A spa for two or three is the size most couples want and the one most catalogs skip past on the way to six-seaters. Small spas also hold less water, so they cost less to heat and weigh less on a deck.
This page compares the four spas in our catalog rated for two to three people or close to it. For types, power, and running cost in general, start with the hot tub buying guide.
Short answer: for two adults, the AquaRest Discover Premium 300 ($3,199) has a published price, 20 stainless jets, and ozone, on a 120V plug that converts to 240V. The Hot Spring Mini has the smallest rigid footprint we list, 6 feet by 4 feet 5 inches, but needs a dealer quote. For three, the Aqualife Current ($2,885) is rated 3 to 4 people in a 71 by 61 inch footprint. To try the habit for $455, the Bestway SaluSpa seats 2 to 4.
Side by side
| Bestway SaluSpa Hot Springs | Aqualife Current | AquaRest Premium 300 | Hot Spring Mini | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $455 | $2,885 | $3,199 | Dealer quote |
| Seats | 2-4 | 3-4 | 2 adults | 2 adults |
| Type | Inflatable | Acrylic plug-and-play | Acrylic plug-and-play | Acrylic plug-and-play |
| Footprint | 71” round | 71” x 61” | 80” x 68” | 72” x 53” |
| Water | 177 gal | Not stated | 160 gal | 125 gal |
| Jets | 120 air jets | 14 stainless | 20 stainless | 11 |
| Power | Not in our data | 120V/15A, to 240V | 120V/15A, to 240V | 115V, to 230V |
| Extras | EnergySense insulation | 2-speed pump | Ozone, LED waterfall | 50 sq ft filter, FROG ready |
From Bestway, Aqualife (via Walmart), AquaRest, and Hot Spring listings, checked February to September 2026.
AquaRest Discover Premium 300: the 2-adult pick
The Premium 300 seats two with 20 stainless steel jets on a 1.5 HP pump, full-foam insulation, and an ozone system included. It runs on a standard 120V/15A outlet with a 1kW heater, and converts to 240V with a 4kW heater.
You get a rigid spa without an electrician on day one. You give up seats, and AquaRest’s page doesn’t state the warranty length.
Hot Spring Mini: the smallest footprint
The Mini is 6 feet by 4 feet 5 inches, holds 125 gallons, and weighs 1,655 lbs filled. It has 11 jets, a 50 sq ft filter, and runs on 115V, convertible to 230V.
You get the smallest rigid footprint we list. You give up a published price and jet count.
Aqualife Current: room for three
The Current is rated 3 to 4 people in a 71 by 61 inch rectangle, with 14 stainless jets on a 2-speed pump. It runs on 120V/15A and converts to 240V. The price is from a Walmart listing rather than the maker’s site.
You get a third seat in a footprint smaller than the 2-adult Premium 300. You give up published water volume and weight.
Bestway SaluSpa Hot Springs: the trial run
A 177-gallon inflatable with 120 air jets, heating to 104°F, for $455. Air jets bubble rather than push water like pumped jets.
Run the numbers on heat-up time
The EIA defines a Btu as the heat to warm 1 lb of water by 1°F, and a kWh as 3,412 Btu. Water weighs 8.34 lbs a gallon (USGS). Heating from 60°F to 102°F:
| Spa | Water | Heat needed | At 1kW | At 4kW | Cost at 18.34¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Spring Mini | 125 gal | 12.8 kWh | About 13 h | About 3 h | About $2.35 |
| AquaRest Premium 300 | 160 gal | 16.4 kWh | About 16 h | About 4 h | About $3.01 |
| Bestway SaluSpa | 177 gal | 18.2 kWh | About 18 h | About 4.5 h | About $3.33 |
Our arithmetic, before heat lost through the shell and cover. AquaRest states its 1kW and 4kW heaters; Hot Spring’s and Bestway’s heater sizes aren’t in our data, so their rows are reference points.
Run the numbers on the deck
Spread over its footprint, the Mini’s 1,655 lbs is about 62 lbs per square foot. The Premium 300’s roughly 1,566 lbs over 37.8 sq ft is about 41 lbs per square foot. Both figures are before bathers.
Here’s what the spec sheet won’t tell you. The smaller spa puts more weight on each square foot, because it packs its water into less space. On a raised deck, have the structure checked for the spa you pick.
My rule of thumb: if two people will use it most nights, buy the 2-seater and save on heat. Only size up if a third person will be in it every week.
To compare a small acrylic spa with an inflatable and a premium spa, see our hot tub comparison.
Bottom line: the Premium 300 for two with a known price, the Mini for the smallest footprint, the Current for a third seat, and the SaluSpa to try it first.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, “British thermal units (Btu),” accessed October 5, 2026: eia.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential average 18.34¢/kWh, June 2026 data), accessed October 1, 2026
- U.S. Geological Survey, “Water Density” (a gallon of water weighs about 8.34 lbs), accessed October 2, 2026: usgs.gov
- Specs and prices: Bestway, Aqualife (via Walmart), AquaRest, and Hot Spring listings, checked February to September 2026