Dry Ice Calculator
Small Foam Cooler (Standard) – Uses ~5 lbs/day
Medium Cooler / Thick Walls – Uses ~10 lbs/day
Large Chest / Poor Insulation – Uses ~20 lbs/day
High-End Camping Cooler – Uses ~3 lbs/day
Recommended Amount (lbs):
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Recommended Amount (kg):
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Estimated Cost:
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Note: Calculations include a small safety buffer for sublimation variations. Always pack extra for delays.
How to Determine Dry Ice Requirements for Shipping
When shipping frozen goods or keeping items cold during an extended power outage, calculating the correct amount of dry ice is critical. Unlike regular ice, dry ice sublimates directly from a solid to a gas, meaning it disappears completely over time without leaving water behind. The rate at which this happens depends heavily on the duration of storage and the quality of your insulation.
General Rule of Thumb
The industry standard for dry ice calculation revolves around a 24-hour cycle. For a standard shipping container insulated with Styrofoam:
- 5-10 lbs of dry ice will sublime every 24 hours.
- Small Packages: typically require 5 lbs per day.
- Medium/Large Packages: typically require 10-20 lbs per day.
Factors Affecting Sublimation Rates
Our calculator above uses these standard sublimation rates, but you should consider several external factors that might increase the "burn rate" of your dry ice:
- Insulation Thickness: Thicker Styrofoam (2 inches or more) retains cold significantly better than thin (1 inch) walls. High-end roto-molded coolers retain ice the longest.
- Empty Space: Air is the enemy of frozen goods. If your cooler has a lot of empty space (dead air volume), the dry ice will sublime faster. Fill empty voids with newspaper, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts.
- Ambient Temperature: Shipping a package through the desert in summer will increase sublimation rates compared to winter shipping. Always add a safety buffer (usually 10-20%) to your calculated weight.
Dry Ice Safety Essentials
Handling dry ice requires caution as it has a surface temperature of -109.3°F (-78.5°C).
- Ventilation: Never store dry ice in an airtight container or a small, unventilated room (like a car with windows up). As it sublimates, it releases Carbon Dioxide gas which can displace oxygen.
- Handling: Never touch dry ice with bare skin. Use leather gloves or heavy towels to prevent severe frostbite or "ice burns."
- Disposal: Do not dump dry ice in a sink or toilet (it can freeze and crack pipes). Simply leave it in a well-ventilated area to sublime away naturally.
Using this Calculator
To use the tool above, simply input the number of hours you need the item to remain frozen and select the type of container you are using. The calculator adds a small safety margin to ensure your goods arrive frozen, even if there are slight delays in transit.