Seafood, ice cream, protein, and frozen e-commerce
Use the estimate to plan dry ice mass, insulation needs, and box format before preparing a frozen food or seafood cold-chain RFQ.
Dry Ice Calculator for Frozen Shipping
Dry Ice Calculator for Frozen Shipping
Frozen Shipping Tool
Dry Ice Calculator for Frozen Food, Seafood & Pharma Shipments
Estimate a practical starting point for dry ice mass, dry-ice-style cooling packs, and frozen packout direction before you request a quote. This tool is designed for B2B teams shipping frozen food, seafood, ice cream, frozen e-commerce products, pharma materials, lab samples, biotech cargo, and air/export lanes that need stronger cooling than standard gel packs.
What this calculator helps you check
The calculator uses target temperature, transit hours, ambient profile, route complexity, box size, payload weight, insulation level, product starting condition, preferred dry ice format, air/export risk, venting, and direct-contact constraints to suggest a planning direction. It is not a dangerous-goods approval, carrier acceptance decision, or validated thermal qualification.
Frozen food & seafood
Pharma & lab samples
Air & export lanes
Vented packout planning
Pharma & lab samples
Air & export lanes
Vented packout planning
Dry ice planning is both a thermal and handling question. Use this estimate to prepare your RFQ details, then confirm packaging, venting, labels, carrier rules, and route risk before shipping.
Best use cases
Use this calculator when the shipment needs frozen or sub-zero protection
Dry ice is usually considered when gel packs and ice bricks are not enough for frozen performance. The right packout depends on target temperature, product starting condition, insulation, dry ice format, transit time, and carrier acceptance requirements.
Lab samples and dry-ice-compatible pharma lanes
Use this page as an early planning tool, then confirm SOPs, data logger placement, validation, direct-contact protection, and qualified shipper requirements.
Air shipment, customs dwell, and carrier acceptance risk
Use the result to prepare route context, dry ice net weight, venting notes, and carrier review details for export or air-freight frozen shipments.
Calculator
Enter your frozen shipment profile
Use the fields below to describe the frozen lane you are planning. The calculator gives a starting estimate only. Final dry ice quantity, venting arrangement, labeling, and carrier compliance must be confirmed for your specific route and carrier before shipment.
Planning note: Dry ice sublimates into carbon dioxide gas. Packaging must allow gas release and should not be airtight. For air or export shipments, confirm UN1845 marking, dry ice net weight in kilograms, Class 9 labeling, airwaybill details, and carrier acceptance before shipping.
Enter the shipment profile below. The calculator returns a planning estimate only and does not replace validation testing, carrier acceptance checks, or dangerous-goods compliance review.
Calculator input
Build your frozen-lane estimate
How to use it
A simple workflow for better dry ice planning
Use these steps as a reference when filling in the calculator fields. Each input changes the estimate in a different way. Review the result summary before preparing your RFQ or compliance review.
| Step | What to enter | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Define the frozen lane | Use case, target temperature band, transit hours, ambient profile, route complexity, and product starting condition. | Longer transit, hotter ambient exposure, air shipment, export handling, and customs dwell increase dry ice demand and risk. |
| 2. Enter packaging details | Box inner dimensions, payload weight, insulation type, and preferred dry ice format. | Box volume, payload mass, insulation performance, and pack format affect sublimation rate and placement options. |
| 3. Select handling constraints | Air-shipment review, vented packaging confirmation, and no direct dry ice contact if required. | Dry ice can create pressure if sealed and may damage products if direct contact is not controlled. |
| 4. Review the result | Recommended dry ice mass, format, assumptions, warnings, product paths, and quote-ready summary. | The result helps prepare RFQ notes and indicates whether compliance or carrier review is needed before shipment. |
Format guide
Reusable dry ice pack, solid block, or pellet/block hybrid?
The calculator helps choose a planning direction. The final format depends on route time, sublimation behavior, insulation system, payload sensitivity, available dry ice format, and carrier requirements. Note: Tempk Hydrate Dry Ice Packs are reusable PCM-style cooling packs designed for dry-ice-style performance—they are not solid CO2 dry ice and do not require UN1845 handling. If you are using solid CO2 dry ice, confirm venting, UN1845 marking, Class 9 labeling, net kg declaration, and carrier acceptance before shipping.
Reusable dry ice pack sheet / PCM-style setup
Useful for smaller parcels, short-to-mid frozen lanes, easier handling, and more even surface coverage. Tempk Hydrate Dry Ice Packs are reusable PCM-style cooling packs that follow a dry-ice-style placement logic without solid CO2 handling requirements.
Solid dry ice block setup
Better for longer frozen hold time, larger payloads, slower sublimation, and structured placement where direct product contact can be avoided.
Pellet / block hybrid setup
Often a better planning direction for air shipment, export lanes, deep-frozen requirements, hot ambient exposure, large payloads, or complex route risk.
Dry ice handling
Safety and carrier checks to confirm before shipping dry ice
Dry ice planning is not only a thermal question. Shipments may need special markings, vented packaging, dry ice net weight, and carrier acceptance review, especially for air and export lanes.
Do not seal dry ice packages airtight
Dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas during transit. Packaging should allow CO₂ release to prevent pressure build-up, especially in air, export, or long-hold shipment workflows.
Prepare UN1845 and label details early
For dry ice used as a refrigerant, prepare the proper shipping name, UN1845, Class 9 hazard label, net dry ice weight in kilograms, shipper/consignee details, and any air waybill requirements before handoff.
Recommended next steps
Recommended Tempk product paths
Once you have a starting estimate, use these product and resource paths to compare frozen packout formats, insulation options and packaging structures before sending an RFQ.
Hydrate Dry Ice Pack
Dry-ice-style cold source path for frozen food, seafood, and temperature-sensitive shipments that need stronger cooling than standard gel packs.
VIP Cold Chain Packaging
High-performance insulated packaging for high-value frozen, pharma, and deep-frozen lanes that need better thermal control.
EPP Cooler Box
Reusable insulated box path for repeated frozen distribution, impact resistance, and controlled delivery workflows.
Insulated Box Liner
Support the dry ice source with better carton insulation, liner fit, and route-appropriate packaging structure.
UN1845 Dry Ice Label Guide
Review labeling, net weight, Class 9, venting, and air-shipment preparation points before carrier handoff.
Ice Pack Calculator
Use this instead for 2–8°C, 0–10°C, chilled, protected cool, or freeze-sensitive non-frozen shipments.
FAQ
Common dry ice shipping questions
Common questions buyers ask when planning frozen packouts, comparing dry ice formats, or preparing for air and export shipments.
What is the difference between a dry ice pack and solid CO2 dry ice?
Solid CO2 dry ice is a dangerous good (UN1845, Class 9) that sublimates into carbon dioxide gas and requires vented packaging, net weight marking, carrier acceptance, and specific documentation. Tempk Hydrate Dry Ice Packs are reusable PCM-style cooling packs designed for dry-ice-style frozen performance—they are not solid CO2 and do not require UN1845 handling. Read: Dry Ice Pack vs Dry Ice: What’s the Real Difference?
How much dry ice do I need for a frozen shipment?
The amount depends on transit time, box size, insulation level, payload weight, product starting temperature, ambient exposure, dry ice format, and route dwell. Use this calculator for a starting estimate, then confirm with testing or carrier requirements. For background, read: How Dry Ice Packaging Keeps Goods Frozen.
When should I use dry ice instead of gel packs or ice bricks?
Use dry ice or dry-ice-style packs for frozen, hard-frozen, deep-frozen, or export lanes where gel packs are not enough. Use gel packs or ice bricks for chilled 2–8°C and 0–10°C shipments where direct contact with ultra-cold media could damage the product. Compare options: Ice Pack Calculator.
Does dry ice packaging need venting?
Yes. Solid CO2 dry ice sublimates into carbon dioxide gas, so packaging must allow gas release and should never be airtight. This is especially important for air freight, confined vehicle transport, and long-hold export routes. If you are using Tempk Hydrate Dry Ice Packs (PCM-style), the venting requirement applies differently—contact Tempk for guidance.
What labels and documents are required for dry ice shipments?
For solid CO2 dry ice used as a refrigerant, typical requirements include: proper shipping name, UN1845, Class 9 hazard label, net dry ice weight in kilograms, shipper and consignee details, and airwaybill markings. Requirements vary by carrier and route. Read: Dry Ice Packing Label 2025: UN1845, Class 9, AWB.
Can this calculator be used for pharma or lab sample shipments?
Yes, but only as an early planning tool. For pharmaceutical and lab sample lanes, the final packout must be confirmed with product requirements, direct-contact protection, SOPs, data logger placement, validation testing, and qualified shipper requirements. Start here, then review Tempk’s pharmaceutical shipment resources and use the Compliance Checklist Generator.
Can I ship dry ice by air freight?
Dry ice can be shipped by air when packaging, marking, labeling, net weight, venting, documentation, and carrier acceptance conditions are all satisfied. IATA governs most international air dry ice shipments. Always confirm current carrier rules and route conditions before shipping. Use the Route Risk Checker to review your lane before finalizing a packout.
Can Tempk help with a custom frozen packout or bulk dry ice pack order?
Yes. Share your route, box size, product type, target temperature, transit time, and air/export requirements with Tempk. Our team can review Hydrate Dry Ice Packs, insulated box liners, EPP cooler boxes, VIP medical cool boxes, and custom packout options for bulk or OEM programs. Contact Tempk to get started.
Get Pack-out Support
Need help turning this estimate into a real frozen packout?
Send us your shipment details and Tempk will review the packout path. Share route, box size, product type, target temperature, transit time, air/export status, and any labeling requirements. Tempk can recommend Hydrate Dry Ice Packs, insulated liners, EPP cooler boxes, VIP cool boxes, and custom OEM frozen packaging options.
Send your frozen shipment profile to Tempk
Target temperature
Transit hours
Box dimensions
Payload weight
Air/export route
Dry ice net weight
Transit hours
Box dimensions
Payload weight
Air/export route
Dry ice net weight
Include your route, dry ice net weight estimate, venting status, and air/export flag. Tempk will review dry ice pack format, insulated packaging, labeling expectations, and custom frozen packout options for your program.
