The three most common sites for a wooden hot tub are on a patio, on a deck, or on the ground.  We recommend a concrete pad patio to install the tub onto, if possible. These make installations easier because they are strong, level, and smooth. Deck installations are also a great choice. Be sure to have a professional check that it is engineered to handle the weight. A tub full of water is very heavy — refer to the tub specifications for the actual weight of each of our tubs. The filled weight for an average tub is over 4000 lbs. A modification to this approach is to place it on the ground and recess it in a deck. If you have a pre-existing deck, this can be a good choice that adds an entry into your tub as a function of your deck. Keep in mind, the tub still needs to be supported in a proper way. This approach sacrifices the visibility of the beautiful tub, however, it does add sun protection for it. The hot tub can also be placed on the ground: The site should be level and compact. Use fine gravel or coarse sand to prepare a well-drained, level, and stable soil base. Click here to view our hot tub installation document for more information.