Wood-Fired vs. Electric Hot Tubs: Which One Is Right for You?

Wood-Fired Hot Tub

Choosing Between Wood-Fired and Electric Hot Tubs

If you’re planning to invest in a cedar hot tub, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing your heating system. The two most popular options—wood-fired and electric—offer very different experiences.

With over 25 years of expertise in crafting premium cedar hot tubs, we’ve helped countless customers weigh the pros and cons of each system. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide which option best suits your needs.

Your Options: Wood-Fired and Electric

Cedar hot tubs can be heated in several ways—gas, solar, heat pump, and more—but for most homeowners, the real debate comes down to wood-fired vs. electric. These two systems deliver distinct experiences in terms of convenience, ambiance, and cost.

Wood-Fired Hot Tubs: The Classic Experience

Advantages

Authentic and Immersive Atmosphere
There’s something timeless about heating your water with a natural flame. The crackling of the wood, the scent of cedar mingling with smoke, and the soft flicker of firelight create a unique, meditative experience. It’s more than just relaxation—it’s a ritual that connects you to nature.

Perfect for Off-Grid Living
If you live remotely or enjoy getting away from the grid, a wood-fired hot tub is ideal. It requires no electricity—just well-seasoned firewood—making it a favorite for cabins, cottages, and eco-retreats.

Sustainable and Renewable Energy Source
Firewood is a renewable resource, especially in forested areas. With access to local wood, your operating costs remain low, and your environmental footprint stays small.

Independence from the Power Grid
During power outages or blackouts, your wood-fired hot tub will continue to operate—no interruptions, no inconvenience.

Disadvantages

Longer Heating Time
Wood-fired hot tub heaters typically take 3–5 hours to reach optimal temperature. This requires advance planning, but many owners find the preparation part of the charm.

Requires Active Maintenance
You’ll need to manage the fire—adding wood, adjusting airflow, and monitoring temperature. Some enjoy this hands-on process; others may prefer a more automated solution.

Storage and Weather Considerations
Adequate space for storing dry firewood is essential, and starting a fire in rainy or windy conditions can be challenging.

Electric Hot Tubs: Modern Comfort and Convenience

Electric Hot Tubs

Advantages

Effortless Operation
Electric hot tub heaters offer unmatched convenience. Many modern systems can be pre-programmed to heat the water before you arrive home and maintain a consistent temperature automatically.

Quick and Precise Heating
Electric systems typically heat water within 1–3 hours, maintaining it within a single degree of your set temperature. It’s efficient, precise, and easy to control.

All-Weather Reliability
Electric hot tubs perform consistently regardless of the weather—no smoke, no ash, and no environmental restrictions. They’re ideal for urban or suburban areas with fire bans or limited outdoor space.

Disadvantages

Higher Operating Costs
Electricity prices vary by region, but you can expect noticeable increases in your energy bills, especially with frequent use.

Professional Installation Required
Most electric heaters require a 220V/240V connection, often necessitating a certified electrician and possibly new wiring—an added upfront expense.

Dependent on Power Supply
During outages, an electric hot tub will stop operating until power is restored.

Cost Comparison: The Five-Year Outlook

Category
Initial Setup
Annual Cost
Estimated 5-Year Total
Actual costs may vary depending on your region, utility rates, and frequency of use.
Wood-Fired
$1,700–$3,000 (heater, chimney, installation)
$300–$600 (firewood)
$3,200–$6,000
Electric
$1,800–$4,000 (heater, wiring, installation)
$600–$1,200 (electricity)
$4,800–$10,000

Location Matters

Your environment plays a major role in determining which system suits you best:

Wood-Fired Hot Tubs Are Ideal If:

  • You live in a rural or forested area with easy access to firewood.
  • You’re interested in off-grid or eco-friendly living.
  • You experience cold winters and want extra warmth from the fire.
  • You face occasional power outages.

Electric Hot Tubs Are Best If:

  • You have reliable, affordable access to electricity.
  • Convenience and automation are top priorities.
  • You live in an area with fire restrictions or space limitations.
  • You prefer minimal maintenance and consistent performance.

Why Choose Cedar

cedar tubs

Regardless of your heating choice, a cedar hot tub offers exceptional natural benefits. Grade-A cedar provides excellent insulation, helping maintain water temperature efficiently. Its natural oils resist rot and decay, and its flexible structure expands and contracts with temperature changes to maintain a watertight seal.

All cedar used in our tubs is sourced from sustainably managed forests with rigorous reforestation practices—ensuring quality craftsmanship and environmental responsibility for future generations.

Final Thoughts

Your decision ultimately depends on your lifestyle and priorities.
If you value tradition, self-reliance, and the soothing ritual of fire, a wood-fired tub will deliver an authentic and memorable experience.
If you prefer efficiency, comfort, and convenience, an electric system offers modern simplicity with minimal effort.

Create your own oasis with a cedar tub – almost anywhere in the world!

Can I get a cedar tub shipped to Australia?
Hey Google, can I get a wood hot tub in Florida?
Do you have a dealer for your cedar hot tubs in Mexico?
Siri, how do I find a cedar barrel hot tub installer in California?
Will Northern Lights ship a hot tub to Europe?

Our answers:

Yes, we ship our cedar tubs to Australia!
Of course you can get a wood hot tub in Florida!
We absolutely can have a cedar hot tub dealer in Mexico!
You can find a cedar barrel hot tub installer California by checking our installer network!
And Northern Lights would be happy to ship a hot tub to you in Europe.

The reality is, there’s no one in the world that makes a cedar hot tub quite like we do – our exceptional handcrafted quality and the materials can’t be matched! So whether through us directly or through one of our global distributors – no matter where you are in the world, you don’t need to worry about getting a cedar hot tub to you. You can focus on which hot tub is exactly the one you need, and our team here will take care of the rest. And after over 25 years in business, rest assured it will be packed for efficient and easy shipping too.

How do you get started? It’s easy!

After researching which cedar tub is best for you – a classic cedar tub, ofuro tub, hydrotherapy tub, or even a chiller tub – using our online configurator, you can design your hot tub, and see the results of all the custom options in real time! Once you submit your design plans, we will provide you with a quote that includes a timeline and shipping estimate.

Each of our cedar barrel hot tubs comes with a detailed assembly manual, but our team is always here to help with any questions you may have during the installation process as well – just contact us!

Wood-heated hot tubs: We answer your questions!

While our cedar hot tubs have several heating options, the one we get the most questions about is always our wood fired hot tubs.

Going with a wood fired heater is great solution for cedar hot tubs – to smell the logs burning while you’re enjoying a relaxing soak, the ability to reduce on costs if you have a ready supply of fire wood, or even if you have a remote location and you want to take your hot tub off grid.

Below we’ve gathered some of the most popular questions we receive about our woodfired hot tubs.

Q: Is it possible to have jets on the wood burner models if a pump is installed?  I’m looking for the low cost of using wood but want some aspects of a spa.  I like the fact that your model has the heater outside the tub.

A: Yes you can have 4 jets, 120 VAC two speed pump and a filter system on any wood fired heater.  This is an additional $500 and it allows you to keep the water in the tub much longer as you now have a filter.  Click here for our wood fired hot tub heaters.

Q: Hi there we live in Cranbrook, BC, Canada, and love your wood fired hot tubs. Can you tell me if you ship to BC? Do these arrived assembled, or do we install them onsite?

A: We can absolutely ship a wood fired hot tub to BC!  We ship our cedar hot tubs all over the world, including Europe, Australia – and even Iceland! Most of our customers order their hot tub as a kit, and assemble their wood fired hot tub onsite. Not only will this save on shipping costs, but our team is always here to help if you run into any installation hiccups – you can see the installation process here.

Q: We are looking at an 8-person cedar hot tub with the largest heater & accessories, which is the appropriate one for that size tub? How long does it take to heat the water?

A: We have 4 sizes of hot tubs and various types of heaters, including wood fired hot tub heaters. With your needs, we would recommend our large cedar hot tub (74″ diameter), which is suited for 6-8 people. If the majority of time you will have 5-8 people using your wooden hot tub, this would be the size you should choose. This barrel hot tub holds approximately 523 gallons of water. With a large wood fired heater you would be looking at about 4 hours heating time.

Heating times vary based on 2 prime factors: starting temperature of the water, and type of wood used.

Q: Will a wood fired hot tub heater work for other types of hot tubs?

A: They will! You can learn more about the versatility of Timberline wood heaters at www.woodwaterstoves.com

Q: How do you recommend cedar hot tub sizes to match a woodfired heater?

A: When choosing a wood burning hot tub, it is important to not oversize it as the more water you have, the longer it takes to heat. Our most commonly recommend model is the Blaze 55,000 BTU wood fired hot tub heater, as it will heat up quicker, which is what most of our customers are looking for.

Q: We purchased the 50″ round cedar hot tub last year, and now have it installed. We are looking at purchasing the Timberline wood fired hot tub heater. We will have about 180 gallons of water (24″ deep) inside the tub. What size stove? What else should we purchase? We have the holes and the plugs already drilled and installed, and will need the heating pipes, hoses etc.  This is an off-grid hot tub, so we don’t want the filter – and will drain the tub for install.

A: We’re so happy to hear you’re enjoying your cedar hot tub!  The Campfire is the wood heater for hot tub that you need, plus the connection kit – this also includes the chimney and all accessories.