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.
Frozen Shipping Tool
Dry Ice Calculator for Frozen Shipping
Build a practical dry ice starting point for frozen food, seafood, ice cream, lab samples, and dry-ice-compatible pharma lanes. Enter route time, ambient exposure, box size, payload weight, insulation, dry ice format, and air/export handling so your RFQ starts with the right shipment details.
What this calculator helps you check
The calculator estimates a dry ice quantity and packout direction from the conditions you already know. Use the result to discuss packaging, venting, labeling, carrier acceptance, and thermal testing before the shipment is released.
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 decision. Treat the result as an RFQ starting point, then confirm the packout, venting, labels, carrier rules, and route risk for the actual lane.
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
Frozen packout support
Turn the dry ice estimate into a packout you can test
Share the payload dimensions, frozen target, route time, shipper or liner, dry ice format, carrier mode, and expected volume. Tempk can help prepare a vented frozen packout and sample test plan.
How to use it
Plan the frozen packout in four checks
Use these checks when filling in the calculator fields. The result becomes more useful when the route time, box volume, payload weight, insulation level, dry ice format, and handling constraints are close to the real shipment.
| 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.
Next steps
Continue to products, solutions, and route checks
Once you have a starting estimate, use these paths to compare the cold source, insulation structure, route risk, and shipment type before sending a quote request.
Dry-ice-style cold source path for frozen food, seafood, and temperature-sensitive shipments that need stronger cooling than standard gel packs.
High-performance insulated packaging for high-value frozen, pharma, and deep-frozen lanes that need better thermal control in limited space.
Reusable insulated box path for repeated frozen distribution, impact resistance, and controlled delivery workflows.
Support the dry ice source with better carton insulation, liner fit, and route-appropriate packaging structure.
Use this path when frozen meals, meat, prepared items, or frozen e-commerce orders need a validated packout direction.
Review packaging choices for harder frozen lanes where heat exposure, dwell time, and melt risk need stricter control.
Compare dry ice and insulated packaging paths for frozen seafood, export lanes, and higher route-risk handling.
Use this when a pharma lane needs stricter documentation, validation, logger placement, and qualified packaging review.
Plan around sample sensitivity, SOPs, data logger needs, and direct-contact protection before the final packout is approved.
Review labeling, net weight, Class 9, venting, and air-shipment preparation points before carrier handoff.
Check whether air, export, customs dwell, hot ambient exposure, or carrier handling should move the lane into stronger review.
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 vaccines, medicines, biologics, and clinical samples, confirm product requirements, direct-contact protection, SOPs, data logger placement, validation testing, and qualified shipper requirements. Start with the vaccines solution path, the clinical samples solution path, and 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.