What Types of Percolators Are Best for Bongs?

You don’t drop money on a bong just to end up coughing through every hit or dealing with a clogged mess. That’s exactly what happens when you pick the wrong bong percolator—one that looks cool but does nothing to cool or filter your smoke. With so many types of percolators out there, it’s easy to fall for designs that overpromise and underdeliver.

The right bong percolator type can make your session smoother, cooler, and way more enjoyable. So how do you tell the difference between what works and what’s just for show?

What Does a Percolator Do?

A percolator bong isn’t just about looks—it changes the entire way your smoke feels. As smoke passes through the percolator, it breaks into bubbles, making each hit smoother, cooler, and easier on your lungs. Here’s how it works:

• Smoke diffusion: The percolator breaks the smoke into tiny bubbles, increasing surface area so it spreads out more in the water.
• Cooling effect: The water absorbs a lot of the smoke’s heat, making your hit cooler and less harsh.
• Filtration: Bubbles help filter out ash, resin, and other particles for a cleaner, better-tasting inhale.
• Moisturising: The water adds moisture to the smoke, which makes it feel smoother and less dry in your throat.
• Multiple percs = smoother hits: Some bong percolator types use more than one perc to filter and cool the smoke even further.

The more complex the percolator type, the more bubbles it creates—and that usually means a smoother, tastier session. 

Types of Percolators

Now that you know what a percolator does—cooling, filtering, and smoothing each hit—it’s time to break down the different styles. Each type of bong percolator has its own design, airflow, and diffusion pattern, all of which affect how your smoke tastes and feels. Let’s get into the most common types and what sets them apart.

1. Inline Perc

The inline percolator features a horizontal tube with evenly spaced slits, sitting fully submerged in water. You'll often spot it in stemless bongs or paired with another perc to boost overall filtration. While it may not stand out on its own, it’s an excellent support player in multi-perc setups.

Designed with slits aimed downward, the inline perc sends bubbles bouncing off the base of the bong. This increases diffusion and helps cool the smoke efficiently—especially in compact water pipes—while also cutting down on splashback near the mouthpiece. It's a solid choice for smoother, cleaner hits without overcomplicating the design.

2. Diffused Downstems

The diffused downstem is the simplest and most affordable type of bong percolator. Found in many starter bongs and bubblers, it replaces the standard downstem with one that has a few slits at the base—usually 4 to 6. These slits help break up the smoke into bubbles, providing basic diffusion and a slightly smoother inhale.

While not the most powerful on its own, it does a decent job for beginners or those looking for a quick upgrade. It also pairs well with other percolators, making it a solid addition to multi-perc bongs for improved filtration and smoother hits.

3. Circ Perc

Circ percolators, short for circular percs, are shaped like discs or rings with evenly spaced slits around the edges. This layout helps create a balanced flow of bubbles, improving diffusion and delivering smoother hits—even in smaller water pipes.

They’re similar in function to showerhead percs but typically offer a more uniform bubble spread. You’ll often see circ percs built into the base of a bong or integrated at the end of a downstem. They’re also known for being low-maintenance, easy to clean, and less likely to clog.

4. Tree Perc

Tree percolators are one of the most popular bong percolator types thanks to their highly effective diffusion. Named after their tree-like structure, they feature a central tube (the "trunk") with several vertical arms ("branches") that each contain slits or holes. Most tree percs have between 4 and 10 arms, and each arm acts like a mini diffuser, breaking smoke into dozens of tiny bubbles.

This design creates an intense filtration process, typically positioned in the upper part of the glass bong to maximize cooling before the smoke reaches your mouth. While tree percs deliver impressively smooth hits, they’re also fragile and can be difficult to clean, especially if you're not gentle during maintenance.

5. Disc Percolator

Disc percs are powerful filtration systems made by stacking two circular percolators, often resembling layered Circ percs. Standard disc percolators feature wide slits around both the top and bottom, allowing for efficient diffusion as smoke is broken into smaller bubbles.

A variation of this is the fritted disc percolator, crafted from fused glass particles that create a surface filled with countless micro-holes. This design generates thousands of tiny bubbles, maximizing filtration and delivering smoother hits. While fritted discs provide excellent diffusion, they can clog up over time due to resin buildup, which may require stronger pulls and more frequent cleaning.

For better performance and less maintenance, consider using preventative cleaning methods to reduce resin before it reaches your perc.

6. Swiss Perc

The Swiss percolator stands out with its signature "Swiss cheese" look—holes punched through a vertical or flat glass disc. As smoke travels through the piece, it’s forced to navigate around these holes, increasing its path and cooling it down more effectively.

Often used as a secondary percolator, the Swiss perc works similarly to a Donut perc, enhancing filtration and diffusion. It's common for water and bubbles to rise partially into the Swiss chamber during use, creating both a functional and visually impressive smoking experience. It's a solid pick if you want performance with artistic flair.

7. Showerhead Perc

Showerhead percolators were among the first innovations to follow tree percs in modern glassware. Named for their resemblance to a showerhead, they feature a single circular disc with slits or holes that diffuse smoke into bubbles as it passes through.

Unlike circ percs, showerhead percs are anchored to the base of the bong by a glass stem, offering added stability. Their simple yet effective design provides smooth, low-drag hits with solid diffusion. They’re a popular option for both functional and artistic glass pieces, making them a go-to choice for many smokers.

8. Donut Perc

The donut perc, shaped like a glass ring with a hole in the center, functions as a compact version of the Swiss perc. As smoke travels around the donut-shaped chamber, it splits and cools, creating a smoother hit with added diffusion.

Donut percs are often used as a secondary filtration stage and are commonly paired with inline or showerhead percs below. This combination increases airflow and enhances cooling, making each hit cleaner and easier on the lungs.

9. Turbine Perc

Turbine percs feature a flat glass disc with angled slits arranged in a circular pattern, designed to create a spinning tornado effect as you inhale. This swirling motion boosts smoke diffusion while also preventing splashback from reaching the mouthpiece.

Often found near the base of tornado-style bongs, turbine percs offer both functional filtration and eye-catching visuals that add excitement to every hit.

10. Honeycomb Perc

Honeycomb percolators are popular thanks to their simple yet effective design—a flat glass plate filled with numerous small holes. This setup provides excellent filtration while keeping the airflow smooth, avoiding extra drag on your hit.

Their flat shape makes it easy to stack two or three honeycomb percs in a single bong. Plus, they’re straightforward to clean, which is why frequent users often prefer them. Just keep in mind the tiny holes can clog with resin over time, so regular cleaning is important to maintain smooth hits.

What Makes a Percolator Smoothest?

The smoothness of a percolator depends on several key factors:

• Diffusion: The number of bubbles the percolator produces. More bubbles lead to smoother hits. Tree, matrix, and honeycomb percs provide excellent diffusion.
• Number of Percolators: More percs usually mean better filtration and smoother hits. A bong with both a diffused downstem and a tree perc performs better than one with only a diffused downstem.
• Cleanliness: Keeping percolators clean is essential. Honeycomb percs are favored because they diffuse well and are easy to clean, maintaining smooth hits.
• Perc Type: Different percolator designs filter smoke differently. Some, like matrix and honeycomb percs, create finer bubbles for smoother hits, while simpler percs might offer less diffusion.
• Water Level: Proper water level in the bong ensures effective filtration and cooling. Too little or too much water can reduce smoothness and cause splashback.

Balancing these factors leads to a more enjoyable and smooth smoking experience with your percolator setup.

Smooth Hits Start with the Right Perc

The right percolator changes the entire bong experience, making hits smoother, cooler, and easier on the lungs. Knowing how different percolators work and what affects smoothness helps create a setup that suits your preferences. Keeping percolators clean and maintaining proper water levels ensures every hit stays consistently enjoyable.

Explore the selection at Bong Warehouse for premium bongs and percolators that improve filtration and cooling. Upgrade your sessions with pieces designed to deliver smooth, clean hits—because better smoke means better moments.