Lay-Z-Spa is the biggest name in UK inflatable hot tubs, and Wave (sold as Wave Spas) is the challenger with built-in heaters across its range. We list 15 Lay-Z-Spa tubs and 4 Wave tubs. Here is how the two brands compare on the numbers, and which pairs to look at side by side. We have not sat in any of these tubs. The comparison uses the spec sheets, the Amazon.co.uk listings and our scoring method.
The two brands at a glance
| Lay-Z-Spa | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Tubs on our site | 15 | 4 |
| Price range | £299 to £1,219 | £400 to £1,210 |
| Wall types | Inflatable (12), foam (3) | Inflatable (2), foam (2) |
| Heater built into the wall | 5 of 15 | 4 of 4 |
| App control | 11 of 15 | 2 of 4 |
| Water jets | 3 models | none |
| Guarantee | 2 years on all | 2 years on all |
| Highest score | 7.5 (Toronto) | 6.0 (Tahoe 4, Garda 6) |
| Most reviews on one model | 1,246 (Miami) | 5 (Atlantic 6) |
Where Wave wins
Every Wave tub has its heater in the wall. No pump box on the patio, one less cable to trip over and a neater look. At Lay-Z-Spa only the Carrara, Toronto, Rome, Stockholm and Grenada do this.
Frost protection. The Pacific 4 and Atlantic 6 list a FrostFree mode, which runs the heater when the water nears freezing.
Running cost claims. Wave quotes about £2 a day to hold 40 °C in the Tahoe 4 and Garda 6. That is the maker's figure, and it does not say what unit price it used. Lay-Z-Spa publishes efficiency percentages instead (up to 60 % for ThermaCore foam, up to 40 % for the EnergySense liner), not a cost per day.
Where Lay-Z-Spa wins
Choice. Fifteen models against four: round, square and oval, from 4 to 8 seats.
Water jets. The Santorini, Maldives and San Francisco have 8 to 10 HydroJets. Wave lists no water jets on any of its four tubs.
Reviews. Lay-Z-Spa's best sellers have hundreds of reviews (the Miami has 1,246). No Wave tub had more than 5 when we checked, so the Wave star ratings tell you very little. The Tahoe 4 sat at 2.6 stars from just 2 reviews.
Air jets. Lay-Z-Spa foam tubs have 140 to 180 air jets. The Wave foam tubs have 70 (Tahoe 4) and 90 (Garda 6).
The pairs that matter
Around £550: Lay-Z-Spa Rome vs Wave Atlantic 6
| Rome | Atlantic 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £530 | £570 |
| Shape, size | Square, 180 x 180 cm | Round, 180 cm |
| Wall | EnergySense insulated liner | PU-insulated foam core |
| Water | not published | 800 litres |
| Air jets | 140 | 130 |
| App | Yes | No |
| Rating | 4.5 (25 reviews) | 3.5 (5 reviews) |
| Score | 6.7 | 5.3 |
Both have the heater in the wall and a 2-year guarantee. The Rome adds app control and has far more reviews. The Atlantic 6 comes in an EnergySave bundle with a thermal cover and floor mat, and weighs just 26 kg empty. Full side by side: Lay-Z-Spa Rome vs Wave Atlantic 6.
Around £1,000 to £1,200: Lay-Z-Spa Stockholm vs Wave Garda 6
| Stockholm | Garda 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,000 | £1,210 |
| Size | 164 x 164 cm | 180 x 180 cm |
| Water | not published | 1,100 litres |
| Wall | ThermaCore foam | WaveEco foam with PU core |
| Air jets | 140 | 90 |
| Score | 7.0 | 6.0 |
Both are square foam tubs with built-in heaters, wifi and a 2-year guarantee. The Garda is 16 cm wider each way, which gives noticeably more room. The Stockholm costs £210 less and has more jets. See Lay-Z-Spa Stockholm vs Wave Garda 6.
Small foam tubs: Wave Tahoe 4 vs Lay-Z-Spa Carrara
The Tahoe 4 is the smallest tub on our site at 156 cm and 650 litres, with a 6-inch WaveEco foam core, for £1,010. The Carrara is 170 cm, sold for 4 to 6, with ThermaCore foam, 140 air jets and a foot massager for £725. The Carrara scores 7.1 against 6.0 and costs less. The Tahoe holds less water, which keeps the first heat cheap.
Under £400: Lay-Z-Spa Boracay vs Wave Pacific 4
The Pacific 4 costs £400 with a heater in the wall, but Wave does not publish its size, weight or water volume. The Boracay costs £390, holds 669 litres, has app control and works with Alexa and Google Assistant, but uses a separate pump box. See Lay-Z-Spa Boracay vs Wave Pacific 4.
Our verdict
Pick Lay-Z-Spa if you want water jets, the widest choice or a tub with a long review history. Pick Wave if a heater in the wall and a tidy patio matter most, and you are happy to buy on the spec sheet with few reviews to go on. On our scores, Lay-Z-Spa leads in every price band where both brands have a tub.
Brand pages: Lay-Z-Spa and Wave. For the other big name, read Lay-Z-Spa vs Intex. For running costs, see hot tub running costs.
