Hot Tub Steps: Types, Heights and How to Build Your Own

Last updated: September 2026

Hot tub steps are essential for safe access, but they’re often an afterthought. There’s more to them than you’d think: the type, the height, the grip and whether they’ll take a soaking wet adult stepping out in winter. Here’s a guide to the options, from basic models to steps with storage and handrails, and how to build your own.

Basic hot tub steps

The first type is a basic plastic step, like the one in the picture.

These are simple, affordable options, usually well under a hundred dollars, and they come flat-packed and are easy to assemble. They’re portable too, so you can move them as needed. If you want a budget-friendly, straightforward solution, they’re a great choice. Manufacturers to look at include Confer Plastics, Waterway and Cover Valet. There’s a range on parts4tubs.com (USA), and UK customers can start at parts4tubs.co.uk.

Steps with storage

If you want to maximise space, consider steps with built-in storage, as in the image below.

These usually cost a couple of hundred dollars and are perfect for chemicals, cleaning supplies and other essentials, making use of what would otherwise be dead space. Keep chemicals sealed and stored away from the tub water, and read hot tub shock and balancing chemicals in your hot tub for how to use them safely.

Steps with handrails

For extra stability, steps with handrails are ideal, especially if you want more support getting in and out. They cost noticeably more (I’ve seen them at several hundred dollars), and not every manufacturer makes them, so it’s worth some research. Confer Plastics offers models with handrails.

DIY hot tub steps

Now for what I specialise in: building your own. If you’re going the DIY route, here’s what you need:

• Pressure-treated lumber.
• A frame made from 2x4s or 2x6s.
• A step height (rise) of 6 to 8 inches (150 to 200mm) and a tread about 10 inches (250mm) deep.

Finish them with decking boards, either wood or composite. For safety, add something non-slip: an anti-slip strip, or sand mixed into wood stain. Keep every rise the same height, because uneven steps are what trip people up. If your tub is built into a deck, see hot tub deck ideas, and for a raised or above-ground build have a look at above-ground hot tubs. Steps on a built-in tub can also be part of the design, which is worth planning from the start with your DIY hot tub design.

Choosing the right steps

Type	Best for	Things to check
Basic plastic	Budget, portability	Stability on a level base, grip when wet
With storage	Keeping chemicals and towels tidy	Keep chemicals sealed and out of reach of children
With handrails	Older users, anyone with balance issues	Fixing and stability
DIY timber or composite	Built-in tubs and decks	Even risers, drainage, non-slip surface

Whichever type you buy, put the steps on a firm, level surface (see how to build a concrete slab or base for a hot tub), check the height matches your tub’s rim, and consider the surface in winter, when ice and wet feet make any step slippery.

Planning a full DIY build?

If you’re building an in-ground or raised tub, the entry and steps are part of the design. My DIY hot tub plans give you the dimensions, seat heights and plumbing so you know how the tub will sit.

FAQs

How high should hot tub steps be?

A rise of about 6 to 8in (150 to 200mm) per step is comfortable, and it should match your tub’s rim height so you’re not climbing too far in one go.

Are plastic hot tub steps safe?

Yes, if they’re on a firm, level base and have a good grip. If anyone using the tub has balance or mobility issues, choose steps with a handrail.

Can I build my own hot tub steps?

Yes. A 2×4 or 2×6 frame from pressure-treated lumber with decking boards works well. Add an anti-slip finish.

Do hot tub steps need to be non-slip?

Absolutely. People will be stepping out wet, and often in the cold, so use anti-slip strips, textured decking or sand in the stain.

Where can I buy hot tub steps?

Look at manufacturers such as Confer Plastics, Waterway and Cover Valet. I have a selection on parts4tubs.com in the USA, and parts4tubs.co.uk in the UK.

Got a question about your own build? Drop it 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