Why Do Most People Buy Acrylic Hot Tubs?

For many people, maybe even most, this is what a hot tub is meant to be. It is easy to see why: An acrylic hot tub gleams in the sun. It comes in a wide variety of marble-like colours. It typically features synthetic wood panels or sleeker siding. You can get jets to massage any part of your body you might like.  

We get asked about acrylic hot tubs the most at our Hydropool retail stores, because they are all we sell. This is the most competitive marketplace for hot tubs, where you will have the most selection. 

We wanted to write this article to explain why acrylic hot tubs make up most of the hot tub market. Their sales are about 70-80 percent of the hot tub market as a total so while we know they work well for most people. 

In this article, we will go over:

• What is an acrylic hot tub? 
• How much do acrylic hot tubs cost?
• Who should buy an acrylic hot tub? 
• How are acrylic hot tubs made? 
• Who are acrylic hot tubs for? 

Hopefully, by the end you’ll have a better understanding of whether acrylic hot tubs right for you.

 

 

What is an Acrylic Hot Tub? 

Acrylic hot tubs are made with a shiny acrylic shell that looks like a bathtub (here’s why: many bathtubs today are also made out of acrylic)! 

Acrylic is a plastic that is both strong, light and durable and that can be made to shine and gleam. It’s become common throughout the world as a result. 

Acrylic comes in the form of sheets, often in marble-colors, which are warmed and laid onto molds to make hot tubs. But more on that process a bit later. 

How Much Does an Acrylic Hot Tub Cost? 

This type of tub has the most options, the most variety, and as you might have guessed, comes in around about $14,000 in Canada (for more on pricing, there’s a whole article about it here).  

• You can pay more. At the high end of the hot tub category, you could get into the 40s and maybe even the 50s (we don’t sell anything quite that lavish at Hydropool though). These would be very large hot tubs, for 12 or more people (and in our opinion, once you’re up to that size, you can pay less and buy a swim spa). 
• You can also pay less for acrylic, but at some point you have to be concerned about quality (you’re better off with a roto mold product if you get too low of a price point. This is a segment where it can be tougher to go bargain shopping and get a tub that will last).  
• There are other options. There are inflatable hot tubs and rotomold hot tubs. Both are less expensive than an acrylic hot tub. But they aren’t as glamourous and don’t come with all the options features and overall level of enjoyment that acrylic hot tubs have. 

Who Should Buy an Acrylic Hot Tub? 

It’s the most popular type of hot tub, with more than 70 percent of the market share. So it’s safe to say that most people like them. 

What you’re ultimately buying in an acrylic hot tub is something as beautiful as possible that is also built to be reliable. These are mostly complete hot tubs with lights and jets. It’s the most competitive part of the marketplace, with the most choice for anyone shopping. 

That doesn’t always make it easier. Lots of choice means trying to sort out what matters to you and what makes a good hot tub. 

What Are the Pros Acrylic Hot Tub? 

In general, acrylic hot tubs want your envious friends and neighbours to gasp, “Oh, this is nice,” when they see it. They create sighs when people step into the warm water, and “oooh, that feels good” when people lie back onto the powerful jets. Having all the parts that are meant to impress is a big part of the point of owning one. It’s safe to say that acrylic hot tubs accomplish what most people want in a hot tub: luxury, affordability, capability and class.  

Why Are Acrylic Hot Tubs So Expensive? 

There are several reasons for the pricing compared to other hot tubs.  

• In the hot tub sector, acrylic hot tubs are the top of the line product. Top models include class-leading insulation, unique jets or advanced cleaning systems (like Hydropool’s self-cleaning system, on our Signature models, as an example). 
• Jets demand more pumps or a strong pump, which means more money spent on technology and engineering. 
• In terms of how they look and function, acrylics have a wider range of options than other types of hot tubs. The variety means their manufacturing process is more complex.  
• The acrylic manufacturing process is more complex, period.  
• Acrylic tubs are built to require 220V hardwiring so jets and lights and heaters can all operate at the same time. That comes with the tradeoff of needing some electrical work done around the house in order to install it and a higher year-round operating cost.  

Acrylics come in a variety of colors but in recent years varieties of white have taken over as dominant, such as this model from Hydropool’s Signature collection.

What Are the Cons of Buying an Acrylic Hot Tub? 

If you have decided you want a hot tub, the main criticism of acrylic hot tubs is that they are more expensive than other models, both to purchase and to maintain. There are a couple more:

• While acrylic is exceptionally durable, it can chip, and that requires a repair and possibly a permanent repair mark left in your tub once it’s fixed.  
• Acrylic tubs are a more permanent fixture. If you decide you absolutely must move it, it’s going to take a lot of work. 

Most other criticisms of acrylic hot tubs apply to all hot tubs, regardless of style. Other issues include:  

• There’s a learning curve in understanding how to maintain them and there’s an ongoing cost to maintenance. 
• With more options, more things can eventually go wrong over time.  
• They are heavy, so you need to make sure they are stable. Depending on the size, you likely need a cement pad put down for it, or a deck, or another strong, consistent flat surface.  
• You will likely want to do landscaping around it or need to adjust your current landscaping for it to fit.  
• Your friends, family and neighbours will want to use yours. This can be a perk or not!

How Are Acrylic Hot Tubs Made? 

The many-step process to build an acrylic hot tub is more costly than producing tub after tub with the same colour, in the same mold, with the same range of options, as you would for other kinds of hot tubs.  

• Acrylic hot tubs are made by placing sheets of acrylic material over a mold and then melting the acrylic, while vacuuming the plastic toward the mold, ensuring it comes out perfect. This requires specialized, costly equipment and highly-skilled trained workers.  
• The shell is then flipped over and waterproofed with resin and layered with fiberglass for strength, so all parts of the shell are supported in the actual tub itself.  
• Then the tub has to be drilled and plumbed, to fit in the motor that powers the jets, plus the jets themselves.  
• Then it must be placed in a separate frame that is either wood or metal, which holds the actual motor, jets, wiring for any lights, or elements like speakers.  
• Next insulation must be added to help keep your operating costs down. 
• That’s before the bottom is put on, which is usually made from a heavier plastic that animals won’t want to chew through to get to your delicious wiring. 
• Then the outer case must be attached to the frame as well as the bottom.  
• Most manufacturers insist that once built, the hot tub must be tested, filled with water and all parts assessed to ensure they work.  

Who Are Acrylic Hot Tubs Really For? 

An acrylic hot tub is for someone who believes a hot tub is about luxury and quality combined into one unit, and who will pay for both elements. You can buy a watch that tells time, and you can buy a watch that people will say, “nice watch.” Both are good watches. An acrylic hot tub is meant to be in the second category though. 

We hope this article helped you with an understanding of acrylic hot tubs, why they cost what they do and who they are for. We covered all of those topics and more in this article, and we hope we have given you a decent idea of why they cost what they do. 

Of course, there’s a chance we haven’t answered your question about acrylic hot tubs! So please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local retailer if that’s the case.