It started with a simple, honest need.

In 1947, the Texas sun was relentless. Oil field workers and longshoremen labored outside in the brutal heat and humidity of Houston, their only relief coming from splintered wooden barrels of lukewarm water. It was hardly refreshing.

Then, a small metalworking shop had an idea. What if they could build something that actually kept water cold—something durable enough for the toughest jobsites? They designed one of the first metal water coolers with an insulated core, a simple invention that changed everything.

That shop was Igloo.

We didn’t just make coolers. We invented a category.

It wasn’t long before our coolers moved from the worksite to the beach, the backyard, and the campsite. We made it possible for families to pack a picnic, take a road trip, or spend a weekend under the stars.

In the 1960s, we pioneered the first plastic cooler. Then, in 1971, we released an icon: the Playmate®. With its revolutionary design, it became so culturally significant that it now sits on display at the Smithsonian Institution. We followed with another first—the wheeled cooler in 1994—because we believed fun shouldn’t be heavy lifting.

Innovation with purpose.

For over 75 years, we have been driven by five core values: community, courage, craftsmanship, commitment, and celebration. These aren’t just words on a wall. They are the principles that guide every cooler we build.

Our craftsmanship is second to none. Our coolers are built with detail, quality, and pride—tested to withstand the elements and keep your moments cold for the long haul. We go ALL in on creating products that are practical, durable, versatile, and stylish.

Building a cooler planet.

We know that making the world cooler also means taking care of it. In 2019, we set an ambitious goal: to become the most environmentally friendly cooler company on Earth. That year, we invented RECOOL®, the world’s first biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable cooler. We then introduced THERMECOOL™ insulation, a foam that is 50 times better for the environment than required by law.

In 2021, we launched the ECOCOOL® Collection, the world’s first hardside coolers made from post-consumer recycled resin—derived from discarded plastic yogurt cups and milk jugs. Since then, our REPREVE® cooler bags have repurposed millions of plastic bottles that would have otherwise ended up in landfills or our oceans. We’ve set a cumulative goal to recycle 30 million post-consumer plastic bottles by 2025.

The Cooler Brand for everyone.

Today, Igloo is more than a cooler manufacturer. We are a lifestyle brand synonymous with dependability and innovation. We manufacture over 16 million coolers a year, with more than 500 products sold at thousands of retailers worldwide. We are proudly headquartered in Katy, Texas, where our 1,200 employees call a 1.8-million-square-foot facility home.

But our greatest pride comes from our community. Through our “The Cooler Brand” campaign, we strive to create products that provide joy to everyone—no matter who they are or where they are from. We believe amazing things happen when people come together. And we remain committed to making wonderful, memorable experiences possible.

Because a cooler is never just a cooler.

It’s the centerpiece of a tailgate. The keeper of memories on a family camping trip. The faithful companion at a backyard barbecue. It’s the reason a cold drink is waiting for you after a long, hot day.

And after more than seven decades, we haven’t lost sight of our original goal: to create products that enable the pursuit of happiness, however you define it.

We are, and have always been, The Cooler Brand®. And we’re just getting started.

— The Igloo Team