💧 Water, Pool & Spa
How Much Does a Hot Tub Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a hot tub costs about $27.54 per month at typical usage — 3.3 hours/day.
Per hour
$0.27
at 1,000–6,000 W
Per day
$0.91
3.3 hours/day
Per month
$27.54
150 kWh
Per year
$331
1,807 kWh
Between the heater and circulation pumps, a typical outdoor hot tub consumes 3–8 kWh per day — more in winter, less with a quality cover. It's routinely a top-five household load that owners forget to count.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
$0.27
Per day
$0.91
Per month
$27.54
Per year
$331
Uses 150 kWh/month at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | $0.19 | $19.11 | $229 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | $0.19 | $19.26 | $231 |
| Utah | 13.1 | $0.20 | $19.71 | $237 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | $0.20 | $20.16 | $242 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | $0.21 | $20.62 | $248 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | $0.21 | $20.62 | $248 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | $0.21 | $20.77 | $249 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | $0.21 | $20.77 | $249 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | $0.21 | $21.52 | $258 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | $0.22 | $21.67 | $260 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | $0.22 | $21.67 | $260 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | $0.22 | $21.82 | $262 |
| Washington | 14.7 | $0.22 | $22.12 | $266 |
| Florida | 15.0 | $0.22 | $22.57 | $271 |
| Montana | 15.0 | $0.22 | $22.57 | $271 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | $0.23 | $22.87 | $275 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | $0.23 | $23.02 | $276 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | $0.23 | $23.17 | $278 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | $0.23 | $23.17 | $278 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | $0.23 | $23.32 | $280 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | $0.24 | $23.78 | $285 |
| Texas | 15.9 | $0.24 | $23.93 | $287 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | $0.24 | $24.08 | $289 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | $0.24 | $24.08 | $289 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | $0.24 | $24.23 | $291 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | $0.24 | $24.23 | $291 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | $0.24 | $24.53 | $295 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | $0.25 | $24.68 | $296 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | $0.25 | $25.13 | $302 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | $0.26 | $25.58 | $307 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | $0.26 | $26.33 | $316 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | $0.26 | $26.48 | $318 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | $0.28 | $27.84 | $334 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | $0.29 | $28.74 | $345 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | $0.29 | $28.89 | $347 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | $0.29 | $29.34 | $352 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | $0.32 | $32.20 | $387 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | $0.33 | $32.65 | $392 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | $0.35 | $34.76 | $417 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | $0.36 | $35.81 | $430 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | $0.36 | $36.42 | $437 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | $0.38 | $37.92 | $455 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | $0.38 | $37.92 | $455 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | $0.40 | $40.03 | $481 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | $0.42 | $42.59 | $511 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | $0.43 | $43.34 | $520 |
| New York | 29.9 | $0.45 | $44.99 | $540 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | $0.46 | $45.90 | $551 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.49 | $48.76 | $585 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.50 | $50.56 | $607 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.72 | $72.23 | $867 |
How to lower the cost
- A tight-fitting insulated cover is the single biggest cost lever — most heat loss is from the water surface.
- Drop the setpoint a few degrees between soaks rather than powering fully down and reheating.
- In winter, wind exposure matters; a fence or enclosure measurably cuts heater runtime.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a hot tub use?
A typical hot tub draws about 1,500 watts in use. At 3.3 hours/day, that works out to roughly 5.0 kWh per day, or 150 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a hot tub for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about $0.27. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's $0.19, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.72.
How much does a hot tub cost to run per month?
With typical usage (3.3 hours/day), expect about $27.54 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $19.11 in Louisiana up to $72.23 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a hot tub use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 17% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.