Author
Katherine Englishman
Photo courtesy AlumiTubs
Natural hot springs are heaven on Earth. A wood fired hot tub is the next best thing. Soaking in a cedar hot tub full of steaming hot water, feeling the crisp air around you with nothing but the sound of a crackling fire and scent of cedar is a grounding and soothing outdoor experience that can transform your daily life.
Simple and timeless with an elemental design, the wood fired hot tub has a rich history of wellness for the mind, body, and soul, and is still a way that many people reconnect to both themselves and nature today.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain the background history of wood fired hot tubs, how they work, and how to pick the perfect one for your own oasis, be it a mountain cabin, coastal surf shack, desert oasis, or even a suburban backyard.
(Psst: Expand your wellness routine with an infrared sauna.)
What Is a Wood Fired Hot Tub?
A wood fired hot tub is a soaking tub that uses a wood burner stove rather than an electric heater to heat either fresh or saltwater. They are typically made from cedar wood, though some have a metal or composite inserts to make cleaning easier and extend the lifespan. The modern version that most know of today was inspired by the traditional Japanese ofuro—a deep, square or rectangular soaking tub crafted from cedar or hinoki cypress wood that offers a place for deep spiritual, mental, and physical restoration to cleanse more than just your pores. With no electricity, no jets or lights, a wooden hot tub offers a similarly quiet, relaxing, and aromatic experience.
Our Top Picks
- Best Wood Fired Hot Tub: AlumiTubs
- Best Modern Wood Burning Hot Tub: Goodland
- Best Ofuro Style Cedar Soaking Tub: Forest Cooperage
- Best with Fiberglass Liner: Backcountry Recreation Deluxe Hot Tub
- Best with External Stove: Almost Heaven Saunas
- The Original: Snorkel Hot Tubs
How Does a Wood Fired Hot Tub Work?
As the name suggests, the back-to-basics design of a wood fired hot tub features a wood burning stove that heats the water to an ideal temperature of 103-105 degrees Fahrenheit. There are two different kinds of wood burning heaters: a submersible stove and an external stove.
A submersible stove is made of durable marine grade aluminum that resists corrosion, and surprise, is submersed in the hot tub. An underwater stove might sound oxymoronic, but what makes it work are the above-water stove pipe, stainless steel chimney, and stove door that allow you to build a fire and control air intake, thus controlling the wood fire temperature. Hot tubbers and the stove are safely kept apart by a built-in wooden fence.
An external stove sits outside the tub and is connected by two hoses—one pulls cooler water in to heat the water, while the other pushes the heated water out and into the hot tub, so water is constantly circulating, this process is known as thermosiphoning. An external heater does provide more space inside the hot tub, though their physical footprint are larger.
A DIY friendly variation of the external stove system is an external heating coil that you build a fire in the middle of. Heating coils work through the same process, can be purchased for around $650, and are a great way to build an outdoor hot tub on the cheap.
Overall, submersible stoves are often considered the best choice because they heat water twice as fast (which may still be a couple hours) as an external stove by making the transfer of heat more efficient. Just make sure you’ve got plenty of kindling and well-seasoned firewood ready to go for your soak.
How Long Does a Wood Fired Hot Tub Take to Heat Up?
A wood fired hot tub can take up to three or four hours to heat the water temperature to 105° F, depending on the water capacity and heating method. A smaller ~350 gallon tub may take as little as 90 minutes to heat, whereas a larger tub fit for five or six people may take three to four hours to heat. For folks that enjoy building a fire and the smell of burning wood, it's about both the journey AND the destination.
That said, if you’re looking for a quick and easy soaking solution, many wood burning hot tub makers also make soaking tubs compatible with electric heaters.
Pro Tip: Add a Cold Plunge to Your Routine
Embrace the health benefits of contrast bath therapy and pair your hot tub with a cold plunge pool set to around 44-54 degrees Fahrenheit. While heat encourages blood flow throughout the body, cold water immersion restricts circulation and reduces inflammation. Check out our cold plunge guide for the full rundown on this hot wellness trend with serious mental and physical benefits.
The 6 Best Wood Fired Hot Tubs
Every hot tubber and every landscape may demand something different. It's up to you to decide which design is best for your outdoor space. The following are our top picks for the best wood fired hot tubs, from traditional to truly unique. Enjoy!
Best Wood Fired Hot Tub: AlumiTubs
Guaranteed to never leak and easy to clean, AlumiTubs pioneered the original aluminum lined cedar hot tub to outperform conventional wooden soaking tubs. Handcrafted of locally sourced and 100% recyclable materials in BC, Canada for over 20 years, AlumiTubs feature a unique and hyper efficient heating system with the biggest firebox on the market, heating the water directly, faster, while using less wood. Hot in just 90 minutes and proven to perform in outside temps as low as -22F (-30C), its 360 degree insulation and full coverage lid system allows the AlumiTub to achieve as high of temperatures as a hot tubber wants, retaining its heat with just an armful of wood a day. Plus, the AlumiTub is compatible with filtration and external heating systems like propane, natural gas, solar, and the all-new AlumiTub electric heater, making it ideal for full time and year round use in both off-grid settings and at-home backyards—even during fire bans. The timeless design is available in three sizes with more internal depth than other wood fired hot tubs and ships free throughout North America, pre-assembled with no installation or electricity required.
Capacity: Three sizes are available: 2, 5, 8 person
Heater Type: Submerged multi-fuel stove
Materials: Marine grade aluminum, western red cedar, stainless steel
Dimensions: 2 person: 60 inches wide (5ft), 4 person: 71 inches (6ft), and 6 person: 84 inches (7ft)
Heater Type: Internal submerged wood stove
Price: Starting at $7,495 CAD ($5,450 USD)
Best Modern Wood Burning Hot Tub: Goodland
This Canadian brand prides itself on using locally-sourced materials and sustainable design to make its unique and refined rectangular soaking tub. The design fits two adults comfortably and is made with 100% recyclable marine grade aluminum with Western red cedar wood stays on the exterior to help with insulation. Easy to move and assemble, Goodland promises a simple ten-minute setup out of the box.
Capacity: 2 adults + 2 kids
Materials: Marine grade aluminum & western red cedar
Dimensions: 91.5" L x 37" W x 24" D
Heater Type: Submersed wood stove
Price: $6,295 USD
Best Ofuro Soaking Tub: Forest Cooperage
A true multi-sensory experience, bathing in a Japanese style ofuros cedar soaking tub is unlike any other. The aroma of the clear western red cedar, the hot water—it's pure relaxation. Since 1998 Forest Cooperage has custom crafted Japanese-inspired wood hot tubs (and traditional wood fired tub and barrel sauna options) on the Pacific Coast of BC, Canada using select locally milled wood that's slowly kiln-dried for 2-3 weeks before being assembled, increasing its strength and reducing the risk of shrinkage or warping after production. The artful designs are entirely created with interlocking wooden staves, which are secured in place with high-quality stainless steel hoops to form a durable seal (like a wine barrel). Each wooden tub arrives assembled, and can double as an ice bath if desired. All styles can be used with a circulation and filtration system or simply drained and refilled after every couple uses for a chemical-free experience.
Capacity: 2-8
Materials: Western Red Cedar
Dimensions: 5' up to 7' Diameter
Heater Type: Wood fire, electric heat, or hot water
Price: Starting at $2,199
Best Wood Fired Hot Tub with Fiberglass Liner: Backcountry Recreation Deluxe Hot Tub
Built with durability and longevity in mind, this deluxe wood fired hot tub is the best selling style from Backcountry Recreation, a Canadian retailer that works with factories in Scandinavia and Asia to produce high quality wood hot tubs using 100% Canadian Western Cedar or Scandinavian thermowood. The leak-proof fiberglass liner makes maintenance easy and the innovative integrated wood stove delivers one of the fastest water heating times (90min to 1.5 hours). Without the stove being submerged, more room is freed up for bathers—who also don't have to worry about accidentally touching a submerged hot stove. (Classic submerged stove tubs are also available from $4,889).
Capacity: 5-6
Materials: Spruce Thermowood exterior & fiberglass liner
Dimensions: 78.5” (6.5') Diameter
Heater Type: Integrated but exterior wood stove
Price: $5,926
Best Wood Fired Hot Tub With External Stove: Almost Heaven Saunas
Don't let the brand's name confuse you, Almost Heaven Saunas also makes high quality cedar soaking tubs—and entirely in the U.S. since 1977 at that. While most all other options on this list feature hot tubs with integrated, submerged stoves, this four person tub features an external wood fired stove, meaning more room to stretch out and no risk of singeing a toe on a hot submerged stove. The clever tub is designed to be filled when you plan to use it and emptied when finished, making it great for cabin owners who don't want to worry about water maintenance, equipment breakdown when not in use. This ability to quickly and fully drain also allows the tub to be used in very cold climates.
Capacity: 4
Materials: Western Red Cedar
Dimensions: 5.5' Diameter x 3.5' Height
Heater Type: External wood stove
Price: $7,889
The Original: Snorkel Hot Tubs
This Pacific Northwest company gets bragging rights as the inventor the underwater hot tub stove! Since 1979, Snorkel has been making submersible wood fired stoves and barrel cedar hot tubs that are still popular with bathers today. Tubs and stoves are available for purchase together and separately. Prices start at $5,195 for 2-3 person cedar tub with snorkel stove and go up to $8,495 for 5-6 person tubs. Don't be put off by the extremely old school website—Snorkel is as legit as it gets. Personally, I find it fitting that the most OG makers of analog hot tub are decidedly offline craftspeople.
Capacity: 2-6
Materials: Western Red Cedar
Dimensions: 5' Diameter x 3' Height up to 7' x 4'
Heater Type: Underwater wood stove
Price: $5,195
Bonus: Build One Yourself!
Looking for a more hands on approach? Go the DIY route. Field Mag contributor Elias Carlson and his wife built a fully functional DIY hot tub with cold plunge at their Idaho home for just $2,000. Check out our step-by-step guide with material breakdown and everything to learn how to build a wood fired hot tub of your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do wood fired hot tubs last?
Wood burning hot tubs made of cedar can last 15-20 years with proper care, thanks to the naturally durable and decay-resistant properties of cedar wood. Wood burning hot tubs with aluminum or fiberglass inserts can last decades longer. Though all is subject to proper care and careful maintenance.
What is the best type of wood for a wood burning hot tub?
Cedar is the best type of wood for a wood burning hot tub, specifically western red cedar and Alaskan yellow cedar. Its high tannin content makes it naturally waterproof and resistant to decay, wood rot, and warping, even after bring submerged in water for extended periods.
Alaskan yellow cedar has a beautiful color and is known for its clear and smooth grain, but it's expensive. Western red cedar is the most popular choice for a wood soaking tub. It has the same durability and toughness as Alaskan yellow cedar, but costs less and has a distinct earthy, reddish hue. Plus all cedars smell fantastic.
In terms of heating, the best type of wood to use as fuel in a wood burning hot tub is seasoned hardwood, such as oak, birch, maple, or ash. Hardwood burns slower and produces a greater amount of heat than softwoods like pine or cedar—these should be avoided as they contain resin that can create a buildup in the stove and stovepipe and affect water quality.
Do you have to put chemicals in a wood fired hot tub?
The answer is really a matter of personal preference. For a true, authentic wood fired hot tub experience we recommend an approach without chemicals, which allows the rich aroma of cedar wood and natural water feel to enhance the experience. This requires you to drain the water after 2-3 uses, wipe down the inside of the tub with a mild water/bleach solution, and refill it again for next time. The downside is, this creates a lot of wasted water and is not very sustainable (though if you can divert the waste water towards a garden, problem solved!). A fixed, electric filtration system is another option.
Regardless, keeping your hot tub clean is hugely important, so if you can't change the water often, chemicals are your best route to maintain proper water hygiene and prevent the growth of bacteria and algae. Chemicals such as chlorine or bromine can be used to sanitize the water and keep it safe for use with regular testing. Additionally, pH balancing agents are also used to maintain the optimal pH level of the water. Some natural, eco-friendly products also exist, like Ahh Natural and Blue Magic, which are worth looking into.
Alternatively, some users fill their hot tubs with saltwater for its therapeutic benefits as it's more gentle on sensitive skin and naturally relieves inflammation. To go this route, instead of adding the typical amount of chlorine to the water, you can purchase a sanitizing saltwater system that enhances the saltwater’s natural ability to create chlorine and purify the water.
Published 01-04-2024
Updated 04-23-2024
