Cold Plunge Monthly Cost Calculator

Ice vs chiller · Updated July 2026 · Research-based tool by Plunge Picks

The sticker price of a cold plunge is only half the story. The part nobody advertises is the ongoing cost of ownership — bags of ice, chiller electricity, filters, and water. This free calculator estimates your real monthly and yearly cost, and shows you the point at which a chiller becomes cheaper than hauling ice. Change the numbers to match your situation; every assumption is shown.

→ Not sure which tub? Try the Product Finder → See budget tubs

Your usage

Sessions per week how often you'll plunge

Ice setup

Ice used per session (lbs) a typical fill uses 20–40 lbs

Cost per 10 lb bag of ice ($) store-bought bagged ice

Chiller setup

Chiller power draw (watts) many home chillers average ~300–600 W

Chiller run time per day (hours) cycles on/off; estimate average

Electricity rate ($/kWh) check your utility bill

Filter cost per year ($) filters × replacements, if your tub uses them

Optional: break-even

Extra up-front cost of a chiller setup vs an ice tub ($) leave blank to skip

How this is calculated

We keep the math simple and visible so you can trust it:

Ice cost/month = sessions per week × 4.33 weeks × (lbs of ice ÷ 10) × price per 10 lb bag.
Chiller electricity/month = (watts ÷ 1000) × hours per day × 30 days × your $/kWh rate.
Chiller filters/month = yearly filter cost ÷ 12.
Break-even = extra up-front chiller cost ÷ monthly saving vs ice.

These are estimates, not quotes. Real ice usage, chiller efficiency, and local prices vary. The goal is a realistic ballpark to compare the two paths — not an exact bill.

Thinking chiller? Compare automated tubs in our best cold plunge tubs guide. Starting with ice? See the best budget tubs.