Taylor’s K-1004 6-Way Test Kit is the best test kit for most hot tubs. It uses DPD chemistry to read free chlorine, total chlorine and bromine, plus pH with acid demand and total alkalinity, so it works whether the tub runs on bromine or chlorine. CDC says a DPD kit gives the most accurate results; it says test strips “are less accurate.”
If you’d rather dip and read, Taylor’s S-1403 7-Way Test Strips add hardness and cyanuric acid to the sanitizer, pH and alkalinity pads. Use them for quick checks and confirm with a kit if a reading looks off.
CDC recommends pH 7.0 to 7.8 and at least 3 ppm chlorine in hot tubs, testing chlorine and pH at least twice per day. Every pick below is Taylor, because its product pages publish the test method and reading ranges for each analyte, which is what a buyer needs to compare. Other brands’ strips may suit you, but we only list what a maker documents.
| Product | Format | Reads | Method and ranges (Taylor) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor K-1004 | Liquid kit | Free and total chlorine, bromine, pH with acid demand, total alkalinity | DPD; bromine 1, 2, 4, 6, 10 ppm | Amazon |
| Taylor S-1403 | Strips | Free and total chlorine, bromine, pH, alkalinity, hardness, cyanuric acid | Strip; bromine 0, 1, 2, 4, 10, 20 ppm | Amazon |
| Taylor S-1402 | Strips | Bromine, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness | Strip; bromine 0, 1, 2, 4, 10, 20 ppm | Search Amazon |
| Taylor K-1001 | Liquid kit | Free chlorine, bromine, pH | DPD; bromine 1, 2, 4, 6, 10 ppm | Amazon |
| Taylor K-2005 | Liquid kit | Free and total chlorine, bromine, pH with acid and base demand, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid | DPD; bromine 2, 4, 6, 10, 15, 20 ppm | Amazon |
These are Taylor’s published figures, not test results.
Taylor K-1004: best test kit for most hot tubs
Identity check: Taylor’s page lists the K-1004 as the 6-Way Test Kit for Pools & Spas (DPD), sold to retailers in a 6-pack; the linked listing is a single kit titled “Taylor Technologies K-1004 DPD, 6-in-1 Pool Test Kit.”
Why it leads: it covers sanitizer, pH and alkalinity by DPD for both chlorine and bromine. Taylor lists bromine at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 ppm, free and total chlorine at 0.5 to 5 ppm, and pH from 6.8 to 8.2. That spans the CDC’s pH 7.0 to 7.8 range and 3 ppm chlorine minimum.
The compromise: it doesn’t measure calcium hardness or cyanuric acid, and a kit takes longer than a strip.
Buy it if: you want one kit that handles either sanitizer and doesn’t mind counting drops.
Skip it if: you want hardness readings, in which case look at the K-2005.
Taylor S-1403 7-Way Test Strips: best test strips
Identity check: Taylor’s S-1403 is the 7-Way Test Strips for Pools & Spas. The linked listing is titled “Taylor Technologies S-1403, 7-in-1 Pool and Spa Test Strips.”
Why it fits: seven readings from one dip: free chlorine, total chlorine, bromine, pH, total alkalinity, hardness and cyanuric acid. Taylor lists bromine at 0 to 20 ppm and says each bottle has a shake-to-dispense lid.
The compromise: CDC says strips are less accurate than a DPD kit. In a hot tub, the cyanuric acid pad matters only as a check: CDC recommends not using cyanuric acid or chlorine products with it in hot tubs.
Buy it if: you want fast checks between the full kit tests.
Skip it if: the reading drives a big chemical decision. Confirm it with a DPD kit.
Taylor S-1402 Bromine Test Strips: best strips for a bromine-only tub
Identity check: Taylor’s page lists S-1402 as Bromine Test Strips for Pools & Spas. We could not match an Amazon listing to this exact model, so the link is a labeled Amazon search.
Why it fits: four pads, bromine, pH, total alkalinity and total hardness, which is the set a bromine hot tub needs. Taylor lists pH from 6.4 to 8.4, alkalinity 0 to 240 ppm and hardness 0 to 800 ppm.
The compromise: no chlorine pads, so it can’t confirm a tub on chlorine.
Buy it if: your tub runs on bromine and you want strips.
Skip it if: you may switch to chlorine.
Taylor K-1001 3-Way Test Kit: best low-cost starter kit
Identity check: Taylor’s page lists the K-1001 as the 3-Way Test Kit for Pools & Spas (DPD). The linked listing is titled “Taylor Technologies K-1001 DPD, 3-in-1 Pool Test Kit.”
Why it fits: it covers free chlorine, bromine and pH by DPD, the two readings CDC says to check at least twice per day (chlorine and pH).
The compromise: no alkalinity, so you can’t tell why pH keeps drifting.
Buy it if: you only want sanitizer and pH.
Skip it if: you adjust alkalinity, in which case step up to the K-1004.
Taylor K-2005 Complete Test Kit: most complete
Identity check: Taylor describes the K-2005 as its best-selling test kit. The linked listing is titled “Taylor Technologies K-2005 DPD, 9-in-1 Complete Pool Test Kit.”
Why it fits: adds calcium hardness (EDTA titration) and cyanuric acid (turbidimetric) to chlorine or bromine, pH with acid and base demand and total alkalinity. Taylor lists bromine at 2 to 20 ppm.
The compromise: more reagents to keep and more steps than a hot tub usually needs.
Buy it if: you want to track hardness and check that no stabilizer has built up.
Skip it if: you only need daily sanitizer and pH checks.
How to choose
- Know your sanitizer. Bromine tubs need a bromine pad or test; chlorine tubs need free chlorine. The K-1004, K-1001, K-2005 and S-1403 read both.
- Choose accuracy or speed. CDC says DPD kits are the most accurate and strips are less accurate. Many owners use strips for quick checks and a kit when it counts.
- Test often. CDC says to test chlorine and pH at least twice per day, and more when the tub is busy.
- Follow the directions. CDC says to follow the manufacturer’s directions for any kit or strip.
- Skip cyanuric acid in hot tubs. CDC recommends not using cyanuric acid or chlorine products with it in hot tubs.
For the covered tub itself, see the hot tub cover lifter comparison . Pool owners can compare kits in the saltwater pool test kit list .
Sources
- Taylor K-1004 6-Way Test Kit
- Taylor K-1001 3-Way Test Kit
- Taylor K-2005 Complete Test Kit
- Taylor S-1403 7-Way Test Strips
- Taylor S-1402 Bromine Test Strips
- CDC: Home Pool and Hot Tub Water Treatment and Testing
Specifications were checked against these pages on October 22, 2026. This is researched buyer analysis without hands-on testing; confirm the model on the listing before ordering.
FAQ
What is the best way to test hot tub water?
A DPD test kit such as Taylor’s K-1004 is the more accurate route. CDC says a DPD kit gives the most accurate results and that test strips are less accurate. Strips such as Taylor’s S-1403 are faster for quick checks.
How often should I test a hot tub?
CDC says to test chlorine concentration and pH at least twice per day, and more often when many people use the hot tub.
What chlorine level does CDC recommend for a hot tub?
CDC recommends pH 7.0 to 7.8 and at least 3 ppm chlorine in hot tubs. It recommends not using cyanuric acid or chlorine products that contain it in hot tubs.
Can I use pool test strips in a hot tub?
Only if the strip reads what your hot tub needs. Taylor markets its S-1403 and S-1402 strips for pools and spas, and both include a bromine pad. Check that the strip reads your sanitizer, pH and alkalinity.