Dry Ice to Pack Food: 2025 Complete Safety & Sizing Guide

If you plan to use dry ice to pack food, follow the 5–10 lb per 24 h rule, add a one-day buffer, vent the package, and label it correctly. This ensures your shipment stays frozen, seguro, and compliant with 2025 carrier regulations. Dry ice works better than ice packs by keeping items ultra-cold without leaks or moisture damage

How much dry ice to pack food for 24–120 hours
Which packaging and insulation work best for frozen shipping
Rules for labeling and carrier compliance in 2025
Safety tips for handling and venting dry ice
When to choose pellets vs. blocks for better results

Dry Ice to Pack Food

How Much Dry Ice to Pack Food for Shipping?

Quick rule: Plan 5–10 lb of dry ice per 24 hours of transit, then add one extra day as a buffer. Use the higher range for hot weather, thin insulation, or small pellets that sublimate faster. Always write the net weight in kilograms on the outside label.

Why this works: Dry ice sublimates at –79 °C (–110 °F), absorbing large amounts of heat as it turns to CO₂ gas. This makes it efficient for maintaining frozen temperatures in insulated containers.

Example Sizing Table

Transit Time	Dry Ice Needed	What It Means for You
12–24 h	5–10 lb	Thick insulation → 5 lb; hot lanes → 10 lb
48 h	10–20 lb	Prefer blocks or ≥10 mm pellets
72–96 h	20–40 lb	Test runs recommended; limit door openings
120 h	40–60 lb	VIP shippers reduce required weight by ~25%

Which Packaging Works Best to Use Dry Ice to Pack Food?

Core setup: Always use an insulated container (EPS foam, PUR, or VIP for long routes), with dry ice placed above the food since cold air sinks. Packages must be vented to release CO₂ gas.

Pellets vs. Blocks

Blocks (longer hold): Last 48–96 hours, slower sublimation.
Pellets (faster chill): Great for quick cooling but sublimate faster.
Hybrid: Blocks at the base + pellets on top balance speed and longevity.

Container Choices

Container Type	Best For	Why It Helps You
EPS Foam Shipper	24–48 H	Budget-friendly, easy to source
VIP Shipper	72–120 h	Uses less dry ice; higher upfront cost
Hard-Sided Cooler	Multi-use	Durable, reutilizable, good for rough handling

What Are the 2025 Rules for Shipping with Dry Ice?

Air shipments (IATA 2025): Mark “Dry Ice/Carbon Dioxide, solid – UN1845”, include net weight in kg, shipper/consignee details, and apply a Class 9 etiqueta. Use the IATA 2025 Acceptance Checklist when a Shipper’s Declaration isn’t required.

USPS: Maximum 5 lb per air mailpiece, domestic only, no international.

Unión Postal Universal & Fedex: Follow PI954 rules. FedEx Ground does not treat dry ice as hazardous, but you must still mark the package. UPS may require an ISC contract for international air shipments.

Safety Tips When You Use Dry Ice to Pack Food

Ventilación: Never seal containers airtight; dry ice releases CO₂ gas.
Handling: Always wear insulated gloves; avoid direct skin contact.
Exposure limits: OSHA sets 5,000 ppm TWA and 30,000 ppm STEL for CO₂ in workplaces.
Recipient notice: Inform the recipient the package contains dry ice.

Real Case: A bakery reduced “soft-on-arrival” claims by 35% after switching from pellets to block-dominant dry ice for 2-day routes. Same weight, longer hold.

2025 Market and Technology Trends

Updated Regulations: IATA 66th DGR Addendum effective April 2025; USPS continues 5 lb air cap.
VIP Shippers Mainstream: More frozen lanes use vacuum-insulated panels to cut dry ice needs.
Monitoreo inteligente: QR-enabled TTIs and Bluetooth loggers provide full cold-chain visibility.
Sustainable Dry Ice: Suppliers are increasingly using reclaimed CO₂, lowering environmental impact.

Preguntas frecuentes

Q1: How much dry ice to pack food for 48 horas?
Use 10–20 lb depending on insulation and weather; always add one day extra.

Q2: Can dry ice touch food directly?
No. Always wrap food and separate it with liners or spacers to prevent freezer burn.

Q3: Is dry ice allowed by FedEx Ground?
Sí, but the package must be labeled “Dry Ice – UN1845.”

Q4: Can I fly with dry ice to pack food in my luggage?
Sí, arriba a 2.5 kilos (5.5 lb) per passenger, with airline approval and vented packaging.

Resumen & Recomendaciones

Plan 5–10 lb/24 h + 1 day buffer
Use insulated shippers (EPS, personaje) with vents
Label with UN1845 + Kg neto
Choose blocks for long routes, pellets for speed
Always handle and dispose of dry ice safely

Next step: Test your packout with a small shipment and adjust by ±20%. For compliance and efficiency, prepare pre-printed UN1845 labels and validate your packaging with data loggers.

Acerca de Tempk

Y tempk, Nos especializamos en embalaje de cadena de frío for food and biotech. We design validated shippers, right-size dry ice usage, and provide SOPs and label templates that keep your shipments compliant and safe. Our clients reduce spoilage claims while cutting coolant costs with tailored block/pellet mixes and lane-specific planning.

Llamado a la acción: Tempk de contacto today for a free 15-minute consultation and route-specific dry ice calculator.