Hot tub delivery: the base, the access and the crane
A filled hot tub can weigh well over a tonne, and an empty one still has to get from the road into your back garden. Sort the base and the route before delivery day.
What the price often leaves out
- The base it sits on
- Moving it from the road or driveway to the back garden
- A crane lift, if there's no side access
- An electrician to install the supply
- Removing packaging and the old tub, if you're replacing one
Ask the seller what's included, and get it in writing.
The base comes first
The base has to be level and take the full weight of the tub filled with water and people. Many sellers specify a concrete slab. A soft or uneven base can crack the shell, and using a base the seller didn't approve may affect the warranty.
- Get the base specification from the seller before you buy
- Have the base finished and set before delivery day
- Plan the electrical supply route at the same time
Find base and groundworks firms.
Will it fit through the side gate?
Hot tubs are usually moved on their side on a trolley. The clear width you need is roughly the tub's depth, plus room to steer around corners. Measure the narrowest point of the route, including downpipes, bins and gate posts, and give that figure to the seller.
Check for:
- Gate and passage width, and any tight turns
- Steps, slopes and soft lawn along the route
- Overhead cables and trees if a crane may be needed
No route through? A crane lift
When a hot tub won't fit through the side, it's lifted over the house. The crane firm needs to know the tub's weight, how far it has to reach, and where the crane can set up on the road or driveway. Crane firms lift; hauliers deliver. If you need both, book them for the same day.
Power and planning
Most electric hot tubs need their own supply and an outdoor isolator, fitted by a registered electrician. A hot tub on its own isn't usually a building, but a roof, gazebo, enclosure or raised deck built around it may count as a garden structure with its own rules. Check with your local authority before building anything around it.
Questions to ask the seller
- What are the exact dimensions and dry weight?
- What base do you specify, and will it affect the warranty?
- Is delivery to the back garden included, or only to the kerb?
- Can you arrange a crane if needed, and who pays?
- What electrical supply does it need?
- What happens if it can't reach the garden on the day?
Common questions
Does PodMove sell hot tubs?
No. PodMove is a directory. We list the firms that prepare bases, deliver and lift garden equipment, and pass on quote requests only with your consent.
Will a hot tub fit through my side gate?
Hot tubs are usually moved on their side on a trolley, so the clear width you need is roughly the tub's depth plus some room to steer. Measure the narrowest point, including downpipes and bins, and give the figure to the seller.
Can a hot tub be craned over my house?
Often, yes. It depends on the tub's weight, how far the crane has to reach and where it can set up. A crane firm needs to see the site before quoting.
What base does a hot tub need?
A level, solid base that can take the full weight of the tub when filled with water and people. Many sellers specify a concrete slab. Use the base the seller specifies, or the warranty may be affected.
Do I need an electrician?
Most electric hot tubs need their own supply and an outdoor isolator, fitted by a registered electrician. Ask the seller what supply the tub needs before you buy.
Deliver, lift or install hot tubs? List your business free until 31 January 2027. List your business.