How to Measure for a Replacement Hot Tub Cover
Before you dive into measuring your hot tub, why not grab our handy printable PDF worksheet? It's designed to make the whole measurement process a breeze.
Feel free to download it and follow along step-by-step. This worksheet guides you through each measurement you need, ensuring you don't miss a thing. Plus, it’s super easy to use and can save you time and effort. So, print it out, get your tape measure ready, and let’s get those perfect measurements for your hot tub cover!
If your hot tub is an ellipse, has an irregular shape, or features waterfalls or speakers, we’ve got you covered—but we’ll need a little help from you! For these unique tubs, you’ll need to provide us with a custom template.
Don’t worry, it’s not as tricky as it sounds. Just grab some sturdy paper, trace the outline of your hot tub, and make sure to include those special features like waterfalls and speakers. This template ensures we create a cover that fits perfectly, hugging every curve and contour of your tub. So, let’s get those measurements right, and soon enough, you’ll have a custom cover that’s just as unique as your hot tub!
Shopping online for a new hot tub cover? One of the key things you need to nail is measuring your hot tub correctly to make sure your custom cover fits like a glove.
Here are four handy tips to help you measure your hot tub perfectly and get a cover that fits like a glove:
Start with the Tub, Not the Cover!
Always measure your hot tub first, not the old cover, since the old one might have warped or shrunk. If the old cover still fits well, you can use its measurements to double-check. Remember, measure both the hot tub and the old cover twice. If there’s any difference, go with the hot tub’s measurements to ensure the perfect fit!
Add an Extra 0.5 for Good Measure
When measuring your hot tub cover, be sure to give us the length and width in inches, and add an extra half inch to each side—so a total of one inch. It’s better to go a bit over than under. A half inch extra won't affect the fit, but if you're short by half an inch, your cover might not fit well, especially in the summer.
Measure Once, then Twice to be sure
Take a moment to measure twice and double-check your numbers before hitting submit on that custom hot tub cover order. There's no turning back once the order is in, so it’s worth the extra effort to get it right. Better safe than sorry, because a perfect fit is totally worth it!
Nothing Beats a Good Tape Measure
Nothing beats whipping out a trusty tape measure and square edge when sizing up for a new hot tub cover! Even if you’ve got preset measurements from your hot tub’s make and model, it’s always smart to double-check. It’s like having a backup plan—better safe than sorry to ensure that perfect fit!
Most traditional hot tub cabinets look like Figure (A), with the acrylic shell lip slightly overhanging the cabinet. These hot tubs are super easy to measure—just take the overall dimensions of the shell. The cover skirt then neatly covers the lip of the shell, as shown in the diagram on the right. This design is how the majority of hot tub covers are made, ensuring you get a perfect fit every time with minimal hassle. With this straightforward measurement process, finding the right cover for your hot tub is a breeze!
If your hot tub has a wooden ledge rim like Figure (B), you’ve got two cool options for your cover:
Option 1: The hot tub skirt covers just the acrylic shell lip and sits right on top of the wooden ledge, as shown in Diagram (X) below. This keeps things simple and snug.
Option 2: The hot tub skirt extends to cover both the acrylic shell and the wooden ledge rim, as seen in Diagram (Y) below. This option gives you that extra coverage for a sleek look.
So, depending on your style and needs, you can choose the perfect fit for your hot tub cover!
If you want the hot tub cover skirt to sit on top of the wooden cabinet ledge rim, you’ll need to measure the acrylic shell dimensions and the skirt length, just like in Diagram (X) on Figure (B) above.
To make sure your cover fits perfectly, make the skirt length about half an inch shorter than the distance from the top of the acrylic shell to the top of the wooden ledge rim. This way, your cover will sit snugly and look great!
If you want the hot tub cover skirt to overhang the wooden ledge rim, you’ll need to measure the overall cabinet dimensions like in Diagram (Y) on Figure (B) above.
To get the perfect fit, measure from the top of the acrylic shell to the bottom of the wooden ledge rim, as shown in Figure (B) and Diagram (Y) on the right.
While the standard hot tub cover skirt length is 4 inches, we can customize your cover with no skirt or with a skirt of any length from 1.5 inches and up. So, you can get exactly what you need for a perfect fit!
How to Measure a Hot Tub Skirt
The skirt is the flap that hangs from the bottom of your hot tub cover. While it's mostly for looks, it’s important to measure it right to avoid issues. If it’s too long, it will bunch up and push your cover up, which can be annoying.
If you have a wood rail, measure from the top of the wood rail to the top of your spa’s acrylic. It’s better to go a little shorter rather than too long to prevent bunching. If you don’t have a wood rail, measure from the top of the spa to the bottom of the spa lip and add 1/2″. This way, you’ll get the perfect fit without any hassle!
How to Measure Cover Radius
Got rounded corners on your hot tub? No problem at all! We need to know the radius of those corners to get the perfect fit for your new cover. The easiest way to measure this is by using a carpenter’s square, just like in the diagram. Simply measure the distance from the inside corner of the square (A) to the point where it first touches the hot tub (B)—that’s your radius! So grab that carpenter’s square and let’s get measuring—it’s a breeze!
In our example, the radius is 7 inches.
Measuring Tips by Shape
Square
Measuring for a square hot tub cover is a piece of cake! Just measure from the outside edge of one lip to the other, then add an extra 1/2" to each side. The only other thing you'll need to measure is the skirt length. It’s that simple—easy peasy!
Rectangle
Measuring a rectangular hot tub cover is just as easy as measuring for a square one! Use the same technique: measure from lip to lip and add 1/2" to each dimension. Just remember to specify the fold direction you need. Most companies will default to cutting the longest side in half, so make sure you let them know if you want it differently.
Square/Rectangle with Radius Corners
For round hot tubs, follow the same steps as you would for square and rectangular covers: measure from lip to lip and add 1/2" to each dimension. Then, just include the radius measurement, and you’re all set! Easy peasy!
Round
Measuring a round hot tub cover is a breeze! Simply measure from lip to lip, or across the seam if you have the old cover handy. Don’t forget to add 1/2" for a perfect fit. The only other measurement you need is the skirt length. It's quick, easy, and ensures your new cover fits perfectly. Easy!
Octagon
Measuring for an octagon hot tub cover is simple and fun! First, measure from lip to lip and add 1/2" for a little extra room. Then, measure one panel of the octagon from point to point. Finally, note down the skirt length. Easy as pie!
Ellipse or Special Shape
For hot tubs with features like speaker bumps, waterfalls, or cutouts, you'll need to provide a template to ensure a perfect fit. Make sure to measure to the very outside of the acrylic. This helps us create a cover that fits like a glove!