The best 4-person hot tub: seven compared

A 4-person tub suits most couples and small families. It heats faster than a big one, it costs less to keep warm and it fits on an ordinary patio. Seven tubs in our data are sold for 4 people, from £299 to £1,010.

We have not sat in these tubs. The figures come from the Amazon.co.uk listings and the makers' pages, checked on 30 October 2026.

The seven 4-seaters side by side

"Across" is the outside size the maker gives. The space inside is smaller, because the wall takes up room.

Best for year-round use: Wave Tahoe 4

The Tahoe is the only 4-seater with a foam wall. Wave uses a 6-inch WaveEco foam core and claims up to 60 % better efficiency than an air wall. The heater sits in the wall, you get app control, and the EnergySave bundle is included. Wave quotes about £2 a day to hold 40 °C. That is the maker's figure, and your cost depends on the weather and your tariff.

The catches: at £1,010 it costs four times the Miami, it has only 70 air jets, and at 156 cm across it is the smallest tub here. On Amazon.co.uk it has 2 reviews at 2.6 stars, too few to count.

Best value with app control: Lay-Z-Spa Boracay

For £390 the Boracay gives you wifi control, Alexa and Google Assistant support, 120 air jets and a 2-year guarantee. It holds 669 litres, which heats faster than a bigger tub on the same heater. 4.3 stars from 25 reviews.

Biggest 4-seater: Intex PureSpa Greywood Deluxe 4

At 196 cm across, the Greywood gives four adults the most room. It has app control, LED lights, a rechargeable wireless control panel, two foam headrests and Intex's hard water system. The heater is 2,200 W. Buyers rate it 4.6 stars from 42 reviews, the best rating among the 4-seaters with enough reviews to count.

Intex does not publish a guarantee for it, which costs it points in our score.

Cheapest: Lay-Z-Spa Miami

£299, 1,246 reviews at 4.5 stars and a 2-year guarantee. Lay-Z-Spa sells it for 2 to 4 people. It has no heater in the wall, no app and no lights, and the plain wall loses heat quickly. A sound choice for summer use.

The other three

• Wave Pacific 4 (£400): square, heater built into the wall and a FrostFree mode for cold nights. Wave does not publish its size or water volume.
• Canadian Spa Co. Grand Rapids (£379): confirmed plug and play, LED lights, Microban filters and aromatherapy. 4.3 stars from 43 reviews.
• Intex PureSpa Onyx Octagon (£316): the only 4-seater with water jets (4 of them, on a 1,000 W pump). No reviews yet and no published guarantee.

How many people fit in a 4-person tub?

Makers count generously. A tub sold for 4 usually fits two or three adults in comfort, and four if you know each other well. If four adults will use it often, aim for 190 cm or more across. Two of the 6-seaters under £500 are honest about this: Aoxun and Nordivale both say 4 adults sit most comfortably in their tubs sold for 4 to 6. See the best 6-person hot tubs if you want more room.

Why a smaller tub costs less to run

Less water means less to heat. The Boracay holds 669 litres, the Onyx 795. Heating 669 litres by 23 °C takes about 669 × 23 × 1.16 = 17,849 Wh, so roughly 17.8 kWh. A 1,000 litre tub needs about 26.7 kWh for the same rise. Our heating time guide explains the sum.

Which one should you buy?

• You want to use it all winter: Wave Tahoe 4.
• You want app control on a budget: Lay-Z-Spa Boracay.
• Four adults, more legroom: Intex PureSpa Greywood Deluxe 4.
• A summer tub at the lowest price: Lay-Z-Spa Miami.
• You want water jets: Intex PureSpa Onyx Octagon.

Browse all small hot tubs for 2 to 4 people, or read inflatable, foam or frame to decide on the wall type first.

Quick answers

Does a 4-person tub fit on a small patio? Most here need a flat spot of about 2 by 2 metres, plus room for the pump box if the heater is not in the wall.

How heavy is a filled 4-person tub? The Boracay with 669 litres and four 80 kg adults weighs about a tonne. Our decking weight guide shows the sums.