Let’s be honest right upfront: moving a hot tub is no small task. An average acrylic hot tub weighs anywhere from 500 to over 1,000 pounds completely empty. Add in awkward dimensions and fragile internal plumbing, and you have a recipe for a challenging afternoon.
However, if you are moving across town, buying a second-hand spa, or just relocating it to a better spot in your backyard, it is entirely possible to do it yourself with the right preparation. Here is exactly how to move a hot tub safely without wrecking your tub—or your back!
1. The “Hire a Pro” Disclaimer
Before you start calling in favors from your friends, strongly consider hiring professional hot tub movers. For a few hundred dollars, they bring specialized spa dollies, insurance, and the muscle to move it in a fraction of the time. If you decide to tackle it yourself, you will need at least three or four strong, capable helpers.
2. Gather Your Equipment
You cannot move a hot tub with just elbow grease. You will need:
- Two heavy-duty furniture dollies (preferably flat without an upright handle).
- Moving straps or tie-downs (heavy-duty ratchet straps are best).
- Several 4×4 wood blocks.
- Thick plywood sheets (if you have to roll over grass or gravel).
- A wet/dry Shop-Vac.
3. Disconnect and Drain Completely
Turn off the power at the breaker before doing anything. Next, drain the tub completely using the drain valve or a submersible pump. Once it looks empty, take your wet/dry Shop-Vac and blow out the jets and pipes. A hot tub can hold up to 50 pounds of hidden water in its plumbing, which will spill out everywhere when you tip it if you skip this step!
4. Clear and Measure Your Path
Measure your hot tub, and then measure every single gate, doorway, and tight corner it has to pass through. You will likely need to turn the hot tub on its side to fit through standard fence gates. Clear away any patio furniture, garden hoses, or tripping hazards along the route.
5. Lift and Load (The Heavy Phase)
Do not try to deadlift the tub. Have your team lift one corner just high enough to slide a 4×4 block underneath. Repeat this on the other corners until the tub is elevated off the ground. Once it is safely raised, you can carefully slide your flat furniture dollies underneath the heaviest side (which is usually where the motor and equipment panel are located). Strap the tub securely to the dollies.
6. Roll, Transport, and Place
Communicate clearly with your team and roll the tub slowly. If you are crossing a lawn, lay down your plywood sheets to create a hard track so the dollies do not sink into the mud. If you are loading it onto a moving truck or trailer, use a sturdy ramp. Have half the team push from the bottom while the other half guides and pulls from the top.
Once you arrive at the new location, carefully reverse the process. Lower it onto the 4×4 blocks, pull out the dollies, and gently ease it down to its final resting place.
With patience, the right tools, and good friends (who you should definitely reward with pizza and a soak later), moving a hot tub is totally doable!