“Ratings” on a portable spa can mean three different things: an energy label, a safety listing, or customer stars. They measure different things, and only the first is a government standard.
This page explains each one and what to look for on a listing. For choosing a type, size, and power setup, start with the hot tub buying guide.
Short answer: the most useful rating is the standby power label that California requires, which shows the watts a spa uses to stay hot with its cover on. UL 1563 is the U.S. safety standard for electric spas. Customer star ratings are the least standardized; none of the 10 spas in our catalog has one in our data.
Rating 1: the standby power label
In 2004, the California Energy Commission set a maximum on how much power a spa may use in standby mode, according to a 2019 article by Roderick Manalac, a staff engineer at UL. He wrote that Oregon, Connecticut, Washington, and Arizona have also adopted California’s Title 20 rules, and that the test follows the ANSI/APSP/ICC-14 standard.
The rules California Energy Commission staff presented in 2018, for spas made from June 1, 2019, spell out how it works:
- The spa is held at 102°F for at least four hours before the test starts.
- The result is adjusted to a standard 37°F gap between water and air, so results are comparable.
- Inflatable spas get their own limit, separate from rigid spas.
- The label shows the result as “Standby Power” in watts, on a label at least 5 by 6.25 inches.
- The rating is tied to the cover the spa was tested with, and the spa must be sold with that cover or an approved equivalent.
Here’s what the spec sheet won’t tell you. The label rates the spa and its cover together. A worn or poorly fitting replacement cover isn’t part of that number.
Is there a federal rating?
Not in the sources here. The U.S. Department of Energy decided in September 2022 that portable electric spas were a covered product, which is the first step toward federal standards. In April 2025 it proposed withdrawing that decision. The state rules above are what applies in the states that have them.
Rating 2: the safety listing
UL 1563 is UL’s standard for electric spas, equipment assemblies, and associated equipment, published since 1981. On January 13, 2025, its scope was expanded to cover electrically powered cold tubs, ice baths, and units that both heat and cool.
Look for the listing mark on the spa’s equipment or documents, and ask the seller which lab certified it. A plug-and-play spa still needs the outlet its manual specifies.
Rating 3: customer stars
Star ratings come from whoever hosts them: the brand’s site, a big-box store, or a marketplace. They aren’t tested, and the same spa can show different scores in different places.
In our catalog of 10 hot tubs, none has a star rating in our data. Compare that with cold plunges, where makers do publish them: The Plunge shows 4.8 out of 5 from 872 reviews on its own site. When you do see stars on a spa, note where they came from and how many reviews sit behind them.
What our 10 spa listings publish
Instead of stars, check which facts a listing gives you. From our catalog:
| Spa | Price | Power stated | Filled weight stated | Warranty stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bestway SaluSpa Hot Springs | $455 | No | No | No |
| Coleman SaluSpa 4-Person | $549.99 | 110/120V | 1,938 lbs | 1 yr pump, 90 days liner |
| AquaRest Standard 400 | $2,799 | 120V/15A | No (240 lbs dry) | No |
| Aqualife Current | $2,885 | 120V/15A, to 240V | No | No |
| LifeSmart LS100DX | $2,899 | 110V | 2,698 lbs | Varies by retailer |
| AquaRest Premium 300 | $3,199 | 120V/15A, to 240V | No (232 lbs dry) | No |
| AquaRest Premium 600 | $3,479 | 110V/15A, to 230V | No (295 lbs dry) | No |
| Hot Spring Azure | $7,499 | 115V, to 230V | 3,020 lbs | 5 yr shell, 2 cabinet, 1 parts |
| Hot Spring Mini | Dealer quote | 115V, to 230V | 1,655 lbs | No |
| Jacuzzi J-335 | Dealer quote | No | No | No |
From the makers’ and retailers’ listings, checked February to September 2026. None of these listings in our data gives a standby power figure, so ask the seller for the label.
My rule of thumb: ask for three numbers before you buy any portable spa: standby watts, filled weight, and warranty years on the shell. A seller who can give all three has done the paperwork.
To compare three spas with published prices side by side, see our hot tub comparison.
Bottom line: the standby power label is the rating that tells you running cost, the UL 1563 listing tells you it was checked against a safety standard, and star ratings tell you the least. Ask for the label first.
Sources
- Manalac R, “Your Guide to Navigating the Complicated Portable Spa Energy Efficiency Requirements,” UL, June 11, 2019: ul.com
- California Energy Commission, “Staff Presentation on Portable Electric Spas and Battery Charger Systems,” Docket 18-AAER-02, TN 222816, March 6, 2018: energy.ca.gov
- U.S. Department of Energy, “Energy Conservation Program: Proposed Withdrawal of Determination of Portable Electric Spas as a Covered Consumer Product,” Federal Register, April 18, 2025: federalregister.gov
- UL, “Scope of Electrical Spa Standard Expanded to Cover Cold Tubs,” accessed October 26, 2026: ul.com
- Spa prices, power, weights, and warranties: Bestway, Coleman (via Hot Tubs Depot), AquaRest, Aqualife (via Walmart), LifeSmart (via The Home Depot), Hot Spring, and Jacuzzi listings, checked February to September 2026; Plunge review count, checked October 11, 2026