Cold plunge tub shoppers in 2023 pick between two paths. One is a tub with a built-in chiller. The other is a plain tub that you fill with water and ice. This guide compares both on cost, space, power, and water care. It does not give health advice.
Two kinds of cold plunge tub
A chiller tub holds water and has a cooling unit attached. A pump moves the water through a filter and the chiller, so the water stays at the temperature you set. You plug it in and leave it.
An ice tub has no cooling unit. You fill it, add ice, and use it. Some people use a purpose-built barrel. Others use a stock tank or a large tub they already own. The cost is low at the start. The work comes later, because you must buy and haul ice.
Which one fits depends on how often you plan to use it, how much room you have, and how much weekly effort you want to give it.
What a chiller tub costs
Chiller tubs became easy to buy in the early 2020s. Plunge, a California brand, says it began in March 2020 after its founders found the tubs on the market very costly. It says it built its first 20 units in a garage and later opened a factory in Sacramento.
In early 2023, Plunge listed its tub from $4,990. It also offered financing and advertised a monthly payment of $174 over 36 months. It states that the tub needs no plumbing and can go inside or outside.
Add the running costs. A chiller draws power whenever it holds the water cold. Filters also wear out and need to be replaced. Ask any seller for the power rating and the filter schedule before you buy, and write the answers down.
What an ice tub costs
An ice tub is far cheaper up front. In late 2022, Ice Barrel listed its barrel at $1,199.97 during a holiday sale. The page says it holds 105 gallons, stands 42 inches high, and has a 25 inch opening. It weighs 55 pounds empty and about 750 pounds with 80 gallons of water. The listing includes a lid, a stand, a UV cover, and a step stool.
Ice is the hidden cost. One owner review on the Ice Barrel page says that in summer they use about 100 pounds of ice a couple of times a week. A review on Plunge's page, from someone who switched to a chiller tub, says they got tired of hauling 200 pounds of ice for each session and then draining 150 gallons.
These are single reviews, not tests. They still show the pattern. An ice tub saves money on day one and asks for more of your time each week.
Space, weight and power
Water is heavy. Ice Barrel's own figure of about 750 pounds for 80 gallons is a good reminder. Put any tub on a flat, firm surface that can carry the full load. A patio slab is usually safer than a deck or a lawn.
A chiller tub adds an electric unit that needs air around it. Check how much room the maker asks for behind the unit and how far it must sit from other equipment. Water and electricity are a bad mix. Ask the maker what outlet and circuit the unit needs, and have a licensed electrician check the outlet before the first use. Do not use an extension cord unless the maker says it is allowed.
An ice tub needs no power. It does need a way to drain the water when you are done. Plan where 100 gallons or more will go, so it does not flood a neighbor or soak a foundation.
Water care and upkeep
Any tub that holds water for days will grow germs if nobody looks after it. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) writes water rules for pools and hot tubs. Its page does not cover cold tubs. Still, the logic carries over, and it helps you ask better questions.
The CDC says chlorine and pH work as a team. For home pools it recommends a pH of 7.2 to 7.8 and free chlorine of at least 1 part per million. For hot tubs it says at least 3 parts per million. It says a high pH weakens chlorine, and a low pH can corrode equipment. It also says sunlight, sweat, and dirt use up chlorine, so you have to test often.
The CDC advises a DPD test kit for the most accurate reading. Test strips are an option but are less exact. It says to test at least twice a day when a pool or hot tub is in use.
Not every cold tub brand uses chlorine. Some use filters, ozone, or other cleaners. So ask each maker for its written water-care plan. Find out what it costs per year and how often the water must be changed. An ice tub with no filter needs the most frequent changes. If you drain it often, it also needs the least chemistry.
How to choose
Start with how often you will use it. If you plan to use it most days, a chiller tub spares you the ice runs. If you plan to try it a few times a month, an ice tub costs less and is easier to put away.
Next, list the full cost for the first year. For a chiller tub, add the price, delivery, an electrician visit, filters, and water care. For an ice tub, add the tub, the ice, and the water.
Then check your space. Measure the spot, the path to it, and the doorways. Confirm the ground can hold the weight. Finally, read the warranty and the return policy in full. Ice Barrel's page advertised a 30 day money-back guarantee in late 2022, which is the sort of term worth comparing across brands.
Last, talk to your own doctor before you take up cold water use. That is a question for a clinician, not for a buying guide.