How Much Does Dry Ice Cost?

Dry Ice (Solid Carbon Dioxide – CO2), is very handy when shipping or transporting things that need to remain cool. However, did you know that dry ice is also used to clean surfaces, for medical transportation, hunting, and fishing, or some do-it-yourself jobs like taking dents out of doors or killing pests? With all these great uses, you may be wondering how much does dry ice costs?

The average price of dry ice is between $1.00 – $3.00 per pound.

Most retailers, such as Walmart, will most likely try to sell you a pre-made smaller block of dry ice. These smaller retail amounts got for a bit over a buck a pound – usually between $1.30 and $1.10. Some dry ice providers sell 50lbs block of dry ice for about $35.00. Some other stores sell pallets of dry ice by the pound as well, and the price varies based upon how many pounds you need.

Negotiate for only what you need. For instance, some places will sell you 10-24lbs of dry ice for $1.00 a pound. Then they might sell you 24-49lbs for $0.08 cents per pound but want to sell you 50lbs right away without giving you the option to pick the specific amount you want or need. If you negotiate for what you want you’re paying for what you need instead of having to buy a pre-made block of ice that is either too big or too small for your needs. This is important as dry ice isn’t like normal ice, it requires special handling.

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Where to Buy Dry Ice

Dry ice can be challenging to buy. Dry ice can be bought at some grocery stores. However, availability at major chains like Walmart or Kroger depends greatly on local demand. So, unlike eggs or toilet paper, there isn’t any blanket expectation that a location close to you will have dry ice when you need it. Your best bet is to call the specific store and see if it is in stock. If not, look around for a specialty store in your area. Brick and mortar ice supply stores are likely to have it, or you can order the stuff online.

Air Tight Dry Ice Containers Can Explode

Dry ice ranges from -109.3 to -78.5 degrees Celsius, which makes it a lot colder than what most traditional freezers can keep up with. Your freezer at home most likely won’t have the capability to keep the dry ice cool, so you might want to find an insulated container. When transporting dry ice, MAKE SURE it’s not in an air-tight container. Dry ice doesn’t melt – it sublimates, which means it turns into a gas as it warms up – which can cause the container to explode if you aren’t careful.

Safe Dry Ice Handling

When finding out how much dry ice costs, factor in safe handling costs. Try to use long sleeves and insulated gloves when handling or moving it. If your skin comes in contact with the ice itself, it can become a big problem as dry can cause burns. You’re basically wanting to treat the dry ice like a hot pan that just came out of the oven. If you don’t have leather gloves, you can also use something like an oven mitt. Basically just something to keep your skin protected from the dry ice itself. If you’re transporting it in your car, roll your windows down. Dry ice is carbon dioxide and is harmful if inhaled in large quantities. Also, make sure you ventilate the area that the dry ice is in, you don’t want to be inhaling it, as said before, it’s carbon dioxide.

Finally you’ll probably want an insulated container to transport your dry ice in. A good option is a simple styrofoam cooler – which retails for around $25 dollars.

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Photo Credit: Joe Loong.