Steam & Ice

Ice Barrel Review: 300 vs 500, Chiller and Bundles

An Ice Barrel costs $1,149.99 for the 300 and $1,749.99 for the 500, and both are insulated upright tubs you fill with ice. The 500 fits people up to 6'9"; the 300 fits up to 6'. Adding Ice Barrel's 1/2 HP chiller brings either to about $5,150 to $5,750.

By John Voll · Updated Oct 27, 2026 · We may earn a commission from links

This review is a spec-and-price comparison built from the maker's public product pages. We have not tested these products.

A man standing waist-deep in a hole in a frozen lake
Photo: Mika Ruusunen on Unsplash

Ice Barrel 300 vs 500

Both are upright tubs with a built-in seat, and both list a limited lifetime warranty. The 500 is bigger and fits taller people. The 300 is light enough to move alone.

Ice Barrel 300

$1,149.99

tub only, no chiller

Water
77 gal
Empty weight
61 lb
Full weight
700 lb
Fits
up to 6'
Warranty
limited lifetime
See it at Ice Barrel Price at Ice Barrel, checked Oct 27, 2026

Ice Barrel 500

$1,749.99

tub only, no chiller

Water
94 gal
Size
30.7 W × 42.1 H × 57.6 L in
Empty weight
104 lb
Full weight
886 lb
Insulation
R-16 foam
Fits
up to 6'9"
Warranty
limited lifetime
See it at Ice Barrel Price at Ice Barrel, checked Oct 27, 2026

If you are over 6 feet, buy the 500. Otherwise the 300 saves $600 and 43 pounds. Ice Barrel lists the 500 at 886 pounds full and the 300 at 700, so check your deck or floor.

The chiller

Ice Barrel Chiller

$3,999.99

Size
1/2 HP
Coldest
37°F
Power
about 115V, 15A
Weight
65 lb

Ice Barrel says it holds 37°F in rooms up to 120°F. It lists about 115V with a 15-amp fuse rating.

See it at Ice Barrel Price at Ice Barrel, checked Oct 27, 2026
Ice Barrel bundles
ModelPriceWhat the price buysLink
Ice Barrel 300 + Chiller bundle$5,150Chiller: 1/2 HPView
Ice Barrel 500 + Chiller bundle$5,749.98Holds: 37°F with the chillerView

Lowest listed configuration on each maker's store, checked Oct 27, 2026.

The bundles cost the same as buying the tub and chiller separately, so I'd start with the tub and ice, and add the chiller if you keep plunging most days. The chiller vs ice guide shows when it pays off.

How it compares

With a chiller, the 500 bundle ($5,749.98) costs more than Sun Home's lie-down tub with a 1 HP chiller ($4,099). Against Plunge, see Plunge vs Ice Barrel.

As an ice tub, the Ice Barrel 500 is a good buy if you are tall or want a small footprint. If you already know you want a chiller, compare the bundle with Sun Home's $4,099 tub-plus-chiller first; it is cheaper and has a bigger chiller.

Sources

  1. Ice Barrel, Ice Barrel 300 (77 gal, 61 lb, up to 6')
  2. Ice Barrel, Ice Barrel 500 (94 gal, 104 lb, up to 6'9", R-16)
  3. Ice Barrel, Ice Barrel Chiller (1/2 HP, 37°F, about 115V, 15A)
  4. Ice Barrel, Ice Barrel 300 Bundle
  5. Ice Barrel, Ice Barrel 500 Bundle
  6. Sun Home, Cold Plunge Horizontal

Prices and specs are from each maker's own product page on the date shown next to them. Prices change; the store is always right and we may be out of date.

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