perfect hot tub temperature

Hot tub owners naturally want a great hot tub experience. If this is your first time owning a hot tub, you may have wondered: what is the best hot tub temperature?

Here’s how to set yours:

The best hot tub temperature is between 98°-102 ° F. However, the maximum temperature is 104 degrees Fahrenheit. But generally, the higher the temperature, the shorter the safe soak time will be.

But today, we’ll explore how long you can soak in a hot tub at different temperatures and whether 95 degrees water is too cold for a hot tub.

But we’ll also find out the minimum temperature for a hot tub in the summer and how to adjust the programming of yours for a more comfortable summer soak.

Let’s dive right in.

Hot water bottle tonight – a bit chilly considering the time of year… I need to catch up with the temperature reality 😂 or maybe a hot tub session? That usually chills me right out! Zzzzz 😴 pic.twitter.com/yNwH7oBL9J

— Sleep Well (@sleepwellco) May 26, 2018

How long can you soak in a hot tub at different temperatures?

Below is a handy chart for recommended soak times at different temperatures:

Hot Tub Temperature	Max Soak Time
98° F (36.6°C)	30 Minutes
100° F (37.7°C)	25 Minutes
102° F (38.8°C)	20 Minutes
104° F (40°C)	15 minutes

Specifically, you could soak for 15 minutes if the temperature is 104° F (40° C) and up to 30 minutes if it is between 95-100° F.

The rule of thumb regarding how long you can soak in a hot tub at different temperatures is that for higher temperatures, the shorter the duration you can spend.

But what is the perfect temperature setting or the ideal temperature for you?

Actually, it depends on a couple of factors. Different temperatures are ideal for different folks. How long a healthy adult can stay might differ from that for a senior citizen with critical health conditions such as high blood pressure.

Pregnant women (after conferring with their doctor) need to set a lower temperature, and teenagers can stay for a short period.

15-30 minutes is the range.

How long you can soak could also be a question of personal preference. This is provided you take into consideration the maximum temperature and some other factors such as alcohol consumption before or while using the tub.

In general, lower temperatures are ideal during summer and if the hot tub is being used by kids. (You don’t want kids using the hot tub unsupervised). The Center for Disease Control advises that children under age 5 should not use hot tubs.

Now, can a hot tub make you dehydrated?

I got into this in a recent article I published. I explained whether a hot tub could trigger dehydration or heat stroke and the symptoms of dehydration after a person has used a hot tub. And I even revealed if drinking alcohol in a hot tub is dangerous.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

My hot tub temperature pic.twitter.com/Hz4J4gcJT4

— JT™ (@That_dude_jt5) August 7, 2013

Is 95-degree water too cold for a hot tub?

95 degrees Fahrenheit is not necessarily too cold for a hot tub. But it also depends on the ambient air temperature. During the winter months, 95° F may feel too cold. But it could feel great in summer.

In fact, it is the right temperature for a lot of people because the water is still warm enough to be soothing and enjoyable. But for many, it will not be the ideal hot tub temperature.

I often set mine at 98 degrees Fahrenheit.

I do that as my kids love to soak in it, and I don’t want them exposed to high temperatures.

It is warm, and you might be able to save a bit of money if you’re concerned about energy efficiency. Even at 95 degrees, ensure that children do not stay in hot water for more than 15 minutes at a time and that they are hydrated.

As I mentioned above, 95 degrees is also ideal if you live in a warm climate.

What about during summer? Can you use your hot tub during summer, considering that the temperature could be as high as, say, 100 degrees in some places?

This is the theme of a recent article I published. In it, I looked at what temperature should a hot tub be set at in the summer and how you could cool down your hot tub. But I also explained the “summer mode” in a hot tub.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

my hot tub temperature is going up to 35°C today 🔥

I keep it at 33°C in the summer, just below body temperature (37°), so it’s more refreshing

current outside temperature is 8°C in Winnipeg pic.twitter.com/fPjHBhbVLz

— Lenny (@N0ideawhyimhere) September 15, 2021

What is the minimum temperature for a hot tub in summer?

Most hot tubs can be set as low as 70° F. However, when the weather is hot, the hot tub water temperature is unlikely to go lower than 90° F no matter what it is set to.

I usually switch mine to economy or sleep mode as this is the best way to ensure the water doesn’t get too hot to enjoy.

These modes only trigger the heater during the filter cycle and not every time a drop in temperature is detected. You could set yours to 90 degrees, and it would remain in the low 90s even when the ambient temperature is 100.

So, after switching modes, I might set my temp to 90° F, knowing that the actual water temperature won’t go below 95° F.

But here in Texas, when it could be 104° outside in July, that’s a great way to still enjoy the hot tub in summer. At least in the mornings or evenings.

As summer approaches, I suggest you bump the temperature settings down to 98 degrees or even lower.

You know it’s a hot day when … you have to lower the temperature in the hot tub #Worcestershirehour pic.twitter.com/47QLpt27mh

— Sarah Grout (@SarahGrout) May 7, 2018

What temperature is too cold for a hot tub?

While the perfect hot tub temperature is a matter of personal preference, anything below 95° F is likely to feel too cold unless the outside temperatures are in the 90s or above.

You might be concerned about the electric bill and think you should set it lower. But it’s best to keep the heat on, even when you’re not using the hot tub.

You might think you’ll save money by turning the hot tub off.

Don’t. Unless the hot tub has been properly winterized, turning it off while water is still in it or in the plumbing can lead to damaged pipes!

And, if you’ll be using it, the Center for Disease Control’s recommended safe temperature is at or below 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ideally, you want to keep the tub running because reheating it every time puts a strain on the heating element and bumps up energy costs.

Speaking of energy, how much electricity does an average hot tub use?

That’s what I got into in a recent article, where I looked at whether a hot tub uses a lot of electricity and how much it costs to run a hot tub for a month. But I also revealed if turning down a hot tub saves money.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

New and pathological feature of the inflatable hot tub: it ignores whatever temperature I set it to and tries to murder me with heat. pic.twitter.com/q1y0GPhKwh

— Matthew Green (@matthew_d_green) June 14, 2020

Should you raise the temperature of a hot tub in winter?

Yes. You should raise the temperature of a hot tub in winter by 2-4 degrees depending on the previous set temperature, the ambient air temperature, and personal preference.

The cooler temperature of the air will naturally make the water feel a little colder.

It is ideal to keep the hot tub slightly warmer than normal, so you might want to set it between 102 degrees and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

That also helps if there is a power outage. That way, the temperature won’t drop to a critical level.

You ideally want the temperature of the water to be at or warmer than your body temperature (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

And note that the smaller the gap in temperature of the hot tub water and the freezing temperature outside, the higher the possibility that your water could freeze if there is an extended power outage.

It should never be above 104 as this can be dangerous. In other words, 104 degrees is the maximum temperature you can ever set your hot tub at. Most people keep theirs within 98 degrees and 104 degrees.

In a recent article, I offered more info on using a hot tub during winter. I revealed whether it’s bad to use the hot tub in cold weather and what to do with a hot tub in winter. But I even shared the ideal temperature to keep your hot tub in winter.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Conclusion

In the article, we explored how long you can soak in a hot tub at different temperatures and whether 95 degrees water is too cold for a hot tub.

But we also found out the minimum temperature for spa water in summer.

Then, we looked at what temperature is too cold for a hot tub. Lastly, we considered whether you should raise the temperature of a hot tub in winter.

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