Redneck Hot Tub: What It Is and How to Build One Properly

Last updated: September 2026

Redneck hot tub? If you’re not keen on spending a fortune on a fancy hot tub, and you like the idea of something simpler and more rustic that won’t break the bank, it might be time to consider one.

A redneck hot tub, also known as a hillbilly hot tub or a cowboy hot tub, is a DIY hot tub made from basic materials: usually a stock tank, a heat source and some plumbing. It won’t have all the bells and whistles of a shop-bought tub, but it’s a fun, practical way to relax outdoors. In this post I’ll cover what one is, how to heat it, how to add jets and filtration, and how to keep the water clean and safe. So grab a cold beer, put on your overalls, and let’s get started.

What is a redneck hot tub?

A redneck hot tub is a DIY hot tub made from cheap, easy-to-find materials. That’s usually a large stock tank, which is a galvanised steel trough built to hold drinking water for livestock, plus a way to heat the water and some plumbing. In the UK you’d usually buy the same thing as a water trough or horse trough.

You fill the tank, heat the water to a comfortable temperature and climb in. They’re usually set up outdoors, on a patio or in a rural backyard, for a simple, rustic soak. Round tanks are typically about 2ft (60cm) tall and 6–10ft (1.8–3m) across, so there’s room for a few people in the bigger ones.

Basic vs proper: two ways to build one

	Basic redneck tub	Plumbed stock tank hot tub
What it is	Tank, hose and a heat source	Tank plus pump, filter, spa pack and heater, and optional jets
Water	Goes cloudy and green quickly, so it’s often emptied and refilled	Filtered and sanitised, so it stays filled for months
Heating	Light the fire and wait	Thermostatically controlled and ready when you are
Jets	None	Optional: 4, 8 or 16 jets, plus a blower
Best for	Off-grid spots and occasional use	A hot tub you’ll use every week

If you’re going to build yourself a good-quality redneck hot tub, you want to keep the water clear and bacteria-free, and you don’t want to be filling and emptying it for single uses. That’s what filtration and sanitiser are for. The full step-by-step build is in How to build the ultimate DIY stock tank hot tub.

Can my redneck hot tub have jets and filtration?

Yes, it can have both, although it takes more planning and plumbing than a basic tub.

Filtration is the part that matters most. A pump pulls water from suction fittings low in the tank, pushes it through a filter and the heater, and returns it to the tank. Use two suction drains rather than one, so a single blocked drain can’t trap anyone. A skimmer to take leaves and debris off the surface is well worth adding too.

Jets need a pump with enough flow for the number of jets, and jet bodies that clamp through the steel wall with a gasket on each side. Protect every cut edge of the tank with zinc-rich paint before you fit anything, because cutting removes the galvanising and that’s where rust starts. There’s more on choosing jets in DIY hot tub jets.

You can buy the parts individually, but it does add cost and complexity, so research and plan carefully before you start. That’s why I put together complete kits (more below).

What heating options are there for a redneck hot tub?

There are several ways to heat a redneck hot tub, depending on your budget, location and how quickly you want it hot:

• Wood-fired stove or heater. The traditional, rustic way. Water circulates through a coil or heat exchanger in a stove, or a submersible stove sits in the tank. It’s cheap to run if you have wood and works off-grid, but it needs a steady supply of wood and you have to watch the temperature. Keep hot surfaces away from bathers. See Off-grid wood-fired hot tub.
• Propane or natural gas heater. Fitted outside the tank, heating the water as it passes through. It’s the fastest way to heat and gives consistent heat, but it needs a gas supply, and running costs depend on your gas price. Use a qualified gas installer. See Gas heat for hot tubs.
• Electric, via a spa pack. The heater sits in the spa pack outside the tank, alongside the controls for the pumps and filtration. It’s easy to install and gives controlled, consistent heat, but it’s slow on a big tank and the most expensive to run. Never put a domestic immersion heater or any improvised element in the water.
• Air source heat pump. The cheapest to run. The US Department of Energy puts pool heat pumps at a COP of 3 to 7, meaning 3 to 7 units of heat for each unit of electricity. They cost more upfront and lose efficiency in cold weather. See The ultimate guide to air source heat pumps for hot tubs.
• Solar. Free to run once installed, but it won’t give consistent heat in cold or cloudy weather, so treat it as a top-up. See Can I heat a hot tub with solar power?

Whichever you choose, don’t go above 40°C (104°F). The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says hot tub water should never exceed 104°F. That’s easy to overshoot with a wood-fired heater, so use a thermometer. For a full comparison of running costs, see What is the best method to heat my DIY hot tub?

Keep it safe: electrics and bonding

A steel tank full of water plus electricity needs doing properly. Whatever heating you use, anything electrical needs its own dedicated circuit with RCD (UK) or GFCI (USA) protection, installed by a qualified electrician. In the UK a new circuit is notifiable work under Part P. In the USA, hot tubs come under NEC Article 680, which includes bonding rules for metal parts, so with a steel tank, bonding matters. See A guide to hot tub electrics and Ground bonding a hot tub.

Can I buy a plumbing kit for my redneck hot tub?

Yes, you can. In my store I have complete stock tank plumbing kits, which are exactly what a redneck tub needs. You just add the tank and the pipe. There are four versions: heating and filtration only, or with 4 jets, 8 jets or 16 jets. They’re priced from $1,399 to $1,799.

If you’d rather source the parts yourself, my Ultimate Stock Tank Hot Tub DIY Guide has five plumbing layouts, each with a bill of materials. Add the stock tank control room guide if you’re building an enclosure for the equipment. For a real build, see Stock tank hot tub kit: a case study and Adding a DIY stock tank hot tub to an Airbnb property.

What are the sanitisation options for a redneck hot tub?

Once the water stays in the tank, it needs sanitising. Warm water is exactly what bacteria like, so this isn’t optional.

• Chlorine. Common, effective and available as granules, tablets or liquid. Aim for 3–5ppm free chlorine. The CDC recommends at least 3ppm in hot tubs, and advises against stabilised chlorine (with cyanuric acid) in hot tubs. Don’t let tablets sit against the steel.
• Bromine. Works in a similar way and holds up well in hot water. Many people find it gentler on the skin and it has less smell. Aim for 4–6ppm. See Bromine or chlorine?
• Saltwater. A salt system turns salt into chlorine. It’s convenient in some hot tubs, but not in a galvanised stock tank. The permanently high chloride level attacks the zinc coating and speeds up rust. See Saltwater in a hot tub.
• Ozone. A powerful oxidiser that cuts down the amount of chlorine or bromine you need, but it isn’t enough on its own. See Ozone in a hot tub.

Keep the pH at 7.2–7.6 and total alkalinity at 80–120ppm. That’s good for bathers, and it also protects the zinc on the tank, which corrodes fastest when the pH drops out of range. Test regularly, and more often when it’s busy. The full guide is in Hot tub chemical levels.

Keep the heat in

A steel tank loses heat fast, from the sides and especially from the open top. A well-fitting insulated cover is the single biggest saving you can make, and it keeps leaves, animals and small children out. Insulating the sides and standing the tank on an insulated, level base helps too. See DIY hot tub cover and DIY hot tub insulation.

Common redneck hot tub mistakes

• No filtration, so the water turns green in days.
• Improvised electrics, such as extension leads, immersion heaters or no RCD/GFCI. Don’t.
• Letting a wood-fired tub get too hot. Keep a thermometer in it.
• Unprotected cut edges on the steel, which rust first.
• A salt system on a galvanised tank.
• An uneven or weak base. A full tank is heavy, so think twice before putting one on an existing deck.
• No cover.

If you’re comparing a redneck tub with other budget builds, see What is the cheapest hot tub to build? and 5 alternatives to buying a hot tub.

Ready to build yours?

Building a redneck hot tub is a fun, creative project. With a stock tank, a proper plumbing kit and a few fittings, you get a DIY hot tub that’s functional, stylish and a lot cheaper than most shop-bought tubs. You’ll also learn a fair bit about plumbing and how a hot tub works along the way. Whether it’s for a date night, a family get-together or a solo soak, it’s a great place to be.

Start with the complete stock tank hot tub plumbing kit, or the Ultimate Stock Tank Hot Tub DIY Guide if you’d rather source the parts yourself.

FAQs

What is a redneck hot tub made of?

Usually a galvanised steel stock tank (a livestock water trough), plus a heat source and, ideally, a pump, filter and heater. In the UK the same tank is often sold as a horse trough or water trough.

How do you heat a stock tank hot tub?

With a wood-fired stove, a propane or gas heater, an electric heater in a spa pack or an air source heat pump. A heat pump is the cheapest to run, and gas is the fastest.

Can you use a salt system in a stock tank hot tub?

I wouldn’t. The high chloride level attacks the zinc coating on a galvanised tank and speeds up rust. Use chlorine or bromine instead.

How long does a stock tank hot tub last?

It depends mostly on rust. Protect the cut edges, keep the water balanced, avoid salt, and consider a liner or immersion-grade coating, and it will last far longer.

Do I need an electrician for a stock tank hot tub?

Yes, for anything electrical. It needs a dedicated RCD- or GFCI-protected circuit, and a steel tank may need bonding. In the UK it’s notifiable under Part P.

Building a redneck tub? Tell me how you’re heating yours in the comments below. I read them all.

Yeehaw!

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