Dry Ice Pads: How to Choose, Taille & Ship in 2025

If you ship perishables, dry ice pads can keep food safe or frozen when used correctly—and compliant labeling matters when real dry ice (solid CO₂) is involved. Start with simple rules: plan 5–10 lb of dry ice per 24 heures for deep-frozen lanes and keep chilled foods ≤40°F (4°C) end-to-end. For passenger travel, dry ice is limited to 2.5 kg per package. Updated: August 18, 2025.

Pick the right dry ice pads type for chilled vs. frozen lanes (long-tail: dry ice pads for shipping food).
Calculate how many dry ice pads or pounds of dry ice you need for 24–72 hours (long-tail: how many dry ice pads do I need).
Pack and label UN1845 dry ice correctly in 2025 to avoid rejections (long-tail: dry ice shipping rules 2025).
Utiliser PCM pads and gel packs to skip hazmat when deep-freeze isn’t required.

What are dry ice pads—and which type do you need?

Réponse courte: Dry ice pads can mean two things. Insulated dry ice pads are fabric covers used with real dry ice to slow sublimation. Reusable “dry-ice‑style pads” are polymer/PCM sheets you hydrate or freeze; they are pas CO₂ and suit chilled or moderate frozen ranges. Use real dry ice for ultracold (−78.5°C) and use pads/PCM for 2–8°C or −10°C to −20°C targets.

Why it matters: Real dry ice requires vented packaging and UN1845 marks; reusable pads/PCM don’t release gas and avoid hazmat paperwork, making handoffs simpler for many food lanes.

When should you choose PCM “dry ice pads” vs. real dry ice?

For −20°C frozen but not ultracold: pick PCM pads (Par exemple, 5°F/−15°C setpoints) to stabilize loads without CO₂ handling. For ultracold or hard-frozen (glace, long-haul meats), choose real dry ice and vent the shipper. Either way, pre-chill products and fill voids to slow heat gain.

Pad / Refrigerant Type	What it is	Typical Temp Band	What it means for you
Insulated dry ice pad (cover)	Fabric/insulated topper used avec glace carbonique	Works with −78.5°C	Reduces sublimation during frequent access; not a coolant by itself.
Hydrated “dry-ice‑style” pad sheet	Polymer cells you wet/freeze	~10–32°F (−12–0°C)	Great for 2–8°C chilled; easy, non‑hazmat; flexible fit.
PCM panel (~5°F/−15°C)	Fixed‑setpoint phase‑change pack	~5–20°F (−15–−6°C)	Bridges chilled–frozen gap; more stable than gel; no CO₂ gas.
Dry ice (Co₂, UN1845)	Solid carbon dioxide	−78.5°C (−109.3°F)	Best for ultracold; requires venting + étiquetage; plan mass carefully.

Practical tips for you

Frequent access? Add an insulated dry ice pad over dry ice between picks to slow loss.
Chilled lanes (≤40°F): Utiliser dry ice pads (sheets/gel) and pack tight; add a 5°F PCM if ambient is hot.
Frozen (−20°C) without hazmat: Utiliser PCM pads around the payload for a flat cold plateau.

Real case: A cheesecake brand compared six “dry‑ice‑style” pads + two PCM panels vs. 12 lb dry ice in a 30‑qt shipper over 30 heures. Pads/PCM held 34–38°F with zero leaks; dry ice kept rock‑solid frozen—ideal for hard‑frozen SKUs.

How many dry ice pads—or pounds of dry ice—do you need?

Planning rules you can trust: For chilled lanes, start with ≈1 lb of pad/gel per cubic foot per 24 h; scale up 25–50% for hot routes or thin insulation. For deep‑frozen, plan 5–10 lb of dry ice per 24 h per well‑insulated box. Validate with a small test and a logger before you scale.

Quick estimator (copy/paste):

Container Size	Dry ice pads pour 24 h (chilled)	Dry ice pour 24 h (frozen)	What this means for you
25‑qt shipper	2–3 hydrated pad sheets + 1 PCM panel	~10–15 lb	Pads hit 33–40°F; use dry ice for hard‑frozen outcomes.
45‑qt shipper	4–5 pad sheets + 2 PCM panels	~15–20 lb	Layer top & bottom for uniform temps.
60‑qt shipper	6 pad sheets + 2–3 PCM panels	~18–25 lb	Fill voids and pre‑chill cargo to slow heat gain.

Field‑tested sizing cues

Hot route or long transit? Ajouter 25–50% coolant and consider PCM to smooth swings.
Benchmark: A 25‑qt cooler typically needs ~10–15 lb/day of dry ice for frozen results.

How to pack with dry ice pads (and with dry ice) for safe delivery?

Chilled with pads/PCM/gel (no hazmat):
Pre‑chill product ≤40°F; line bottom with pads; flank with PCM on the sides; top with gel; fill voids; fully seal (no vent needed for pads/gel).

Frozen with dry ice (hazmat):
Freeze solid, place dry ice on top (cold sinks), vent package, et mark: “Dry Ice” or “Carbon Dioxide, solid,» UN1845, net dry‑ice weight (kg), plus Class 9 label. Follow the 2025 acceptance checklist.

Labeling & 2025 compliance made simple (UN1845)

Ventilation: Never airtight—allow CO₂ to escape to avoid rupture.
Marks: Proper shipping name, UN1845, net kg, shipper/consignee, Class 9 diamond.
Air travel: 2.5 kg dry ice per passenger package, airline approval required.
Postal/Express: USPS air ≤5 lb; FedEx/UPS mirror IATA/49 CFR for packaging & marks.

Copy‑ready label text (example):

Pro tips that prevent warm arrivals

Precondition: Freeze PCM/gel 24–36 h; pre‑chill boxes.
Placement: Dry ice on top; pads bottom + haut; minimize headspace.
Validation: Drop a mini temperature logger in pilot boxes; standardize SOPs by lane.

Case in one line: With six pad sheets + two PCM panels, a 30‑hour lane held 34–38°F and avoided DG fees, while the same box with 12 lb dry ice arrived frozen solid. Choose per SKU and promise.

2025 trends in dry ice pads & cold chain—what changed?

Snapshot: Le 2025 IATA DGR (66th ed.) and carrier checklists formalize UN1845 weight/marking clarity; PCM adoption grows as brands seek non‑DG stability for −20°C runs; VIP liners and better insulation reduce required coolant mass. Expect hybrid packs: PCM dry ice pads around the payload, avec un smaller dry‑ice topper for margin.

Latest progress at a glance

Checklist clarity: Fewer acceptance rejections when UN1845 and net kg are on the same panel.
−20°C PCM maturity: More vendors, better hold times, simpler reconditioning.
CO₂ supply dynamics: Mixed strategies hedge price/availability risk with PCM hybrids.

Market insight: As insulation improves (Par exemple, VIP liners), you’ll often ship the same payload with fewer pads or less dry ice, trimming freight and DG fees without sacrificing temperature.

Questions fréquemment posées

1) Are dry ice pads the same as dry ice?
Non. Insulated pads cover real dry ice to slow loss; reusable “dry‑ice‑style” pads are gel/PCM and suit chilled/moderate frozen—pas ultracold −78.5°C.

2) How much dry ice per day should I plan?
Start with 5–10 lb per 24 h in a quality shipper; add 20–30% for summer lanes; verify with a test.

3) Do PCM “dry ice pads” need hazmat labels?
Non. PCM pads don’t release CO₂ gas and don’t require Class 9 labels—still validate duration.

4) Can I fly with dry ice?
Yes—up to 2.5 kg per passenger package in a vented container with airline approval and proper marks.

5) What food safety target should I follow for chilled shipments?
Keep foods ≤40°F (4°C) from packout through delivery; log pilot runs to confirm.

Résumé & next steps

Key points: Utiliser dry ice pads (pads/gel/PCM) for chilled or −20°C lanes; choose glace carbonique for ultracold, et secouer + label UN1845 correctly. Plan 1 lb/ft³/24 h for pads/gel and 5–10 lb/24 h pour la glace sèche, then validate with a logger. Keep food ≤40°F across the journey.

Action plan:

Set your temperature goal (chilled vs. frozen).
Pick the coolant: pads/PCM for chilled/−20°C; dry ice for ultracold.
Use the estimator above; add a summer buffer.
Print labels (if using dry ice) and follow the 2025 checklist.
Run a lane pilot, review data, then codify your SOP.

60‑Second Coolant Picker (interactive checklist)

I need ultracold (≤−70°C) → Dry ice + insulated pad cover; UN1845 label; vented.
I need frozen (−20°C) → PCM “dry ice pads” around payload; avoid DG paperwork.
I need chilled (2–8°C) → Hydrated pad sheets/gel; full coverage; minimal headspace.

À propos du tempk

We design cold‑chain systems that meet your exact temperature and duration at the lowest total landed cost. Our engineers benchmark dry ice pads, gel, PCM, and insulation against your lanes, then deliver clear SOPs, safety notes, and label templates—validated with data loggers.

CTA: Want a free one‑lane packout template or sizing check? Talk to a Tempk specialist today.