Round Hot Tub or Square Hot Tub: Which Is Better?
Today we’ll go over the basics to help you decide if a round hot tub or a square hot tub is the better fit for you and your backyard. We’ll cover design, backyard fit, seating, and overall functionality.
There are so many decisions you never expected to think about when you started your hot tub shopping journey. The shape of your hot tub is one you want to get right. So, round hot tub vs. square hot tub, which one wins?
Are Round Hot Tubs a Good Choice?
A round hot tub can absolutely be the right choice, especially if you like the classic spa look or you’re building it into a custom deck where footprint efficiency matters less. Where a round hot tub tends to fall short is seating efficiency and market selection. There are simply fewer round models on the market than square ones, and the round shape gives everyone a slightly tighter fit for the same gallon count. If you want that rounded aesthetic and you’re not trying to squeeze the maximum number of seats into a tight side yard, a round hot tub is a good choice. If seating capacity, corner-hugging efficiency, or salt water compatibility matter more to you, a square model is usually the better fit.
Fitting a Round vs. a Square Hot Tub in Your Backyard
The diagram above shows an overhead view of each hot tub shape in an illustrated backyard, giving you a sense of how each will fit spatially. Generally, a square hot tub fits more efficiently into a backyard, since you can tuck it into a corner or set it flush against your house or deck. A round hot tub can still work in a corner or against your house, but you’ll have leftover space around the sides that isn’t usable. Aesthetically, this is one reason square hot tubs tend to be the more popular choice. If you’re sinking your hot tub into a deck, that “extra space” around a round shape stops being a real concern, since your contractor is framing around it either way. It really comes down to the look you want and how you’re planning to install it.
Fitting a Round vs. a Square Hot Tub in Your Backyard
This is probably the most important factor to weigh between a round hot tub and a square hot tub. The diagram below shows how 4 adults fit into each shape.
Even when a round and a square hot tub hold a similar amount of water, the seating arrangement in the round hot tub is a noticeably tighter fit. That’s because a square hot tub lets people sit in the corners, which gives everyone more legroom. For seating comfort, the square hot tub wins most of the time.
Aesthetics of a Round vs. Square Hot Tub
The last piece to weigh is simple personal preference. Do you prefer the look of a round or a square hot tub? That’s ultimately your call, though it’s worth weighing it alongside the fit and seating factors above before you decide.
View a Round vs. Square Hot Tub Live in Your Backyard
You can actually place a hot tub virtually in your backyard using the Freeflow hot tub brand app. Click one of the links below, select “view in your space,” and pan your phone’s camera around your yard. A true-to-size hot tub will appear on your screen so you can move it around and figure out the best placement and fit. It’s a genuinely useful tool for deciding both on shape and on which size will work best in your space.
Pros and Cons: Round vs. Square Hot Tub
Round Hot Tub
Pros:
- Classic hot tub aesthetic
- Can be configured into a custom deck
Cons:
- Doesn’t always fit a space efficiently
- Fits fewer people for the same water volume
- Less legroom
- Fewer seating layout options
- Limited round models on the market
- No salt water options currently on the market
Square Hot Tub
Pros:
- More space for seating
- Gives each person their own space
- Fits more efficiently into tight spaces
- Wide range of square options available
- Salt water capability
- Can be configured into a custom deck
Cons:
- Might not be the aesthetic you’re going for
Best Round Hot Tub on the Market: FreeFlow Aptos
Freeflow hot tubs (now part of the Hot Spring family) are extremely portable and affordable. You have the hot tub delivered by your local dealer, plug it into your outside electrical outlet, fill it with a hose, and turn it on. Setup is easy, they’re built to last, and they’re easy to move. Some customers even choose Freeflow hot tubs for rental properties because of the affordability, durability, and customer experience.
These hot tubs are rotationally molded with acrylic, creating a durable one-piece unibody that holds up in any weather. This manufacturing process is faster and less expensive than hand-built construction, which is why they cost less than most other options.
The Freeflow Aptos is one of the few round hot tubs on the market that holds the durability, life expectancy, and ease of maintenance hot tub owners look for. Backed by a brand you can trust, Hot Spring Spas, you get the experience and customer service you’d expect as a hot tub owner, which is what sets it apart from other round options.
Best Square Hot Tub on the Market
#1 Hot Spring’s Envoy 5 Person Hot Tub
Hot Spring is the leading innovator in the hot tub industry and has earned its place as one of the top selling spa brands worldwide. It’s no surprise these hot tubs are highly sought after, with customers consistently raving about their ownership experience. Hot Spring runs several lines across its brand with different designs, functions, insulation, and price points. Hot Spring is known for full foam insulation that barely moves the needle on your electric bill, along with strong massage performance, design, a competitive warranty, and customer service.
The Envoy is versatile in its seating options, brings a bit more power than other Hot Spring models, and has the high end design people are looking for. It’s complete with a lounge that fits both tall and short soakers, a captain’s chair that massages from your neck to your fingertips to your toes, and Hot Spring’s exclusive Moto-Massage jet.
#2 Hot Spot’s Relay 6 Person Hot Tub
This hot tub is popular with buyers who want a hot tub they can afford without giving up quality, performance, or life expectancy. Hot Spot hot tubs are made by the same company behind Hot Spring hot tubs, so the quality is never in question. The difference is fewer bells and whistles, with all the comfort, power, and ease of maintenance intact.
The Relay includes a lounge that fits both tall and short soakers, plus 5 additional upright seats for sitting back and relaxing. There’s plenty of room for a group, or you can stretch out for a solo soak with massage from neck to toe.
#3 Hot Spring’s Pulse 7 Person Hot Tub
Another Hot Spring Spa favorite, the Pulse now sits in the Limelight Collection. It’s a strong pick for a large family without taking up too much patio space, with a footprint around 7′ x 7′ and open seating for 7 adults. A jetted foot pod with directional jets gives every seat a foot massage, and the spa is salt water ready. Ask your local dealer about the current warranty coverage on the Limelight Collection when you’re comparing models.
Hot Tub Shoppers Q&A
Are round hot tubs more expensive?
Not inherently. Round hot tubs are typically priced in line with square models of a similar seat count and feature set. The bigger cost factor is selection: since there are far fewer round models on the market, you have less room to shop around for the best price, and salt water round options aren’t currently available at any price.
Do round hot tubs seat fewer people?
For a given amount of water, yes, generally. A round shape doesn’t give bathers the corner space that a square hot tub does, so the same gallon count feels tighter in a round tub. If maximizing seating comfort for a group is your top priority, a square hot tub will usually fit more people more comfortably.
There are often more questions that come up during the shopping process. Check out our full Hot Tub Shoppers Q&A for more answers, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, give us a call at (732) 424-0030 and ask for a wellness consultant. They’ll help guide you through the entire process, from research all the way through your ownership experience, one on one.
