Are you ready to jump into the cold? Cold therapy has grown, and now anyone can take a cold bath at home. A cold plunge tub can help your muscles heal, lift your mood, or make you stronger mentally. But it might be hard to choose one as there are so many options.
In this guide, we looked at and compared the seven best cold plunge tubs of 2025. And we'll show you what each tub can do, and what is each one good for, instead of just listing the features. This will help you choose the best one for your needs, budget, and health goals.
Here’s What a Cold Plunge Actually Does for You
So, what’s the big deal with cold plunges? Here are the real benefits you can get from making cold water a regular part of your routine, explained simply.
It helps you feel less sore after workouts
A cold plunge helps your muscles bounce back after a tough workout. It’s proven to help reduce that sore, tired feeling, so you can feel ready to go again sooner.
It gives you a natural energy boost
Getting into cold water tells your brain to release chemicals that make you feel focused, alert, and happy. It’s a clean energy lift you can feel all day, without the crash from coffee.
It helps you handle stress better
That initial intense blast of cold does something incredible—it trains your body to handle stress. By practicing staying calm in the cold water, you get much better at staying calm during the stressful parts of your day.
What to Consider Before You Buy a Cold Plunge Tub
Here are the key things to think about before you choose a tub:
Cooling: Chiller or Ice?
Decide how you want to cool your water. A chiller works like a fridge, keeping it cold for you automatically. The other option is a tub you fill with bags of ice each time. A chiller costs more at the start, but an ice routine can be a daily hassle.
Space: Where Will It Go?
Think about where your tub will live. Measure your backyard, garage, or balcony to make sure it fits. Also, decide if you prefer to lie down or sit up during your plunge, as this will help you choose the right shape.
Material: How Tough Does It Need to Be?
You’ll find tubs made of different materials, from tough, inflatable vinyl to solid acrylic, like a fancy bathtub. Generally, the stronger the material, the longer it will last, but the more it will cost.
Cleaning: How Much Work Are You Willing to Do?
Some tubs have built-in filters that keep the water clean for months. This saves you from the chore of constantly draining, scrubbing, and refilling your tub. It’s a huge time-saver.
Budget: What's Your Sweet Spot?
Prices range from under $500 to over $8,000. But the "best value" is about finding one that gives you all the features you'll actually use for a fair price.
The 7 Best Cold Plunge Tubs for 2025
1. Plunge Chill Pro: Best Overall Value
With the Plunge Chill Pro, you get a professional-grade foundation without the professional price tag. Its standout feature is the 5-layer insulated wall, which means you can keep your water colder for longer, saving you money on ice and effort on refills. Because it's made from military-grade inflatable material, you can easily set it up anywhere in under 5 minutes, then pack it away when you're done. Best of all, with built-in chiller ports, you have the freedom to upgrade to a fully automated, ice-free system whenever you choose.
Cooling: Starts with Ice, Ready for a Chiller
This tub is designed for you to start by adding ice, which keeps the initial cost extremely low. But here’s the key advantage: it comes with built-in ports, so you can easily connect a water chiller later. This means you get the best of both worlds—an affordable start, and the freedom to upgrade to a hands-free, automated system without having to buy a whole new tub.
Space: Portable and Surprisingly Big
Because it's inflatable, you can set it up almost anywhere—your backyard, garage, or even a balcony. When you're done, it packs away easily. This is perfect if you don't have a lot of space or want to take it with you. Despite being portable, it's large enough for people up to 6'9".
Material: Tough and Insulated
It's made from military-grade PVC with 5 layers of insulation. This means it's tough enough for daily use, and its excellent insulation keeps your water colder for longer, so you save money and effort on ice.
Cleaning: Simple and Low-Maintenance
The tub itself is easy to wipe clean. When you're ready to add a cold plunge chiller, the chiller's own filtration system will connect directly to the tub, keeping your water clean automatically.
- Price: $499 (On Sale from $999)
- Best For: The smart buyer who wants a durable, portable, and highly-insulated tub with the flexibility to build a pro system on a budget.
2. Plunge All-In: Best for All-in-One Luxury
The Plunge All-In is designed so you can have a perfect, hassle-free plunge every single time. Because the powerful chiller is fully integrated, there is zero assembly—you just plug it in, fill it up, and set your temperature. With the companion smartphone app, you can control your plunge from anywhere, ensuring it’s ready the moment you are. Its ultra-quiet operation means you can place it on your patio or in your home gym without creating a noisy distraction.
Cooling: Built-in Chiller
It comes with a powerful chiller that keeps the water cold for you automatically, down to 37°F. No ice needed. Just set your temperature with the app, and it's always ready when you are.
Space: A Permanent Backyard Piece
With its sleek, modern design, this tub is designed to be a permanent feature in your backyard or on your patio.
Material: Durable Acrylic
It's made from high-quality acrylic with a sleek, modern design that's easy to clean and maintain.
Cleaning: Advanced Filtration System
It has an advanced filtration system with 2x the circulation and ozone sanitation, keeping your water crystal clear with minimal effort.
- Price: $8,490 (On Sale from $9,990)
- Best For: The user who wants the absolute best in convenience, design, and performance, and is ready for a permanent, effortless wellness fixture.
3. Polar Monkeys Brainpod 2.0: Best for Ultimate Performance (Heating & Ice)
The Brainpod 2.0 is for those who want to push the limits. With its beastly 1.0 HP chiller, you can bring water down to a true ice-making 32°F or heat it up to a soothing 107°F. This versatility means you can switch between intense cold therapy and relaxing hot soaks in the same tub. The entire system is smartphone-controlled, so you can have your perfect temperature ready for you after a tough workout or a long day.
Cooling: App-Controlled Chiller
It comes with a powerful chiller that cools the water for you. The big feature here is that you can control the temperature from an app on your phone, so your plunge is always ready when you are.
Space: Compact and Convenient
It has a compact footprint that fits in most spaces like a garage, patio, or home gym. Just remember, you'll need to be near an electrical outlet to power the chiller.
Material: Insulated Acrylic
It's made from a fully-insulated acrylic shell that's durable, easy to clean, and designed for long-term use.
Cleaning: Built-in Filtration
The chiller includes an advanced filtration and sanitation system, which means you get crystal-clear water with very little effort.
- Price: $8,790
- Best For: The elite athlete or biohacker who needs both extreme cold and heat therapy and wants the best performance money can buy.
4. Desert Plunge Wide Grizzly 450: Best for Tandem Plunging & Extra Space
Built from a massive, foam-injected Grizzly cooler, the Wide Grizzly 450 is all about space and stability. Its extra-wide interior means you can comfortably sit cross-legged for a meditative soak, or even plunge with a partner. The 2 inches of foam insulation ensure your water stays cold with minimal energy use. It’s the perfect deep, rugged tub that gives you more than enough room to spread out and relax.
Cooling: Powerful, Integrated Chiller
The chiller is built right into the body of the tub, so there are no external parts. It’s powerful, quiet, and keeps your water perfectly cold.
Space: Permanent and Extra-Wide
This is a large, heavy tub meant to be a permanent fixture in your gym or patio. Its extra width makes it perfect for tandem plunging or spreading out.
Material: Foam-Injected Cooler
It's built from an actual Grizzly cooler with 2 inches of foam insulation, making it incredibly durable and excellent at keeping the cold in
Cleaning: Top-of-the-Line Filtration
It has a fantastic built-in filter and ozone sanitation system. This means you'll almost never have to worry about cleaning the water.
- Price: $3,330 (On Sale from $3,500)
- Best For: Couples, larger individuals (e.g., football players), or anyone who wants a spacious, highly-insulated, and durable tub.
5. Sun Home Cold Plunge: Best for a Spacious Smart Tub
With the Sun Home Cold Plunge, you get a spacious, two-person horizontal tub that combines comfort with high-tech convenience. Its mobile-app enabled control center means you can manage your plunge from anywhere in the world, ensuring your water is perfect when you get home. At its competitive price point, it's one of the best options for those who want a complete, app-controlled system with room for two.
Cooling: Comes with a Chiller
It includes a powerful chiller that automatically keeps the water cold for you, so it's always ready to use.
Space: Horizontal and Spacious
It's designed as a horizontal tub, giving you plenty of room to lie down comfortably. Perfect for couples or anyone who wants extra space to stretch out.
Material: Tough Molded Plastic
It’s made from a very hard, durable plastic (HDPE) that’s built to last for years, both indoors and outdoors.
Cleaning: Full Filtration Included
The system includes a multi-stage filter and an ozone sanitizer, so your water stays clean with very little work.
- Price: $4,999 (On Sale from $5,399)
- Best For: The tech-savvy user or couple who wants a spacious, app-controlled system at a very competitive price.
6. Nordic Wave Viking Premier: Best for a Durable, Upright Plunge
The Nordic Wave Viking Premier is built from extremely durable HDPE plastic, and its vertical design lets you get a full-body immersion experience even if you're short on space. The standard PRO chiller is powerful enough to bring water down to a chilly 35°F. This upright posture allows you to have a comfortable, seated plunge that many find more meditative, making it a robust system that fits almost anywhere.
Cooling: Powerful PRO Chiller
It comes with a PRO chiller that brings water down to a chilly 35°F and keeps it there consistently. The system is quiet and efficient.
Space: A Permanent Performance Hub
This vertical tub has a small footprint, making it perfect for tight spaces like balconies, small patios, or corners in a garage. It's designed to be a permanent fixture.
Material: Durable HDPE Plastic
It's made from extremely durable HDPE plastic that's built to last for years, both indoors and outdoors.
Cleaning: Advanced Filtration is Standard
It comes with a high-quality filter and ozone system to keep the water pristine.
- Price: $5,999 (On Sale from $6,999)
- Best For: The wellness enthusiast with limited space who wants a durable, low-maintenance tub and prefers the unique experience of a vertical plunge.
7. Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub: Best for Backyard Aesthetics & Simplicity
The Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub from Redwood Outdoors is designed to be a beautiful and simple addition to your backyard. With its minimalist barrel design, you can create a rustic, spa-like atmosphere in your outdoor space. It’s built to be used with ice, which means you can get started with your cold therapy routine immediately with no complex setup.
Cooling: Ice Only
This is a classic ice bath. You'll need to add bags of ice to get the water cold, which is simple but requires regular effort.
Space: Compact Barrel Design
Its barrel shape gives it a small footprint, perfect for patios or backyards. It's designed for one person to sit comfortably.
Material: Beautiful Thermowood
It's made from Canadian Thermowood with a rustic, spa-like look that adds aesthetic appeal to your outdoor space.
Cleaning: Manual Work Required
Since it uses ice only and has no filtration system, you'll need to drain and refill the water regularly to keep it clean.
- Price: $1,499
- Best For: The beginner who wants a visually appealing, no-fuss tub for an ice-based routine in their backyard.
The Unseen Costs: Water Maintenance & Electricity
Don't forget to account for continuing expenses. Your monthly electricity bill will normally increase by $20 to $50 if your system has a chiller, and it will need a new filter every few months, which will cost $20 to $40. In the long term, a chiller is a more cost-effective option because a tub that uses simply ice can easily cost over $100 per month in ice bags.
Quick Comparison: Find Your Perfect Cold Plunge Tub
This table offers a quick, intuitive look at how our top picks stack up.
| Model | Key Benefit | Price | Cooling System | Capacity | Filtration |
| Plunge Chill Pro | Affordable & Upgradeable | $499 | Ice or Chiller (down to 36°F with 1HP chiller) | 1-2 people (up to 6'9") | With chiller upgrade |
| Plunge All-In | Ultimate Convenience | $8,490 | 1 HP integrated chiller (37°F) | 1 person (up to 6'9") | Yes, 2x filtration |
| Polar Monkeys Brainpod | Heats, Cools & Makes Ice | $8,790 | 1.0 HP chiller (32-107°F) | 1 person | Yes, 20-micron + ozone |
| Desert Plunge Grizzly | Extra-Spacious & Insulated | $3,330 | 1/4 HP integrated chiller (39°F+) | 1-2 people | Yes, with ozone option |
| Sun Home Plunge | Spacious 2-Person Smart Tub | $4,799 | 1 HP smart chiller (32°F) | 2 people (up to 6'8") | Yes, 20-micron + ozone |
| Nordic Wave Viking | Durable & Space-Saving | $5,999 | 0.8-1.0 HP PRO chiller (35°F) | 1 person | Yes, with ozone |
| Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub | Simple & Beautiful | $1,499 | Ice only | 1 person | No |
Which Cold Plunge Tub Should You Buy?
Your best choice depends entirely on your budget and goals:
- If you want the absolute best performance: The Polar Monkeys Brainpod 2.0 is unmatched with its ability to both make ice and heat.
- If you desire pure luxury and convenience: The Plunge All-In is the clear winner. Its fully integrated, silent, and effortless operation is the peak of the market.
- If you want a spacious, tech-forward experience: The Sun Home Cold Plunge offers an excellent two-person smart tub for a great price, making it a strong contender.
- If you want the best value, period: The Plunge Chill Pro is the runaway winner. For just $499, you get a durable, highly-insulated tub that lets you start with ice and upgrade to a pro-grade chiller system when you're ready. It’s the smartest, most adaptable choice on the market, offering the best value by a wide margin.
Ready to Feel the Chill?
Getting a cold plunge tub is great for your health, helps you recover faster, and makes you mentally tougher. The right tub for you depends on your space, your budget, and how you like to plunge.
If you're looking for a smart way to start without breaking the bank, the Plunge Chill Pro gives you solid quality and the freedom to upgrade later. But whether you go portable, luxury, or high-tech, the most important thing is just getting started and sticking with it.
Pick the system that fits your life, and start enjoying the benefits of cold therapy.
FAQs about Cold Plunge Tubs
Q1: What is the ideal duration for using a cold plunge tub?
Most research suggests benefits can be achieved in as little as 2-5 minutes. Beginning with lower lengths (30–60 seconds), beginners should progressively increase the time as their bodies adjust.
Q2: What temperature is best for a chilly plunge?
Usually, the ideal temperature range is between 48°F and 59°F. Being uncomfortable but safe is the aim.
Q3: How frequently should the tub water be cleaned?
You might only need to change the water in your tub once every three to six months if it contains a filter chiller. But for tubs using only ice, you should drain and clean the water at least once a week.
Q4: Is a cold plunge tub safe to install in an apartment?
Yes, but you need to consider both safety and space. Portable, inflatable models can work well in apartments, but horizontal tubs like the Plunge Chill Pro are designed for lying down, so they need more floor space. If you're in a small apartment, an upright model might be a better.
And you must get permission from your landlord and confirm your floor can safely support over 800 lbs, as water is extremely heavy. A ground-floor patio is often safest.