Cold Plunge Chiller vs Ice: What It Really Costs to Run Each

If you're pricing a cold plunge, you've probably noticed two very different paths. One is a tub you fill and cool with bags of ice. The other is a tub with a chiller that holds the water at whatever temperature you set. The chiller setup costs more upfront, and people around Springfield ask us all the time whether it's worth it.

The honest answer depends on how often you plunge, how much you value convenience, and how much hauling you're willing to do. This guide walks through both options, shows how to estimate your own running costs with simple math, and points to the tubs and chillers we carry. Every price and spec comes from the current listing on our store.

Want help running the numbers for your setup? Text 417-849-1660 or email contact@heaven417.com.

How each option works

Ice. You fill the tub with water, add ice before your session, and wait for it to melt down to temperature. After the session the water slowly warms back up toward air temperature. Next time, you add more ice.

Chiller. A chiller is a small refrigeration unit that circulates the tub water and cools it to a set temperature. Many chillers can also heat, so the same tub can serve as a gentler warm soak. The plunge is ready whenever you walk out the door.

The upfront cost difference

Here's what the choice looks like with real listings from our Cold Plunge collection:

• Aurland Cedar Ice Bath, no chiller, $6,299 vs. Aurland Cedar Ice Bath with 1HP Chiller, $6,999. It's the same 1–2 person oval tub, Canadian Red Cedar outside and stainless steel inside. The chiller version is listed $700 higher.
• Isvik Cedar Ice Bath, $4,599. A round Canadian Red Cedar tub with a 304 stainless steel interior. It's our most accessible cedar tub.
• Frostgard Pro Ice Bath Chiller, $3,999. A standalone 1HP chiller that cools and heats from 3°C to 42°C (about 37–108°F), with UV and ozone sanitation, WiFi app control, and an IPX4 weather-resistant build. It's listed as compatible with most cold plunges and ice baths, in 110V or 220V. This is the upgrade path if you start with ice and change your mind later.

Tubs with the chiller built in:

• Frost Cold Plunge Tub, $7,999. An acrylic tub with an integrated 1HP chiller, 37–108°F range, 12A, in 110V or 220V, and a free 1-year warranty.
• RevX Acrylic X Tub + LUX Chiller and Filtration, $7,500. Over 34 inches tall with 3-inch foam-insulated walls and a 1.5HP chiller listed to cool to 34°F or heat to 104°F.
• Svalvik Cedar Ice Bath, $6,399. A 1–2 person oval Canadian Red Cedar tub that includes a 1HP chiller.
• Kooru Cold Plunge Tub, $7,999. Handcrafted redwood with a shou sugi ban finish. It holds about 60 gallons and runs on a regular 110V outlet.

Estimating what a chiller costs to run

We won't pretend there's one number here. A chiller's electricity use depends on how many hours a day its compressor actually runs, and that depends on your weather, whether the tub is in sun or shade, how well it's insulated, whether you keep the cover on, and how cold you set it.

What you can do is estimate with the listed wattage and your own electric rate. The formula is simple:

Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours running per day × your rate per kWh = daily cost

Example only, with assumed numbers. The Frostgard Pro lists 1,000W power consumption. Say your rate is $0.13 per kWh (an example assumption; check your City Utilities or co-op bill for your real rate):

• If the compressor runs 4 hours a day: 1.0 kW × 4 h = 4 kWh × $0.13 = about $0.52 a day, or about $15.60 per 30 days
• If it runs 8 hours a day: 1.0 kW × 8 h = 8 kWh × $0.13 = about $1.04 a day, or about $31.20 per 30 days

The Kooru lists typical power use of 350–500 watts. Using the same example rate and the high end of that range:

• 500W for 8 hours a day: 0.5 kW × 8 h = 4 kWh × $0.13 = about $0.52 a day

These are illustrations, not measurements. Your real runtime could be lower on a cool fall evening with the cover on, or higher in a sunny August backyard. If you want a real number, a plug-in power meter on a 110V unit or your electrician's help on a 220V unit will tell you exactly what yours uses.

Estimating what ice costs

Ice math is easier to see, because you buy it bag by bag:

Price per bag × bags per session × sessions per month = monthly cost

Example only, with assumed numbers. Say ice runs $3 for a 10-lb bag and you use 4 bags per session (both example assumptions; your store price and how much ice your tub needs will vary with tub size, starting water temperature, and the season):

• 3 sessions a week (about 12 a month): $3 × 4 × 12 = $144 a month
• Daily (about 30 a month): $3 × 4 × 30 = $360 a month

Then add the part that doesn't show up on a receipt: the trips to the store, hauling bags to the backyard, and waiting for the ice to do its job.

The costs that aren't on the electric bill

• Time and hassle. With ice, every session starts with a chore. With a chiller, it starts when you open the cover.
• Consistency. Ice gives you water that's coldest right after you add it and warmer every hour after. A chiller holds a set temperature.
• Water quality. Many chillers circulate and sanitize the water. The Frostgard Pro lists UV and ozone, the Kooru uses an ozonator, and RevX sells an add-on X-FLOW filtration system ($800). With ice only, you'll likely change the water more often.
• Maintenance. Chillers have filters to change and parts that can wear. The Kooru listing, for example, suggests a filter change about every 1–2 months depending on use. Ice-only tubs have fewer parts but more water changes.

For more on holding temperature, see our posts on how to keep a cold plunge cold and cold plunge water temperature and maintenance.

So which should you choose?

Ice makes sense if:

• You plunge a couple of times a week or less
• You want the lowest upfront cost
• You're testing whether cold plunging sticks before investing more

A chiller makes sense if:

• You plan to plunge most days
• You want the tub ready without planning ahead
• You'd like the option to warm the water too
• Your plunge sits outside through a Missouri summer, when ice disappears fast

The middle path: start with an ice-only tub like the Aurland no-chiller or the Isvik, then add a standalone chiller like the Frostgard Pro if the habit sticks. Ask us about compatibility with your tub before you buy.

Your cold plunge cost checklist

1. Be honest about frequency. How many sessions a week will you really do?
2. Look up your electric rate on your latest bill.
3. Price ice locally and estimate how many bags your tub needs.
4. Run both formulas above with your numbers.
5. Check power. Confirm 110V vs 220V before ordering a chiller model.
6. Plan for a cover and shade if the tub lives outside. Both help either option.

Talk to a local

We're based in Springfield and happy to talk through which setup fits the way you'll really use it. Text 417-849-1660 or email contact@heaven417.com. Tell us how often you want to plunge and where the tub will sit, and we'll narrow it down to a couple of good fits.

Comparing against the national brands? See our Heaven417 vs Plunge & Ice Barrel page. Return and damage terms are on our refund policy page.

Shop Cold Plunges | Shop the Frostgard Pro Chiller