Pool guide

Private plunge pools

A plunge pool is a small private pool for cooling off and soaking, not for laps. How plunge pools differ from swimming pools, and when to choose one.

Small white plunge pool with built-in steps beside a dome cabin among tropical plants

What a plunge pool is

A plunge pool is a small, private pool built for dipping, cooling off and soaking, often just big enough for a few people to sit and talk, or to take a couple of strokes. There’s no fixed industry size, so listings use the term loosely. What they share is that they are much smaller than a swimming pool and not meant for laps or games.

On PoolCabinFinder, a plunge pool is always labelled as a plunge pool, never as a “pool” that could be mistaken for a full swimming pool.

Why people choose them

  • Design. Plunge pools fit on decks, courtyards and hillsides where a full pool wouldn’t. Several of the architect-designed desert homes we’ve researched use one.
  • Heat. A small volume of water heats faster and more cheaply than a full pool, so a heated plunge pool can double as a warm soaking pool on cool evenings, and some are combined with a spa.
  • Climate. In hot, dry places like the high desert, a quick cold plunge between hikes is exactly what you want.

When a plunge pool is the wrong choice

If your group wants to actually swim, play games or keep children busy for hours, a plunge pool will feel small. For families and big groups, look for a full swimming pool instead and check its size.

Questions to ask

  • What are the dimensions and depth?
  • Is it heated, and is heating included or charged per day or night?
  • Is it a pool, a spa or a combination? Can it be set to different temperatures?
  • Is it fenced or gated if you’re travelling with young children?

A stock-tank pool is a different, even simpler kind of small pool. Our pool-types guide compares all three side by side.

Updated