The numbers for holiday lets with hot tubs have been consistent for several years now. Guests search for them, pay more when they find them, and stay longer when they do. If you are already running a holiday let in Hampshire and wondering whether a hot tub is worth adding, this guide works through the data and the costs so you can make a considered decision.
The short version: for most well-positioned properties, the maths work. But the short version leaves out the parts that matter, so read on.
What the booking data says
Hot tubs are the second most-searched amenity on major booking platforms, behind Wi-Fi. That single fact explains a lot about why properties with them tend to perform differently from those without.
The rate premium is well documented. Coast & Country Cottages reported in 2024 that properties with hot tubs achieve nightly rates around 37% higher than comparable properties without. That is not a rounding error. On a property charging £150 per night, that premium moves the number to around £205.
The stay length data is equally interesting. The Adventure Business Update (2025) found that guests at hot tub properties stay an average of 4.2 nights compared to 2.8 nights at comparable properties without. Longer stays mean lower changeover costs, better reviews (guests have more time to settle), and a simpler calendar to manage.
The winter picture is where many operators are surprised. The same source reported a 40% improvement in winter occupancy for hot tub properties. A property that would otherwise sit largely empty from November to February becomes bookable. That winter revenue is often what tips the return on investment from marginal to clear.
On Airbnb alone, there are more than 550 listings for hot tub holiday rentals in the New Forest area. That tells you the market is established, and guests are actively looking.
What does that add up to annually?
Research aggregated by LandlordZone and Sykes Holiday Cottages suggests that holiday lets with hot tubs generate around 40% more annual revenue than equivalent properties without them. The uplift comes from three places at once: a higher nightly rate, a longer average stay, and a longer effective letting season.
A worked example, using conservative numbers:
- Property without hot tub: £140/night, 28 letting weeks, average 3-night stay = roughly £13,000/year
- Property with hot tub: £190/night, 34 letting weeks, average 4-night stay = roughly £21,500/year
The gap in that example is around £8,500 per year. On a properly specified installed tub costing £8,000 to £12,000, that is a payback period of one to two letting seasons. After that, the uplift continues year after year.
These are illustrative figures. Actual numbers depend on location, property type, marketing quality, and how well the tub is managed. A tub that generates complaints about water quality or broken controls will eat into that uplift quickly. The return is real, but it is conditional on the product and the maintenance behind it being taken seriously.
The costs you need to account for
An honest business case includes the costs. Here are the main ones.
Purchase and installation
A properly specified holiday let hot tub costs between £6,000 and £14,000 installed, depending on the model and the complexity of the installation. The ReefSpa Coral (4-seat, 29 jets) starts at £5,995. The ReefSpa Ocean (6-seat, 40 jets) is £6,495. Both are built for this kind of use: acrylic shells, full insulation, reliable controls. Electrical supply, groundwork, and a decent cover add to the total. Get a quoted installed price before you make any assumptions.
Running costs
A holiday let tub runs continuously during the letting season. A well-insulated 6-seater costs roughly £50 to £80 per month in electricity at current rates. Poor insulation doubles that. Chemicals and consumables for a property with high bather turnover add another £30 to £50 per month during peak season.
Maintenance
Between guest stays, the water needs testing, dosing, and in many cases a full drain and refill. If you are not local to the property, you will need a maintenance contractor to handle this. Budget £25 to £50 per changeover visit, depending on your area and the contractor. This is not optional. It is also a legal requirement under HSG282 guidance for commercially used spa pools. See our guide on HSG282 compliance for holiday let owners for what that actually involves.
Insurance
Most holiday let policies require you to declare the tub and may require compliance documentation before paying out on any hot tub-related claim. Call your insurer before you buy. Some policies include a specific hot tub endorsement. Some need you to apply for one. This is a one-time administrative step, but you need to do it.
What property type benefits most?
Not every property benefits equally. The cases where a hot tub adds most reliably:
- Properties that currently have a significant winter occupancy gap
- Rural or coastal properties in a competitive short-break market
- Properties targeting couples or small groups, where the hot tub becomes a draw in its own right
- Properties with a private garden where the tub can be positioned without overlooking issues
The cases where it makes less clear sense: very high-turnover urban short stays, properties where changeover time is already tight, and properties where outdoor space is very limited. If your garden is a small courtyard and you have a checkout at 10am and a check-in at 3pm, the logistics of draining and refilling between guests may be harder to absorb than the rate premium justifies.
How to get the numbers right for your property
The best approach before committing is to look at your existing booking data: what is your current occupancy by month, what is your average nightly rate, and what do comparable properties with hot tubs in your area charge? Most booking platforms let you search with the hot tub filter and compare directly.
Then work out the installed cost for a properly specified tub (including electrical supply and any groundwork), the annual running and maintenance costs, and divide the uplift you expect by the total outlay. A payback period of under two years is a sound investment. Under eighteen months is a very good one.
If you would like help working through the specifics for your property, we are happy to talk through it. We install hot tubs for holiday let operators across Hampshire and can give you realistic figures based on what we see in practice, not just published averages.
Next steps
If the business case stacks up for your property, the next questions are which tub to buy and how to run it properly.
Our guide on choosing the right hot tub for a holiday let covers what separates a tub built for commercial use from one that will struggle within eighteen months. Our guide on installation for holiday lets covers the electrical, groundwork, and positioning considerations.
You can also visit the holiday let hub page for a full overview of everything we offer for holiday let operators, or come and see us at the showroom. Bring your property details and we can give you a proper assessment.