Infrared Sauna vs Hot Tub: Which One Should You Buy?

The difference in one paragraph

An infrared sauna session is dry: you sit in a heated cabin or blanket and sweat without getting wet, and there is no water to fill, treat or drain. A hot tub session is wet: you soak in heated water while air jets bubble around you, which means filling the tub, maintaining the water and draining it when done. Both are heat therapy for recovery at home; the difference is whether you want water in the routine.

When to pick the infrared sauna

• No water routine. Nothing to fill, no chemicals to manage, no draining. See our infrared sauna blankets and portable saunas for low-footprint options.
• Small or indoor spaces. Sauna blankets and portable cabins fit rooms a tub cannot.
• Year-round simplicity. No freeze protection or winter draining to think about.

When to pick the hot tub

• Warm-water soaking with massage. The four tubs here run 94 to 170 air jets for a bubbling massage while you soak.
• Shared sessions. These tubs seat 2 to 6 people; the PureSpa seats 6 with 2 headrests and an LED light.
• Outdoor setups. All four are inflatable outdoor spas; the Coleman adds Freeze Shield for cold weather and the CO-Z an aluminum insulation layer.

The four hot tubs in this guide

Ranked by what each listing states. The Intex PureSpa Greystone Deluxe leads: 6-person seating, 170 jets, 77 by 28 inches, built-in hard water treatment, an energy-efficient cover the listing says improves efficiency by up to 50%, 2 headrests, an LED light and a 1 Year Limited Warranty. Next is the Coleman SaluSpa Miami: 2 to 4 people, 120 jets, 177 gallons, heating to 104 degrees, EnergySense insulation the listing says is up to 40% more energy-efficient, Freeze Shield, a ChemConnect dispenser and a power-saving timer. The CO-Z follows: 4 people, 94 jets, a 1350W heater to 104 degrees, 228 gallons, reinforced PVC and an aluminum insulation layer at 54 lb. The Intex SimpleSpa is the basic pick: 4 people, 100 jets, 210 gallons, hard water treatment and an insulated cover with ground cloth.

Check Your Space First

• Footprint: 77 by 77 inches for both Intex tubs, 71 by 71 for the Coleman, 70.9 by 70.9 for the CO-Z, all on a flat surface.
• Power: the PureSpa states 120 volts; plan a nearby outlet and a drain route.
• Water: 177 to 228 gallons where stated, so plan the fill and the drain.
• Winter: the Coleman states Freeze Shield; the CO-Z warns that heating cold water takes longer and recommends warm fill water.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical advice. Hot tubs and saunas raise your body temperature; if you are pregnant, have a heart condition or any health concern, talk to your doctor before using one. Never use a hot tub or sauna alone if you have a condition that could make you lose consciousness, and keep the water at or below 104 degrees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for muscle recovery, sauna or hot tub?

Both are heat therapy. A sauna gives dry radiant heat with no water routine; a hot tub adds warm-water buoyancy and jet massage. Pick by whether you want water in the routine.

Do inflatable hot tubs work in winter?

The Coleman states Freeze Shield protection for pump and liner in cold weather. The CO-Z warns that heating cold water takes longer in winter and recommends filling with warm water and keeping the thermal cover on.

How many jets do these tubs have?

170 on the PureSpa, 120 on the Coleman, 100 on the SimpleSpa and 94 on the CO-Z.

Which has a warranty?

Only the Intex PureSpa Greystone Deluxe states one: a 1 Year Limited Warranty. The other three state no warranty term.

How hot do they get?

The Coleman and CO-Z state heating to 104 degrees. The two Intex listings state no maximum temperature figure.

Related: the sauna hub, the best 4-person saunas, the outdoor sauna cabins and the portable and steam saunas.