes, whether it’s in-ground, raised or half-and-half, the finish, the seat heights, where the jets go and how it’s heated. It’s your design, a total one-off.

It also solves problems a shop-bought tub can’t. My own reason for building was simple: I couldn’t get a shop-bought tub into the space I wanted, and there was no rear access for a crane. I’ve told the full story in Why build a hot tub when I can buy one? If you’re wondering what makes a design work, see What makes a good DIY hot tub design?

Pro: better components, and you can fix it yourself

Many cheaper shop-bought tubs use components that will eventually fail and can be hard to replace. When you build your own, you choose them: a branded spa pack, pumps and jets that are widely available. And because you plumbed it, you know exactly where every pipe goes when something needs attention years later. That matters more than people think.

Pro: you can build it now

Back in 2021, lead times for shop-bought tubs were horrendous. Industry colleagues were telling me some manufacturers already had full order books for 2022, and people were waiting six to nine months. That was a genuine reason to build.

That’s changed. By mid-2022 the trade press was already reporting that waiting times were coming down, and that pandemic backlog has largely cleared. So I wouldn’t build just to avoid a wait any more. But if you want to start this weekend, you can.

Pro: it can offer good value for what you get

Building isn’t automatically cheap (see the cons), but you get a lot for your money. My own build came in at around £5,000, which got me a much bigger, higher-spec tub than a plastic shell at a similar price. Compared with a premium hard shell or a professionally built in-ground spa, a well-planned DIY build usually works out well. You can also spread the cost over the build.

Pro: pride

Because your hot tub isn’t a standard one, you can take pride in the fact that it’s your design and your specification, built with your own blood, sweat and tears. There’s no bigger compliment than someone asking where you bought that “hot tub kit” from!

Does a built-in hot tub add value to your home?

A permanent tub can make your house more appealing to the right buyer, and unlike a plastic tub it stays with the house. But the evidence that it adds measurable value is thin. One US appraiser told HomeLight he’d appraised many homes with built-in hot tubs but didn’t see any major value add on their own, and some buyers see a hot tub as maintenance rather than a bonus.

So build a hot tub because you’ll use it and love it, not as an investment.

The cons of building your own hot tub

Con: you need some DIY skills

You need to be confident mixing concrete, laying blocks, gluing up PVC pipework and following a plan. This isn’t a project for a complete novice. I can help with the information, the designs and the materials, but you have to put it together. Building it for you isn’t a service I offer.

If that’s not for you, bring in a general contractor and give them the plans. Plenty of my customers have done exactly that, and some have even had pool contractors build a hot tub using my methodology and designs. If you go that route, read How to avoid mistakes when using contractors to build your hot tub first.

Con: it takes time

Building a hot tub isn’t an afternoon project. It takes patience and attention to detail, and the willingness to wait while everything sets. Believe me, leaving the tile grout to cure for two weeks is the longest two weeks of your life. You just want to fill it up and use it!

It’s possible to build one in four to six weeks in summer if you have plenty of time and everything goes to plan, but for most people with jobs and families it’s longer. For a realistic picture, read How long does a DIY hot tub build take? A real-life case study.

Don’t rush any stage. A bad plumbing connection costs you more time and money later, for example when you flood your control room. I’m speaking from experience here!

Con: you need good weather

You can’t build a hot tub in the garage and move it into place. It’s going in your garden or backyard, and you need dry spells, ideally a couple of days at a time with no rain forecast, especially when you’re pouring the base or laying blocks. Concrete, mortar, render and waterproofing all have temperature and weather limits on their data sheets, so check them. Depending on where you live, the weather can be a real challenge.

Con: it’s not cheap

Building anything is expensive, and a proper block or ICF hot tub is no exception. Back in 2021 I reckoned a decent DIY hot tub would set you back at least $6,000, even building it yourself. Material and component prices have gone up since, so treat that as a floor rather than a budget. The cheapest route by far is a stock tank hot tub.

Think about running costs as well. For comparison, Checkatrade puts a hard-shell tub at around £30–60 a month in the UK, depending on energy prices. A well-insulated DIY tub with a heat pump can do very well here. See How I reduced the running costs of my hot tub by 66%.

Con: there’s no manufacturer’s warranty, because you’re the manufacturer

Not having someone to call when something isn’t working can be daunting. The individual components (pumps, spa pack, heater) have their own warranties, but the tub as a whole doesn’t. If the shell leaks, it’s on you to find and fix it. The good news is that in my experience, nine times out of ten a leak is in the plumbing rather than the structure.

Con: permits and regulations are your job

With a shop-bought tub, the dealer usually tells you what you need. With a build, it’s up to you. In the UK a garden hot tub doesn’t usually need planning permission, but the electrics do need to comply with Building Regulations. In the USA, many areas want a permit for an in-ground spa. See Do I need a permit for my hot tub? and A guide to hot tub electrics. Whatever you build yourself, get a qualified electrician for the supply.

Build vs buy: which is right for you?

• Buy a hard shell if you want the simplest route, are happy with a standard size and want to be using it quickly.
• Buy an inflatable if you want to see whether you’ll actually use a hot tub before spending real money. There are more options in 5 alternatives to buying a hot tub.
• Build a stock tank tub if you want a proper hot tub on a budget and enjoy a weekend project.
• Build a block or ICF tub if you want something permanent, custom and built around your space, and you have the time and skills (or a contractor).

If you’re still weighing up whether a hot tub is right for you at all, read What are the pros and cons of hot tub ownership? And before you start, have a look at Avoid these 7 DIY hot tub mistakes and What I’d change if I built my DIY hot tub again.

Planning your own build?

If you decide to build, don’t work it out as you go like I did. My DIY hot tub plans give you CAD drawings with every dimension, the plumbing layout, a full parts list and the video course, so you (or your contractor) know exactly what to build.

If your space is an odd shape or you want something truly custom, try the free Tub & Pool Designer Pro software, and I can turn your design into architectural CAD and a 3D plumbing design. On a tighter budget, the complete stock tank hot tub plumbing kit is the quickest way to a proper DIY tub.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to build or buy a hot tub?

It depends what you compare. A stock tank build is cheaper than most hard-shell tubs. A block or ICF in-ground tub costs more than a budget hard shell but usually less than a premium tub or a professionally built in-ground spa of the same size.

How long does it take to build a hot tub?

A stock tank tub can be a weekend or two. A block or ICF in-ground tub is typically weeks to months of evenings and weekends, including curing times you can’t rush.

Does a built-in hot tub add value to a house?

Not reliably. It stays with the house and can appeal to some buyers, but appraisers rarely see a significant value increase from a hot tub on its own.

Do I need planning permission or a permit to build a hot tub?

In England you usually don’t need planning permission for a garden hot tub, but the electrics must meet Building Regulations. In the USA, many cities and counties require a permit for an in-ground spa. Check locally.

What skills do I need to build a hot tub?

Basic concreting and blockwork, PVC pipe gluing, and the ability to follow a plan. Leave the electrical supply to a qualified electrician.

Are you weighing up building versus buying? Tell me about your plans in the comments below. I read them all.

Cheers,
Andi

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Thanks - Andi

 

Hi, Andi here. I own Buildahottub.com and also write all of the articles and info pages on the site. Some years back now, I built my own hot tub but struggled to find the information I needed. So, once my tub was complete, I started this website to help others in their own pursuit of hot tub and plunge pools DIY building information.

Fast forward to 2025, I've helped over 1400+ DIY customers just like you all over the world build hot tubs and pools. Have a good look around the site, there are lots of resources here. Please do get in touch if I can help you. - Cheers, Andi