81 x 81 Hot Tub Cover — Size, Fit and 8 Spas That Take It

A hot tub measuring 81" × 81" takes the AIRCAP 1™ X-Small, which fits square spas 80–82". That is the whole answer — but measure your own spa before ordering rather than trusting the size of the cover you are replacing, because cabinets vary between model years and a cover bought to the wrong number is the most common ordering mistake there is.

Measure straight across the top of the cabinet, edge to edge, both ways. If the two numbers differ, use the larger one. If you land between two sizes, round up: an oversized cover overhangs by a fraction, which is how a spa cover is meant to sit, while an undersized one will not seal along the edges.

Which hot tubs are 81" × 81"?

5 of the 496 models in our Spa Fitter measure 81" × 81", across 3 brands, and 3 more round up to it (listed below). If yours is on this list, the size question is settled — click through for its own page.

Brand	Models measuring 81" × 81"
Aquaterra Spas	Montecito
Arctic Spas	Aurora
Lifesmart	LS450DX, LS600DX (Coronado DX), LS700DX

Also rounds up to 81" × 81"

3 more models are not printed as an exact 81" square: one or both sides fall a fraction short. The rule is to round up, so they take the same X-Small.

Brand	Rounds up to 81" × 81"
Passion Spas	Refresh (80.3" x 80.3", 0.7" short), Relax (80.3" x 80.3", 0.7" short), Rewind (80.3" x 80.3", 0.7" short)

That makes 81" the 16th most common of the 18 square footprints in the Spa Fitter (8 of 496, 1.6%); the most common is 84" × 84" with 131. Next door, 80" × 80" lists 25 (plus 2 that round up) and 82" × 82" lists 24. Lifesmart and Passion Spas build the most at this size — 3 each of the 8.

What if my spa is not exactly 81"?

81" (205.7 cm) sits inside the X-Small band — 80", 81" and 82" all take the same cover, so an exact 81" has room on both sides.

The X-Small covers everything from 80–82" across, so you do not need to hit 81" exactly. Outside that band, the AIRCAP 1™ comes in six sizes spanning 77" to 94" — the two-measurement guide will place you, or you can look your model up directly in the Spa Fitter.

One limit worth stating plainly: these are covers for square spas. If your cabinet is round, octagonal or a rectangle, no size here will fit it, and the alternatives guide covers what will.

Nearby measurements: 80" × 80" · 82" × 82". Every size from 77" to 94" has its own page, listed on the Spa Fitter.

What an 81" × 81" cover costs

The AIRCAP 1™ X-Small is $1,195 — the same price as every other size, including the pump, three Ziptech™ skirt depths and tie-down straps, with free shipping to all 50 states. There is no size surcharge, which is unusual in this category: most makers price a cover by its square footage, so a bigger spa costs more. For how that compares with foam and the other constructions, see what a hot tub cover costs.

It weighs 35–40 lb and, with no foam core to absorb water, never gains weight — the one number a foam cover cannot promise.

Frequently asked questions

What size cover fits an 81" x 81" hot tub?

An 81 inch square hot tub takes the AIRCAP 1 X-Small, which fits square spas 80 to 82 inches across. Measure straight across the top of your cabinet both ways and use the larger number; if it falls between two sizes, round up.

Which hot tubs are 81" x 81"?

5 models in our Spa Fitter measure 81 by 81 inches across 3 brands (Aquaterra Spas, Arctic Spas and Lifesmart), and 3 more round up to it. Each one has its own page listing the cover size it takes.

Does an 81 inch cover have to be exactly 81 inches?

No. The AIRCAP 1 X-Small fits any square spa from 80 to 82 inches across, so 81 sits inside the band with room on both sides. Only the larger of your two measurements matters.

How much does an 81" x 81" hot tub cover cost?

The AIRCAP 1 is $1,195 in every size, including the pump, three Ziptech skirt depths and tie-down straps, with free shipping to all 50 states. There is no size surcharge, so an 81 inch cover costs the same as the smallest one we make.