--- title: Hot Tubs & Spas in Wilmington and Hampstead NC description: Portable hot tubs and inground spillover spas, delivered and installed across coastal North Carolina. Compare models, jets, seating and running costs. --- Hampstead · Wilmington · Surf City · Topsail Beach · Jacksonville NC Licensed Swimming Pool Contractor (S) · Insured  ·  [(910) 277-5560](tel:+19102775560) [SUNRISE*.*POOLS INC](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/?hsLang=en) Menu - [Home](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com) - Pools - [Commercial Pools](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/commercial-pools/) - [Fiberglass Pools](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/fiberglass-pools/) - [Concrete Pools](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/concrete-pools/) - Spas - [Spas](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/spas/) - [Swim Spas](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/swim-spas/) - [Repair & Maintenance](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-repair/) - [Contact](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/contact) [Home](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/?hsLang=en) › Spas & Hot Tubs Spas & hot tubs # Hot tubs and inground spas. **A spa is either a self-contained hot tub set on a pad, or an inground spa built into the pool and sharing its equipment — roughly $12,000–30,000 for a portable, $25,000–45,000 for an inground spa built with a pool.** The choice is mostly about whether you are building a pool at the same time. Sharing heater, pump and plumbing with the pool is cheaper than running a second system. [Get a Free Design Consultation](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/contact?hsLang=en) [See pool costs →](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-cost-guide?hsLang=en) ## Portable or built in ### Portable hot tub - **Cheaper.** $12,000–30,000 installed, including the pad and the electrical. - **Fast.** A pad, a circuit and a delivery — days, not months. - **Moves.** It is yours if you sell and want to take it. - **No permit for the tub itself.** The electrical still needs one. ### Inground spa - **Shares equipment.** One heater and pump for pool and spa lowers running cost. - **Spillover.** A raised spa that spills into the pool is the feature people actually want. - **Built to the deck.** Flush with coping, no cabinet, no cover lifter sticking up. - **Costs more.** $25,000–45,000 as part of a pool build, and it must be built with the pool. Step by step ## How a spa goes in 1. 01 ### Decide with or without a pool Building both together is materially cheaper than adding a spa later. 2. 02 ### Pad & power A level base and a dedicated GFCI circuit, elevated to flood spec near the water. 3. 03 ### Set or build Portable tubs are craned or walked in. Inground spas are formed with the pool shell. 4. 04 ### Startup Water balance, jet and blower check, cover and chemistry walkthrough. What it costs ## Spa pricing Installed prices for coastal NC, including pad and electrical. | Type | Installed | Timeline | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Portable hot tub | $12,000–30,000 | 1–3 weeks | Pad, GFCI circuit, delivery | | Inground spa, with pool | $25,000–45,000 | With the pool build | Shares pool heater and pump | | Raised spa with spillover | $32,000–55,000 | With the pool build | Bond beam, tile face, sheer descent | | Spa heater replacement | $4,500–9,000 | 1–2 days | Coastal-rated unit | Adding an inground spa to an existing pool means opening the deck and the equipment pad — usually worth pricing against a portable tub first. ## Related ### Swim spas Laps and hydrotherapy in one unit. [Swim spas](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/swim-spas?hsLang=en) ### Plunge pools Bigger than a spa, smaller than a pool. [Plunge pools](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/plunge-pools?hsLang=en) ### Pool repair & service Heaters, jets, pumps and controls. [Repair](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-repair?hsLang=en) Common questions ## Spa questions Can I add a spa to my existing pool? Yes, but it means cutting the deck and reworking the equipment pad, so it costs more than building the two together. If the pool is more than a few years old we will look at the pad and plumbing before quoting — sometimes the heater is the real cost. How much does a hot tub cost to run on the coast? A well-insulated portable tub typically runs $40–90 a month in electricity here. Mild winters help. An uninsulated cover is the single biggest waste of money we see. Do I need a permit for a hot tub? The tub itself usually does not need one; the electrical circuit does. A spa that is part of a pool falls under the pool permit. We handle both. Is salt water hard on a spa? Less than people expect on the shell, more than expected on metal hardware. We spec coastal-rated rails, jets and heater housings regardless, because salt air does most of that damage anyway. Next step ## Tell us what you are after We’ll tell you honestly whether a portable tub or a built-in spa is the better spend. | Phone | [(910) 277-5560](tel:+19102775560) | | --- | --- | | Email | [sales@sunrisepoolsinc.com](mailto:sales@sunrisepoolsinc.com) | | Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00 · Sat by appointment | ### Request your free design consultation We’ll call within one business day to set up a site visit. [SUNRISE*.*POOLS INC](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/?hsLang=en) [(910) 277-5560](tel:+19102775560) [sales@sunrisepoolsinc.com](mailto:sales@sunrisepoolsinc.com) Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00 · Sat by appointment #### Pools - [Fiberglass pools](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/fiberglass-pools?hsLang=en) - [Concrete & gunite](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/concrete-pools?hsLang=en) - [Plunge pools](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/plunge-pools?hsLang=en) - [Cost guide](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-cost-guide?hsLang=en) #### Spas - [Hot tubs](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/spas?hsLang=en) - [Swim spas](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/swim-spas?hsLang=en) #### Commercial - [Commercial pools](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/commercial-pools?hsLang=en) - [HOA & community](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/commercial-pools/hoa-community-pools?hsLang=en) - [Resurfacing](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/commercial-pools/resurfacing?hsLang=en) - [ADA compliance](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/commercial-pools/ada-compliance?hsLang=en) #### Service - [Repair](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-repair?hsLang=en) - [Resurfacing](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-resurfacing?hsLang=en) - [Renovation](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-renovation?hsLang=en) - [Maintenance](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-maintenance?hsLang=en) - [Yard drainage](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/drainage?hsLang=en) - [Pool fill-in](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/pool-fill-in?hsLang=en) © 2026 Sunrise Pools, Inc. NC Licensed Swimming Pool Contractor (S) · Insured.  ·  [Contact](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/contact?hsLang=en)  ·  [Privacy](https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/privacy-policy?hsLang=en) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/#business", "@type" : [ "LocalBusiness", "GeneralContractor" ], "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Hampstead", "addressRegion" : "NC" }, "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Hampstead" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Wilmington" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Surf City" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Topsail Beach" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Jacksonville" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Leland" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Wrightsville Beach" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Castle Hayne" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Rocky Point" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Sneads Ferry" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Holly Ridge" }, { "@type" : "City", "addressRegion" : "NC", "name" : "Burgaw" } ], "email" : "sales@sunrisepoolsinc.com", "name" : "Sunrise Pools, Inc.", "openingHoursSpecification" : [ { "@type" : "OpeningHoursSpecification", "closes" : "17:00", "dayOfWeek" : [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" ], "opens" : "08:00" } ], "priceRange" : "$$$", "telephone" : "(910) 277-5560", "url" : "https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Sunrise Pools, Inc.", "url" : "https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.sunrisepoolsinc.com/spas/", "name" : "Spas", "position" : 2 } ] } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "FAQPage", "mainEntity" : [ { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Yes, but it means cutting the deck and reworking the equipment pad, so it costs more than building the two together." }, "name" : "Can I add a spa to my existing pool?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "A well-insulated portable tub typically runs $40–90 a month in electricity here." }, "name" : "How much does a hot tub cost to run on the coast?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The tub itself usually does not need one; the electrical circuit does." }, "name" : "Do I need a permit for a hot tub?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Less than people expect on the shell, more than expected on metal hardware." }, "name" : "Is salt water hard on a spa?" } ] } ```