What is the difference between a spa and a hot tub?

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While not all modern day hot tubs are made from wood, this is the traditional material from which they are constructed. This means that if the model you are looking at is made from wood, it is a hot tub, not a spa. The first hot tubs were made similarly to wine casks and were built to hold more than one bather. The term spa come into use as a way for manufacturer’s to differentiate their new, molded plastic hot water tubs from the traditional wooden hot tub.

Most of what we consider to be hot tubs or spas today are technically spas since the majority of them are made from materials other than wood and include other features like seats and water jets. While wooden hot tubs are still made from redwood, cedar, oak, cypress, and teak, they can be very costly and may not provide the amenities and experience we are expecting.

Hot Tub or Spa?

With the exception of wood construction, the only other actual difference between these two may come down to where the water enters the tub. Generally, the hot bubbling water enters a hot tub from jets located under and around the seats. In a spa, the hot water enters the tub from jets located in the floor and seats. Both hot tubs and spas can be made of a variety of materials including molded plastic, acrylic, gunite, fiberglass, and even cement.

Which to Choose

Unless you are looking to invest in a traditional wooden hot tub, there really isn’t enough of a difference between hot tubs and spas to be a decision making differentiator. The important things to consider when pondering this type of purchase are the same regardless of whether the model that works best for you is considered to be a hot tub or a spa.

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