Does the color of your cooler really affect how well it retains ice? I’ve heard this debated a ton ever since I published my first 28 cooler ice challenge video on Youtube. Just check out the comments section. A LOT of people were sure the test wasn’t fair since all the coolers weren’t the same color. I disagreed since they were in the shade.
Many argue that white coolers outperform darker ones because they reflect sunlight, while darker coolers absorb heat and melt your ice faster. I suspected this as well, but have also heard others, including many cooler companies, claim that the color of your ice chest does NOT matter when it comes to performance. So which is it?
To settle this, I conducted a thorough test in both sunny and shaded conditions to find the truth. Here’s what I discovered.
Sponsored by Blue Coolers
What We Tested
To explore how cooler color impacts ice retention, I tested three identical coolers in white, blue, and black. We used the Blue Coolers Ice Vault 60 quart rotomolded wheeled cooler—a solid, versatile, rugged rotomolded cooler in a size that suits most people’s needs. Blue Coolers had the black one specially-made for this, which I thought was very cool of them.
Each ice chest was loaded with ice and a 12-pack of Coke Zero, then placed in direct sunlight for one test. Later I did a second test in full shade. Every day I checked the coolers and recorded my typical observations I do on all my cooler ice retention tests, as well as a series of temperature readings.
Over the course of several days, I tracked:
- Exterior lid temperatures using an infrared thermometer.
- Internal air temperatures with Bluetooth thermometers (constantly logging data).
- Ice retention and melt rate through daily observations.
- Drink temperatures inside the coolers with a pin/meat thermometer.
Additionally, I reached out to several cooler manufacturers for their input to compare our findings with industry claims.
The goal was to figure out if a dark-colored cooler melts ice faster than a lighter one and also understand if the difference is a big deal or not. The results were pretty interesting!
The Full Sun Test: White vs. Blue vs. Black
For the sun test, I placed the coolers in direct sunlight with no shade, trees, or structures to the south to ensure they were exposed to as much sun as possible. The plan was to leave them there until all the ice had melted in all three coolers.
It was a good week for this test because the daily temperature highs ranged from the mid-90s to over 100°F in full sun. Although, there was a major temperature swing the last two days of the test, it dropped into the 60s and 70s. I believe this allowed the final contender to eek out an extra day.
Here’s how they performed.
Lid Surface Temperatures
Confirming what most people already believe, the temperature of the black cooler’s lid was clearly hotter than the others at any given moment when in full sun.
At one point the black lid reached a scorching 174°F, far hotter than the white cooler’s 109°F at the same time. That extra heat on the black lid definitely had an impact on how quickly the ice melted inside. The blue cooler fell in between but was surprisingly closer to the black cooler’s temps than the white’s.
Internal Air Temperatures
I measured the internal air temperatures with the same Govee Bluetooth thermometers as the outside ambient temperature. I taped one to the center of the inside of the lid for each cooler so it would be hanging right on the ice at the beginning, but a few inches below the lid once ice started to melt and the level receded.
The chart below shows the continuously logged data at 15 second intervals. The peaks represent the hottest part of the day (usually when I opened them to take observations) and the troughs are the cooler nights.
The black cooler’s internal air temperature peaked 10°F warmer than the white cooler, while the blue cooler was about 8°F warmer. But you can clearly see that the white cooler (green line) was consistently the coldest inside.
This is important if you use a dry goods basket in your cooler that keeps things like fruits and vegetables out of the ice water and right under the lid. The temperature difference can be pretty substantial inside your cooler between the air and the ice. A light colored cooler might reduce the risk of moldy cheese or rotten veggies.
Temperature of the Contents
The lid temperature and air temperature inside is interesting, but at the end of the day it’s the temperature of your food and drinks inside that matters. It’s usually sitting in the ice, so even if it’s hot outside, or in the air a few inches above it, food and drinks can still stay cold.
So I kept a bottle of water in the ice with a hole in the lid. Each day I stuck an instant-read meat thermometer in there and recorded the temperature.
As it turns out, as long as there is ice present and the contents of your cooler are surrounded by it, it doesn’t really matter what color your cooler is or how hot it is outside. The water temperatures were the same until the ice completely melted.
Ice Retention
In direct sunlight, the black cooler ran out of ice first, after about five days. The blue one lasted six days, and the white cooler took the crown, hanging on for seven days—a full week! However, if the outside temps hadn’t dropped so much those last two days, I’m pretty sure it would have been done after six days.
I was surprised that the blue cooler performed more closely to the black cooler than the white one. I expected the opposite, that the black cooler would be extremely hot compared to other colors. Instead, it appeared that the white cooler stayed dramatically cooler than an ice chest of any other color.
While the black cooler struggled in direct sunlight, the white cooler proved to be the winner, with the blue cooler falling in the middle. And let’s be honest, 5 days with cubed ice in 90-degree temps is still pretty awesome!
In case you think you had it all figured from the start, there’s a twist.
The Shade Test: Does Color Matter Without Sun?
In the shade test, all coolers were placed in a shaded area in my backyard with no direct sunlight. They were on the north facing side of a fence with big shade trees above and all around them.
Temperatures during this test were cooler, ranging in the low 70s, so I modified the test a bit. I didn’t want to fill them completely full with ice again or else the test could have lasted a few weeks, and I wanted to move on with my life.
Instead, I put a single 10 pound bag of ice in each cooler with a single water bottle (with a hole in the lid so I could take the temperature). I checked them once per day until the ice was gone.
Here’s what we found.
Lid Temperatures
All three coolers maintained nearly identical lid temperatures, basically matching the ambient outside air temperature.
Internal Air Temperatures
The differences in the internal air temperatures among the three coolers were negligible as well, with less than a 1°F variation between the white and black models. That small of a difference could even be explained by instrument error.
Temperature of the Contents
Same story on the temperature of the water in the water bottles—no difference.
Ice Retention
Each cooler retained ice for 3 days before melting completely in full shade.
The results were clear: when coolers are kept in the shade, color has no significant impact on performance.
Expert Opinions: What Cooler Brands Say
To add context to my findings, I sent anonymous emails to the customer service departments of nine cooler manufacturers and asked them if color affects ice retention. Here’s what they said:
- RTIC, Coleman, and Cordova: Claimed cooler color does not impact performance. They were wrong.
- Igloo and Blue Coolers: Acknowledged color differences in direct sunlight but said the effect is minimal in shade. Correct.
- Orion and ORCA: Found no significant differences in their internal tests. They should test more.
- Yeti: Offered conflicting responses, suggesting color both does and doesn’t matter. They don’t know and/or don’t care.
- KONG: Never responded.
I was surprised to see that most cooler companies haven’t paid much attention to this. No matter, we figured it out.
Key Findings and Practical Advice
From my tests, here’s what you need to know:
- In Direct Sunlight: Color matters. White coolers stay cooler and retain ice longer, with black coolers heating up quickly and melting ice faster.
- In Shade: Color has no meaningful impact on performance.
- For Camping or Short Trips: The real-world difference in performance—typically a day or less—may not matter much, even in full sun. So maybe just get the color you like.
- For Long, Sunny Adventures: If you’re boating, camping in the desert, or leaving your cooler exposed, opt for a white or light-colored cooler to maximize performance.
Ultimately, your cooler’s color matters most in extreme, sunny conditions. For everyday use, especially in shaded areas, any color will work just fine.
I have tested more than 60 coolers for camping and outdoor recreation. If you’re shopping for an ice chest, here are my top picks for the Best Coolers based on real-world use.
When Does Cooler Color Matter Most?
Our tests confirm that cooler color does matter—but only in specific situations. In direct sunlight, darker coolers absorb more heat, causing ice to melt faster. However, in shaded or overcast conditions, color differences become negligible. For most outdoor enthusiasts, the impact of cooler color is minimal unless you’re planning long, sunny outings.
Consider your use case:
- Boating or Beach Trips: Choose a white or light-colored cooler to reflect heat and stay cooler longer.
- Camping in Shade: Color won’t make a noticeable difference—focus on other features like insulation or size.
- Overland Adventures: If your cooler rides on a roof rack or truck bed, lighter colors are better for reducing heat absorption.
Want to see how your favorite cooler brand compares? Check out our ultimate 38-Cooler Ice Retention Challenge to discover which coolers outperform the rest, regardless of color. Watch the full video here.
Summary Data Tables
