A cited, regularly-updated roundup of the numbers behind the cold plunge and sauna boom — market size, what the health research actually shows, what these setups cost to run, and the safety data buyers should know. Every figure links to its source, and you’re welcome to cite any of them (there’s an embed snippet below).
Cold plunge & sauna by the numbers (2026). Sources: JAMA, EIA, CPSC. Free to share with attribution.
Market & adoption
$0.35–0.9BEstimated size of the global cold plunge tub market in 2025 (estimates vary widely by firm)Source: Grand View Research ($354.6M); Future Market Insights ($0.87B), 2025
~8%Forecast annual growth (CAGR) of the cold plunge tub market through the early-2030sSource: Grand View Research (8.1%); Future Market Insights (8.3%)
~39%Share of the global cold plunge tub market held by North AmericaSource: Grand View Research; Persistence Market Research, 2025
~80%Share of cold plunge demand that is commercial (gyms, spas, studios) vs residentialSource: Grand View Research (81.4%); Persistence (79%), 2025
Sauna & your health
40% ↓Lower all-cause mortality among people using a sauna 4–7×/week vs once weekly (20-yr Finnish study)Source: Laukkanen et al., 2015, JAMA Internal Medicine
~50% ↓Lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease among the most frequent sauna usersSource: Laukkanen et al., 2015, JAMA Internal Medicine
66% ↓Lower dementia risk among the most frequent sauna users (4–7×/week vs 1×)Source: Laukkanen et al., 2017, Age and Ageing
150–195°FTypical operating temperature range of a traditional saunaSource: Industry standard
Cold plunge & your body
+250%Rise in dopamine after cold-water immersion (with noradrenaline up ~530%)Source: Šrámek et al., 2000, European Journal of Applied Physiology
~11 minCold immersion per week (across 2–4 sessions) associated with metabolic benefitSource: Søberg et al., 2021, Cell Reports Medicine
50–59°FTypical cold plunge water temperatureSource: Industry standard
ReducedDelayed-onset muscle soreness after cold-water immersion vs doing nothingSource: Bleakley et al., 2012, Cochrane Review; Bieuzen et al., 2013, PLoS ONE
What it costs to own
$212/yrAverage U.S. cost to run a home cold plunge in 2026 (our analysis)Source: HotColdHaven analysis of 2026 EIA rates
$140–$516Annual running-cost range, cheapest (North Dakota) to priciest (Hawaii)Source: HotColdHaven, 2026
17.65¢U.S. average residential electricity rate per kWh, 2026Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
~5–7×How much more it costs to keep an ice bath cold with ice (~$1,000–$1,800/yr) vs a chiller’s electricitySource: HotColdHaven analysis
Safety & recalls
78,000Units of one infrared sauna-blanket model (LifePro “Bioremedy”) recalled in the U.S. in 2026 over burn riskSource: U.S. CPSC; InfraredTested, 2026
Check firstSauna blankets are lightly regulated — verify third-party EMF/VOC testing, auto-shutoff, and current recall status before buyingSource: HotColdHaven safety guidance
Use these statistics (free)
Cite or embed — with attribution. Writers and bloggers are welcome to use these figures with a link back. Paste this to embed the summary infographic:
FAQ
Are these cold plunge and sauna statistics accurate?
Every figure links to its source — peer-reviewed studies (e.g. JAMA Internal Medicine, PLoS ONE), the U.S. EIA for electricity costs, the U.S. CPSC for recalls, and named market-research firms for industry size. Market-size estimates vary between firms, so we show a range and cite more than one.
How much does it cost to run a cold plunge?
About $212/year on a U.S. average electricity rate in 2026, ranging from roughly $140/year in North Dakota to $516/year in Hawaii. See our full state-by-state breakdown.
Do saunas really lower mortality risk?
A large 20-year Finnish study found people using a sauna 4–7 times a week had about 40% lower all-cause mortality than once-weekly users. It’s an association, not proof of cause, and most of this research is on traditional (not infrared) saunas.
Can I republish these statistics?
Yes — you’re welcome to cite any stat with a link back to this page. There’s a ready-to-use embed snippet above.
About this page. Maintained by David Kale for HotColdHaven, an independent home sauna & cold plunge resource. We cite primary sources and flag where evidence is an association rather than proof, or where industry estimates disagree. Spot something to update? Tell us.
Sources
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential electricity rates, 2026. eia.gov
Laukkanen T, et al. Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Intern Med. 2015. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8187
Laukkanen T, et al. Sauna bathing and risk of dementia. Age and Ageing. 2017.
Šrámek P, et al. Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000.
Bleakley C, et al. Cold-water immersion for preventing and treating muscle soreness after exercise. Cochrane Database. 2012.
Bieuzen F, Bleakley C, Costello J. Contrast water therapy and exercise-induced muscle damage. PLoS ONE. 2013. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0062356
Søberg S, et al. Altered brown fat thermoregulation and enhanced cold-induced thermogenesis. Cell Reports Medicine. 2021.
Grand View Research; Future Market Insights; Persistence Market Research — cold plunge tub market size, 2025.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalls; InfraredTested, 2026. cpsc.gov/Recalls
Health findings are associations from observational or small studies and are not medical advice. Market-size figures are third-party estimates that vary by firm. Last updated June 2026.
