Adding a Hot Tub to My Airbnb: Is It Worth It in 2026?

If you're thinking about adding a hot tub to your Airbnb, you're asking one of the most common questions in the short-term rental space.

It sounds like a great idea on the surface — guests love them, they look great in photos, and they scream "vacation." But whether the investment actually pays off depends on a handful of specific factors that most hosts overlook.

Watch the full video above or keep reading for the complete breakdown.

Start Here: Who Is Your Ideal Guest?

Before spending a single dollar on a hot tub or sauna, the first question to ask is simple: would your target guest actually use it?

This sounds obvious, but hosts skip it constantly. A property catering to business travelers — solo guests in town for a conference or work project — is almost never going to generate a strong ROI on a hot tub. Business travelers are busy. They're not booking your place to soak for two hours on a weeknight.

The profile that makes a hot tub or sauna a slam-dunk investment looks more like this:

• Groups of friends on a weekend getaway or bachelorette/bachelor trip
• Families renting a larger home for a holiday or seasonal vacation
• Couples looking for a romantic, resort-style escape
• Guests staying in markets with outdoor recreation — hiking, skiing, lakes

If your listing targets any of those guest types, a premium amenity like a hot tub becomes a genuine draw, not just a nice-to-have. It's the kind of thing guests specifically search for when planning that type of trip.

It's also worth connecting this to your property size. For context on what property type tends to produce the best returns overall, see the best type of property for Airbnb investing — the answer connects directly to which amenities make financial sense to add.

Does Your Market Have a Winter?

Market seasonality is the second major variable. And it's one that can completely change the math on a hot tub investment.

If you're in a consistently warm-weather market — think Phoenix, Miami, or Southern California — a hot tub is significantly less valuable as a differentiator. People visiting those destinations aren't thinking about soaking in 104-degree water when it's 90 degrees outside. A pool might make more sense, or simply strong air conditioning and outdoor living space.

But if your property is in a market with a defined winter season, a hot tub or sauna becomes a revenue stabilizer. It gives guests a compelling reason to visit during the slow months.

Properties in markets like the Canadian Rockies, Upstate New York, Vermont, or ski resort towns in Colorado can use these amenities to compete strongly even when the temperature drops.

Here's a concrete example: BNB Mastery founder James Svetec's properties are located north of Toronto, Canada — a market with roughly six months of winter. Without a compelling winter amenity, those properties would see a predictable seasonal dip. With a hot tub and sauna, guests have a reason to book a snowy weekend getaway that they simply wouldn't have otherwise.

Ski resort areas represent an even stronger case. Winter is high season in those markets. A hot tub at a ski chalet isn't just a nice bonus — it's expected. Not having one puts your listing at a competitive disadvantage relative to comparable properties that do.

Hot Tub vs. Sauna: Which Is Better for Airbnb?

Once you've decided an amenity makes sense, the next question is which one to add. If budget allows, getting both is the ideal move — guests can choose their preference, and having two premium amenities compounds your listing's appeal.

But if you have to pick just one, the answer in 2026 is the hot tub — and it comes down to one specific platform mechanic.

That said, it's worth understanding the full picture of how each amenity stacks up:

Saunas do have genuine advantages. They require far less maintenance than hot tubs — no water chemistry to balance, no filters to clean, no jets to service. If you could filter equally for both on Airbnb, a sauna would arguably be the smarter operational choice. But you can't, and that makes all the difference.

For a broader look at how to research and select the right amenities for your specific market, this guide on finding the best Airbnb amenities in your area walks through the research process in detail.

The Airbnb Filter Sauna Problem

Here's the practical reality that shapes the hot tub vs. sauna decision in 2026: Airbnb allows guests to filter search results by amenity type, and hot tubs are a filterable amenity — saunas are not.

This is what's commonly called the airbnb filter sauna issue among experienced hosts. When a group of friends searches for a cabin with a hot tub, Airbnb shows them only properties that have checked that box. If your property has a sauna but no hot tub, it's invisible to that search. You're competing for general search traffic only.

That's a meaningful visibility gap. Guests who know they want a hot tub are highly motivated bookers — they're searching with intent. Capturing that filtered traffic means your listing appears in front of guests who have already decided they want that amenity. That drives bookings directly.

Until Airbnb adds a sauna filter to the platform (which could change — platform features evolve), hosts who want maximum listing visibility should prioritize the hot tub. If you already have a sauna and are considering whether to add a hot tub too, the filter argument is a strong reason to make it happen.

How to Think About ROI on a Hot Tub or Sauna

The ROI question depends heavily on your current nightly rate. This is where most hosts make the mistake of thinking about the amenity in isolation rather than in the context of their revenue model.

Here's the core principle: a premium amenity typically lifts your nightly rate by roughly 10%. The absolute dollar value of that lift varies dramatically based on where your rates already sit.

• At $100/night, a 10% bump = $10/night extra
• At $300/night, a 10% bump = $30/night extra
• At $500–$1,000/night, a 10% bump = $50–$100/night extra

Now apply that to payback period. A hot tub purchased secondhand for approximately $3,000 USD:

• At $10/night lift → takes 300 nights to break even
• At $50/night lift → takes 60 nights to break even
• At $100/night lift → takes 30 nights to break even

This is why larger, higher-rate properties are the sweet spot for this investment. If you're running a premium cabin that sleeps 10 people and charges $700–$900 per night in peak season, adding a hot tub could pay for itself in a single month. If you're managing a budget studio, the math rarely works out.

To understand how to properly model this kind of analysis before making any capital expenditure, learning how to analyze a short-term rental property with cash-on-cash returns is an essential skill. Running the numbers before you commit is always the right move.

Investors who want structured frameworks for this kind of decision-making can explore the BNB Investing Blueprint, which includes deal analysis tools and step-by-step guidance for evaluating value-add improvements like amenity upgrades.

What to Buy and What It Costs

If you've run the numbers and a hot tub or sauna makes sense for your property, here's a practical breakdown of what to buy and what to expect to spend.

Hot Tubs: Buy Secondhand

Hot tubs depreciate like cars — dramatically after the first owner. A tub that retailed for $8,000–$12,000 new can often be purchased used for $2,500–$4,500 USD in good condition. BNB Mastery recommends buying secondhand hot tubs specifically for this reason.

Key buying criteria for used hot tubs:

• Look for a 6–7 person capacity so the whole guest group can use it together
• Have the jets, heating element, and cover inspected before purchase
• Work with someone experienced in hot tub maintenance to evaluate the unit
• Ask about service history — a well-maintained tub from a diligent previous owner is a reliable buy

Target budget: $3,000–$5,000 USD for a quality used hot tub, installed.

Saunas: Barrel Is Best for Groups

For larger vacation properties, an outdoor barrel sauna is the recommended choice over a compact infrared unit. The reason is simple: group capacity. If you're hosting 8–12 guests, you need a sauna that can comfortably fit 6–8 people. Infrared saunas that large are expensive and require significant interior space.

Barrel saunas offer a better guest experience — they feel more like a retreat amenity than a wellness gadget. And when it comes to fuel type, go electric over wood-fire. Wood-fire is a superior sensory experience, but it requires guests to manage firewood and prep time.

Electric barrel saunas turn on with a button, heat in 30–45 minutes, and eliminate friction completely.

Used barrel saunas are harder to find on the secondary market, so budget for new:

• Target budget: $7,000–$12,000 USD for a quality electric barrel sauna, installed

At BNB Mastery's most recent property setup, the hot tub came in at approximately $3,500 CAD (used), and the barrel sauna was purchased new for $7,000 CAD — both considered strong value for the amenities delivered.

Tips for Maximizing the Amenity

Buying the right hot tub or sauna is only half the job. How you present and manage the amenity determines how much revenue lift you actually capture.

Photography and Listing Optimization

Premium amenities need premium photos. A blurry daytime shot of a hot tub doesn't do it justice. Invest in an evening photo with the tub lit up, steam rising, and the surrounding landscape visible. That image will stop scrollers cold and drive clicks on your listing.

In your listing title, check all relevant amenity tags on Airbnb. Make sure "hot tub" is selected so your listing appears in filtered searches. Mention both the hot tub and sauna prominently in your description — lead with them, don't bury them.

Pricing Strategy

Don't just set it and forget it after adding an amenity. Revisit your pricing strategy to capture the value you've added. If comparable listings without a hot tub are charging $350/night, your property should be priced above that floor. Use dynamic pricing tools and monitor your occupancy rate after the amenity goes live to calibrate.

For more on capturing seasonal demand with your pricing, these tips for maximizing your Airbnb during peak seasons pair directly with the amenity strategy discussed here.

Maintenance Systems

Hot tubs require consistent water chemistry management — pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels need to be checked and adjusted regularly. Build this into your turnaround checklist. Either train your cleaning crew to handle basic checks, or set a schedule for a pool/spa service company to visit weekly.

Neglecting maintenance is the fastest way to turn a revenue asset into a liability. A guest who finds a green, milky hot tub will leave a one-star review, and that review will cost you far more than the maintenance ever would have.

Connecting with other hosts who manage these systems daily is one of the best ways to build reliable protocols. The BNB Tribe community includes experienced operators who share maintenance systems, vendor recommendations, and lessons learned from running amenity-heavy properties.

Bottom Line: Should You Add a Hot Tub to Your Airbnb?

Adding a hot tub to your Airbnb makes financial sense when three conditions align: your target guests are vacationers or groups (not business travelers), your market has a cold or seasonal winter period, and your nightly rates are high enough for a 10% premium to meaningfully accelerate ROI.

When all three are true, it's one of the highest-return amenity investments available to STR operators in 2026.

If budget forces a choice between a hot tub and a sauna, go with the hot tub — the Airbnb filter advantage is real and measurable. If you can afford both, get both. Prioritize group-size capacity in whatever you buy, go electric for the sauna, and buy the hot tub secondhand if you can find a quality used unit.

The hosts who see the biggest ROI from these amenities are the ones who combine smart purchasing with strong listing presentation and consistent maintenance. Treat it like the income-producing asset it is, not just a backyard luxury, and it will pay for itself many times over.