What is the best four-person hot tub?

The best four person hot tub isn’t immediately apparent. There are no rankings for hot tubs like there are for tennis players or golfers.

That’s why we wanted to write this article. We know people often begin their search for a good hot tub by the number of seats they are looking for or number of people in their family. But we also know there are a variety of brands and models out there that we don’t think will deliver a good experience for people, and at Hydropool, we want everyone to love their hot tub, whether it’s one of ours or not.  

Top brands for hot tubs include Jacuzzi, Sundance, Bullfrog, Hot Spring and Artesian (we’re going to throw ours in here too in this round-up. 

A four-person hot tub is one of the most popular sizes on the market. So in this article we will break down:

• The best four-person hot tubs (we don’t want you to have to wait, this isn’t a recipe blog)
• Why all four-person hot tubs are not the same: Cost, size, seats, style, options, brand
• Types of hot tubs: inflatable, rotomould, acrylic
• Size and specifications of a typical four-person hot tub
• When to go smaller
• When to go bigger
• Lounger or not any why it matters
• How to decide if any four-person hot tub is best for you

By the end, we hope you’ll have a great idea of what the best four-seater hot tub for you is.

 

What are the best four-person hot tubs?

Jacuzzi J-225

What we like: Jacuzzi is a trusted brand known for its luxury and jet performance. The J-225 is one of the smallest hot tubs the company makes. While it’s small, we know it’s at the premium end of the market on pricing for the category (Jacuzzi doesn’t publish its pricing online, however, so we can’t give you exact numbers here). The model comes with full-foam insulation, and we see users regularly praising its build quality. No electrical hardwiring, as it’s a plug and play model.

You can pay less: There are good options out there that don’t hit Jacuzzi’s premium price tag. You can also pay more: a more glamourous version called the 325 also exists, which is a Jacuzzi top-seller.

No lounger: It’s four main seats, two on each side, with one a special “pivot” bench seat allowing you multiple positions.

Size: 84”x76”x 34.5”

Sundance Spas Prado

What we like: Sundance Spas is known for its proprietary jets, which contain no moving parts. The controls are user-friendly, making it easy to adjust the settings. These is an entry-level hot tub. Plug and play model, so you can get one that uses a standard outlet if you wish. The four seats offer different depths so people of different heights can use the tub.

Pricing is hidden: We don’t see the pricing on Sundance’s website. We suspect this is a mid-market offering.

Four captain’s chairs: There’s no lounger on this model. One seat per corner is the style.

Size: 80”x 80” x 33”

Hot Springs Envoy

What we like: There were several models we could have went for here: Hot Springs has a wide variety of choices at this size. We wanted to make sure we picked one with Hot Springs Moto-Massage, which is a unique back jet to the brand. This model has two of those jets. We also wanted to suggest a model with a lounger. This is a top-of-the-line unit.

Pricing: At the time of publication, the online pricing was just under $25,000 U.S. That’s at the high end of the market.

Lounger and two captain’s chairs: You get a variety of seating here.

Size: 80”x 93” x 33”. That’s a larger footprint than most in this category.

Bullfrog Spas Stil5

What we like: The company’s JetPak Therapy System lets you swap out jet packs to customise your massage. The unique squared off styling of this model. It’s futuristic, clean and unique in the marketplace.

Pricing: The Stil5 is a premium offering. We looked for pricing but didn’t see it on Bullfrog’s website.

Seats four: There are four chairs here, face to face.

Size: 82” x 67” x 31″

 

The Hydropool Signature 455 is a compact model but still features two loungers and Hydropool's patented self-cleaning system.

Hydropool Signature 455

What we like: Canadian-made (the only one on this list) so it will last. Offers Gold and Platinum trims, with one pump or two being the difference. Has company’s patented self-cleaning process which cleans your water every 15 minutes.

Good value: Priced in the middle, starting around $15,000 Cdn at the time of publication. Hydropool also offers a Serenity four-seater, which starts around $11,000 Cdn.

Seating selection: It’s got four seats and that includes a lounger and a unique S-shaped lounger. Unlike many hot tubs – even some on this list - it’s not a five-seater pretending it’s a four. It’s actually built for four.

Size: 80”x80”x37”

The differences between four-seat hot tubs

The main differences include cost, size and brand. Each brand tends to have unique options,  such as unique jets or special cleaning systems.

The price range will be $10,000 or less at the low end and over $30,000 Cdn at the higher end of the market. There’s a lot of choice out there.

The types of four-seat hot tubs

There are three main kinds: Inflatable, rotomold and acrylic. All the hot tubs we considered here are acrylic, which is by far the most popular model. Rotomold hot tubs are made of plastic. Ones we like include the DreamMaker Comfort collection, which retails for less than $10,000 Cdn. We don’t recommend inflatable hot tubs. They are inexpensive, but we find that turns into “cheaply made” too quickly and they aren’t reliable as a result.

The DreamMaker Comfort is a good example of a rotomold hot tub. They are less expensive, if less glamourous, while offering maximum value.

The sizes of four-person hot tubs

 

80” x 80” x37” is a common size and most hot tubs in this size range are somewhere around there. You can go smaller and you can go bigger and the shape can change from a square to a rectangle depending on the seats and style.

There are also round hot tubs, which do look great from the outside. We don’t make one at Hydropool because the back ends up being rounded when you sit, and that makes it comparatively uncomfortable.

When to go smaller? When to go bigger?

Choose a smaller hot tub if you don’t intend to let others use it. If it’s just you and your partner, for example, you could move to an even smaller model (there are triangle-sized models fit for corners, for example). If you have a larger family or you’re going to entertain, you will want a larger model than a four-seater: We suggest stepping up to at least a five-seater so everyone  has just a bit more room to stretch out.

How to decide if any four-person hot tub is best for you

The best way to decide if any hot tub is right for you is to go sit in one! Any good retail outlet or store will let you do that. If the model doesn’t have water in it, that can be easier: You want to make sure the size and space is right for you and your family and that you’re going to feel comfortable in it.

Also when it comes to measuring, remember that you want to leave a two-foot radius around any model so that you can access every side going forward. In the event of maintenance, you don’t know where service will be required and it’s easiest long term. So measure, and add two feet all the way around is the best advice we can give.

We hope this guide helped you sort out which is the best four-seat hot tub for you. If we missed anything, don’t hesitate to ask a local dealer.