How to Choose the Right Hot Tub Size
Choosing a hot tub size sounds simple until you stand in the garden wondering whether 1.8 metres is really enough for the whole family. Size affects everything: how many people fit comfortably, how much water you heat, how long heating takes and how much of your terrace disappears. This guide walks you through the decision step by step, based on what our customers across Europe actually buy.
Start with the people, not the tub
The most reliable way to pick a size is to count realistic bathers, not theoretical maximums. Think about a normal evening: is it usually you and your partner, or the whole family plus the neighbours' kids?
A good rule of thumb is to size for your everyday use and accept a slightly tight squeeze on rare busy occasions. A couple who buys an 8 person hot tub "just in case" ends up heating a large volume of water all winter for two people. On the other hand, a family of five in a 2-4 person tub will genuinely run out of space.
Also consider how you bathe. If you like to stretch out your legs, treat the stated capacity as the upper limit. If you mostly sit upright on benches and chat, the listed numbers are comfortable.
Hot tub sizes at a glance
Round wooden hot tubs are measured by inner diameter. Here is how our sizes translate into people:
- 1.6 m β 2-4 people β couples and small families who want fast heating and a compact footprint
- 1.8 m β 4-6 people β the most popular choice for a family of 4, with room for guests
- 2.0 m β 6-8 people β larger families, people who entertain often, small guesthouses
- 2.2 m β 8-10 people β big gatherings, rentals, glampings and spa businesses
Larger and fully custom sizes are available on request β every Wild Tubs hot tub is built to order, so the table above is a starting point, not a limit.
Measure your space before you decide
Before falling in love with a size, take a tape measure outside. Mark the spot on your terrace or in the garden and measure it honestly, including any steps, railings or walls nearby.
Leave roughly 1 metre of free access space around the tub. You need it for climbing in and out safely, for tending a wood-fired stove, for putting the cover on and off, and for occasional maintenance. A 2.0 m tub therefore realistically needs a clear area of about 4 Γ 4 metres to feel comfortable rather than crammed.
Check the delivery route too: gates, passages and corners the tub must pass through on the way to its final spot. Round tubs arrive assembled, so the diameter matters from the street to the terrace.
Bigger tub, more water, longer heating
Size is not only about seats β it is about water volume. A 2.2 m tub holds considerably more water than a 1.6 m one, and every extra litre must be heated before you can bathe.
With a wood-fired stove, a larger tub simply means more logs and more heating time; with an electric heater it means higher energy use per session. If you plan to use the tub often on weekday evenings, a smaller, faster-heating tub may serve you better than a large one you only fire up on weekends.
You can also combine a wood-fired stove with an electric heater β heat up quickly with wood, then let electricity hold the temperature. Good insulation and a proper cover, both available in our configurator, shorten heating times noticeably at any size.
Small-space options: the 2 person ofuro and the cold plunge
Not every terrace fits a round tub, and not everyone needs one. If you bathe alone or as a couple, our Japanese-style ofuro oval tub measures a fixed 1.9 Γ 1.1 m β ideal for 1-2 people and small terraces or balconet-style city gardens. It heats a small volume of water quickly and has a distinctly cosy, sit-facing-each-other character.
If your interest is cold-water dipping rather than hot soaking, a dedicated cold plunge tub of 1.3 m starts from β¬660. Many customers pair a hot tub with a cold plunge for a home contrast-bathing routine.
Both options follow the same logic: match the vessel to the real number of users and the real space you have.
Large and commercial hot tubs for 10+ people
Glampings, rental cottages, spas and event venues usually go for 2.0 m or 2.2 m tubs β or beyond. Because Wild Tubs manufactures every tub to order in Lithuania, we regularly build larger and custom sizes for commercial use, including tubs for 10 or more bathers.
For commercial buyers the sizing question shifts: think about guest turnover, filtration to keep water fresh between groups, durable liner materials such as polypropylene or acrylic, and stairs and covers that survive daily use. All of these can be specified in the online configurator or discussed directly with us.
Buying direct from the manufacturer with EU-wide delivery included also matters at this scale β large tubs are exactly where middleman margins hurt the most.
Frequently asked questions
What size hot tub should I get for a family of 4?
A 1.8 m inner diameter tub is the classic family-of-4 choice: everyone fits comfortably, and there is still room when a couple of guests join. If your children are teenagers or you entertain often, consider stepping up to 2.0 m.
Which hot tub is best for 2 people?
Couples usually choose either a 1.6 m round tub, which still leaves room for occasional guests, or the Japanese-style ofuro (1.9 Γ 1.1 m) for 1-2 people. The ofuro heats faster and fits small terraces; the 1.6 m round tub is more sociable.
Do you make very large hot tubs for 12-16 people?
Yes. Wild Tubs builds every tub to order, so alongside the standard 2.2 m (8-10 person) size we produce custom large hot tubs for 12, 14 or 16 people on request. These are popular with glampings, spas and rental businesses β contact us with your requirements for a quote.
Does a bigger hot tub take longer to heat?
Yes β heating time grows with water volume. A 2.2 m tub takes noticeably longer to reach temperature than a 1.6 m one with the same stove. Good insulation, a fitted cover, and combining a wood-fired stove with an electric heater all shorten the wait.
How much free space do I need around a hot tub?
Plan roughly 1 metre of access space on all sides β for getting in and out, feeding a wood stove, handling the cover and doing maintenance. Measure your terrace or garden spot before choosing a diameter, and check the delivery route to the final position.
Can I choose materials and features separately from the size?
Yes. Every size can be configured online with your choice of liner (fiberglass from ~β¬1,500, acrylic from ~β¬1,860, polypropylene from ~β¬1,440), wood type (spruce, larch, thermowood or WPC), heating, insulation, hydro or air massage, LED lighting, filtration, covers and stairs.