Why Build a Hot Tub When You Can Buy One? Why I Built Mine

Last updated: September 2026

With so many plastic hot tubs on the market, why on earth would you want to build your own? It’s a fair question, and it’s the one I had to answer for myself before I started. This was the first post I ever put on this website, because it’s the story of why buildahottub.com exists at all.

The short answer is that I couldn’t get a shop-bought tub into the spot I wanted. The longer answer is that once I started looking, I found plenty of other reasons to build. Since then I’ve helped more than 1,500 people build their own, so here’s why I did it, what it got me, and when I think buying is the better call.

The real reason I built mine: I couldn’t get one in

This was the primary reason I started my own hot tub project. I just couldn’t get a shop-bought one into the space I wanted.

You hear a lot on the Facebook groups and forums about hot tubs being craned over houses. It’s a common fix, and in the UK a standard lift over a house or garden wall is typically around £300–600 for the crane hire. In my case, that wasn’t an option either. I don’t have any access to my property from the rear, and where I wanted the tub was just too far from the house to be craned over.

Bringing in the raw materials wasn’t a problem, though. Blocks, sand, cement, pipe and fittings all come through a side gate a barrow-load at a time. So for me, building made sense before I’d even thought about anything else.

If you’re in the same boat, with a tight side passage, no rear access, steps, or a spot at the far end of the garden, a built tub might be your only realistic option. The same goes for awkward spaces: a corner, a sloping garden, a narrow strip beside a patio. A shop-bought tub comes in a handful of standard sizes. A built one fits the space you’ve got. For small spaces in particular, see A small hot tub for a small backyard.

I wanted better components than the budget tubs

Hot tubs have become hugely popular. Once they were seen as a sign that someone was “doing well”. Now, for many people, they’re just part of the lifestyle. From my own experience, there’s nothing better than relaxing in the hot tub after a long, stressful day at work with a nice cold beer.

Because they’re so popular, the number of makes and models keeps growing, and the quality varies a lot. In the UK today, plug-and-play hard shell tubs start at around £2,000–5,000, mid-range tubs run £5,000–10,000, and premium brands go to £20,000 and beyond, according to Hot Tub Geek’s 2026 price guide. At the budget end, you generally get what you pay for. Some of the components used in cheaper tubs won’t last and can be hard to get hold of when they fail.

When I built my tub, I only used branded components from the big names, like Balboa and Waterway. I’m not affiliated with them in any way. They were simply my “go to” as the market leaders in an industry I knew very little about at the time. The big advantage is that these parts are everywhere. If a pump or a circuit board fails in ten years’ time, you can buy a replacement off the shelf rather than hunting for a part from a manufacturer that no longer exists.

What £5,000 got me

What I achieved, in essence, was a much bigger, higher-specification tub with better components for my £5,000 than I’d have got if I’d bought an off-the-shelf plastic shell tub for the same money. Mine holds around 2,800 litres (about 740 US gallons), which is a lot more water than most shells at that price.

I’ll be honest, though. Building isn’t automatically the cheaper option, and prices for materials and components have gone up since I built mine. A stock tank hot tub is the budget route. A proper block or ICF in-ground tub costs more than a cheap hard shell, but it compares well with a premium tub or a professionally built in-ground spa. I’ve put real numbers side by side in What are the pros and cons of building a hot tub? and What is the cheapest hot tub to build?

Don’t forget the running costs either. A bigger tub holds more water to heat, so insulation and the heating method matter. When I later fitted an air source heat pump to my own tub, I cut my running costs by 66%. The full story is in How I reduced the running costs of my hot tub by 66%.

Making it exactly how I wanted it

Building your own hot tub lets you make it exactly the way you want. You choose:

• The size and shape, to suit your garden and how many people will use it.
• How it sits: fully in-ground, raised, or somewhere in between.
• The seats, including their heights, a lounger, and where the jets hit your back.
• The finish: tiles, stone, render or timber cladding, chosen to match your house and garden.
• The extras: lighting, a waterfall, an infinity edge, even a cold plunge alongside.
• The heating: electric, gas or an air source heat pump.

That’s the fun bit. If you want to see what makes a design work, read What makes a good DIY hot tub design? and In-ground hot tub designs.

Learning how it all works

Building a hot tub is a proper education. You learn how the pumps, the filter, the heater and the spa pack all work together, and you pick up skills in concrete, blockwork and plumbing along the way. I’ve always said the plumbing is kitchen plumbing on steroids. It’s not rocket science, but you do need to take your time with it.

The payoff comes later. Because you plumbed it, you know exactly where every pipe goes. When something needs attention years down the line, you’re not stuck waiting for an engineer. If you want to understand the plumbing before you start, How does hot tub plumbing work? is a good place to begin.

One thing I won’t do is lecture you about the health benefits. I’m not a healthcare professional, so I’ll leave that to people who are. If you’re curious, I’ve summarised what the evidence says in Are hot tubs good for your health?

Does a built hot tub add value to your home?

You might think that if it’s made of bricks and mortar and it’s a permanent feature, it must add value to your home. That was my thinking too. When I had my house valued, I wanted my office included in the valuation. Because I’d built it from a timber frame, the valuer wasn’t interested. He was only interested in things made of brick that would still be standing after a fire.

A block or concrete hot tub certainly passes that test better than a plastic one, and unlike a shop-bought tub, it stays with the house. But I’d be careful about counting on it. 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. Where there is a benefit, it tends to come from the landscaping and stonework around it as part of a well-finished garden. And some buyers see any hot tub as maintenance rather than a bonus.

So, if you’re trying to convince your other half that this is a good use of the spare cash, “it’ll pay for itself when we sell” isn’t the argument I’d lead with. “We’ll use it every week” is a much better one.

Pride!

From personal experience, there’s nothing better than having a few friends over to use the hot tub that you built. The best compliment you can get is “Does it come as a kit?” I love hearing that. It means I did something right with the build.

If you want to see what other people have achieved, have a look at some of the customer builds, like Marc’s in the UK or Matt, a self-confessed rubbish DIYer.

When buying makes more sense

I’m obviously a fan of building, but it isn’t for everyone. Buy a hot tub if:

• You want to be in it within a few weeks. A build takes weeks to months of evenings and weekends, and some stages, like curing, simply can’t be rushed. See How long does a DIY hot tub build take?
• You don’t have the time or the DIY skills and don’t want to pay a contractor.
• You want one warranty covering the whole tub. When you build it, you’re the manufacturer. The components have their own warranties, but the tub as a whole doesn’t.
• You just want to try hot tubbing before committing. An inflatable is a cheap way to find out. There are more options in 5 alternatives to buying a hot tub.

Whichever way you go, get a qualified electrician for the supply. In England and Wales a new hot tub circuit is notifiable under Part P, and in the USA it usually needs a permit and inspection. See A guide to hot tub electrics.

What I’d do differently

I’m still glad I built mine, but with hindsight there are things I’d change. I’d build the walls with ICF rather than block, I’d make the control room much bigger (I’ve since had to rebuild mine), and I’d start with a full set of plans instead of working it out as I went. I’ve written the whole list up in What I’d change if I built my DIY hot tub again, and there are more pitfalls in Avoid these 7 DIY hot tub mistakes.

Planning your own build?

OK, so you’ve decided building is the way forward. The next step is working out where to start. The easiest way to avoid the mistakes I made is to start with a proven design. 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 builder) know exactly what to build.

If your space is awkward, like mine was, a standard size might not fit. Design your own layout in the free Tub & Pool Designer Pro software, and I can turn it into architectural CAD and a 3D plumbing design you can build from or use for permits.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to build a hot tub than buy one?

Not always. A stock tank tub is cheaper than most hard shells. A block or ICF in-ground tub costs more than a budget hard shell, but you usually get a bigger, better-specified tub than a shop-bought one at the same price. Mine cost around £5,000.

What if I can’t get a hot tub into my garden?

Your options are a crane (typically a few hundred pounds for a standard lift in the UK), removing a fence or wall section, or building one in place. If a crane can’t reach, building is often the only practical answer, because the materials come in through a normal gate.

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 the hot tub on its own. Build it because you’ll enjoy it.

Can a beginner build a hot tub?

Yes, if you’re a reasonably handy DIYer and willing to take your time. You’ll need basic concreting and blockwork, PVC pipe gluing and the ability to follow a plan. Leave the electrical supply to a qualified electrician.

What components should I use in a DIY hot tub?

I’d stick with widely available, branded parts, such as a Balboa or Gecko spa pack and pumps and jets from established makers like Waterway. They’re easy to replace if anything fails years later.

Are you thinking about building your own? Tell me what’s pushing you towards 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