While most people install their hot tub outdoors, indoor hot tubs can be just as luxurious and more private to boot.
How do you know whether an indoor and outdoor hot tub is right for you? Here, we’ll lay out the pros and cons of each so you can determine which option is right for you.
These are the pros and cons of indoor hot tubs:
| Indoor Hot Tub Pros | Indoor Hot Tub Cons |
|---|---|
| Optimal privacy | Possible installation issues |
| Easy, quick access | Require adequate ventilation |
| Protection from any weather | Limited by space |
On the other hand, the pros and cons of outdoor hot tubs include the following:
| Outdoor Hot Tub Pros | Outdoor Hot Tub Cons |
|---|---|
| Effortless ventilation | Less privacy |
| Less limited by space | Exposed to the elements |
| Easy installation | More difficult to access |
There are some things that both indoor and outdoor hot tubs have in common — for example, they both require a sturdy foundation. But in this post, we’ll be focusing on their differences.
Let’s get started.
Indoor Hot Tubs
Indoor Hot Tub Pros
Although installing a hot tub indoors may sound unusual to you, doing so has several advantages:
Optimal Privacy
Naturally, the walls and ceiling of your home will provide much more privacy with the great outdoors.
This means you can wear whatever you’d like, be as loud as you want and even blast music if you feel like it.
Easy, Quick Access
When your hot tub is located in a room of your house, you’ll always be able to access it right away. Feel like taking a soak first thing in the morning, and getting there while wearing just your robe and slippers? No problem!
Protection From Any Weather
With an indoor hot tub, you’ll never be exposed to the weather, no matter if the outside temperature is -20℉ or 105℉. Whether it’s bitterly cold or downright boiling, you can always adjust the room your hot tub’s in to fit your preferences.
Indoor Hot Tub Cons
However, indoor hot tubs also come with some drawbacks:
Possible Installation Issues
Chances are, the doorways in your home aren’t large enough for a bathtub to fit through, let alone a full-sized hot tub.
Plus, you probably won’t have the right plumbing and electrical outlets pre-installed.
This means that you’ll likely have a more involved installation process than you would if you installed your hot tub outside.
Require Adequate Ventilation
With an indoor hot tub, it’s important to take ventilation into account.
This is because all the heat and humidity generated by the hot tub can warp and damage your wallpaper, paint, drywall or plaster.
Plus, it may even encourage the growth of mold and mildew. As a result, a proper ventilation system is a must.
Limited by Space
If you have a large, mostly underutilized room in your home, a hot tub can be a fantastic way to put it to good use.
If you don’t, though, you may struggle to find a space where your hot tub can fit without resulting in a cramped, crowded environment.
Outdoor Hot Tubs
Outdoor Hot Tub Pros
Given their popularity, it’s no surprise that outdoor hot tubs have a number of compelling advantages:
Effortless Ventilation
If your hot tub is placed in an open outdoor space, you’ll never have to worry about ventilation, warping walls or mold.
Instead, the moisture and heat from your hot tub will naturally dissipate into the air.
Less Limited by Space
Even if your backyard or garden is relatively small, it will probably be much more accommodating to the size of your hot tub than a standard indoor room.
This means you’ll have more flexibility when deciding where to put your hot tub.
Easy Installation
With an outdoor hot tub, it will likely be fairly easy to install your hot tub, even if it’s an especially large model.
What does that mean for you? Your hot tub installation won’t only be quicker than that of an indoor spa, it may also cost less.
Outdoor Hot Tub Cons
Of course, outdoor hot tubs have inherent disadvantages, too:
Less Privacy
Unless you have an eight-foot-tall fence with no gaps whatsoever, an outdoor hot tub will offer less privacy than an indoor one.
To combat this, you’ll need to get creative with shrubbery, privacy screens or a new fence.
Exposed to the Elements
While the great outdoors can certainly be a relaxing environment for a warm soak, it can also present some challenges.
If you live in an area with particularly cold or warm temperatures, your hot tub may be damaged over time if you don’t take the proper precautions (we can’t recommend a high-quality hot tub cover enough).
More Difficult to Access
An outdoor hot tub can present some problems in terms of access. For example, you might have to wear proper shoes to access it (no trotting to the hot tub in your fluffy slippers).
Or, you might find it difficult to make it to the shower after a soak without dripping water all over your floors.
In the end, both indoor and outdoor hot tubs have their strengths and weaknesses.
To determine which one is right for you, you’ll have to evaluate your own preferences before coming to a final decision.
No matter what you choose, though, you’ll end up with an at-home sanctuary you and your family can enjoy for many years yet.
