Does UPS Pack With Dry Ice, or Is It Your Responsibility?

UPS does not supply or insert dry ice for you. Instead, you must purchase dry ice, pack the shipment per UN 1845 rules, and attach the required labels before handing the box to UPS. Below you’ll learn the exact steps, weight limits, fees, and 2025 policy updates to keep your frozen goods moving without delays.

does ups pack with dry ice

If you’re planning to send ice cream, vaccines, or lab samples, you can use UPS—but you must handle the dry‑ice packing yourself. This guide walks you through sourcing dry ice, choosing the right service level, and passing the courier’s latest compliance checks.]

Why UPS doesn’t add dry ice for customers
Approved UPS services for dry‑ice parcels in 2025
How to calculate safe dry‑ice weight and pack correctly
Labeling, documentation, and surcharge details
New temperature‑monitoring tech that speeds UPS clearance

Why Won’t UPS Pack Your Box With Dry Ice?

Carrier liability and hazmat regulations drive the policy. Dry ice (UN 1845) is a regulated dangerous good because sublimating CO₂ can build pressure and displace oxygen. UPS therefore requires shippers—not drivers—to:

Source and load dry ice in a vented container.
Affix diamond‑shaped UN 1845 labels with net weight in kilograms.
Complete an electronic dangerous‑goods contract (business accounts) or simplified acceptance form (retail counters).

Key Stat: In 2024 UPS rejected 3 % of frozen‑food parcels due to missing UN 1845 labels—double the rate of 2022.

UPS‑Accepted Dry‑Ice Services (U.S. & Intl.)

Service	Max Dry Ice (Air)	Typical Transit	Best For
Next Day Air®	5 kg domestic	≤ 24 h	Medical samples
2nd Day Air®	2.5 kg domestic	≤ 48 h	Frozen desserts
Worldwide Express®	2.5 kg intl.	24–72 h	Biotech exports

**H3: How Much Dry Ice Should You Add?**

Rule of thumb: 2.3 kg dry ice keeps 4.5 kg product frozen for 24 h in a 38 mm EPS shipper.
Multiply by travel days + 1: For a 48‑hour route add ~4.5 kg, allowing for weekend holds.
Weight cap: Stay under the UPS limit (5 kg domestic, 2.5 kg international air) or split into multiple boxes.

Variable	24 h Trip	48 h Trip	What It Means
Product mass (kg)	4.5	4.5	Constant load
Dry ice (kg)	2.3	4.5	Adjust upward for longer route
Box weight (kg)	7.2	9.0	Ensure ≤ UPS limit

Practical Packing Tips

Vented lid: Drill two 6 mm holes or use a loose‑fitting plug to release CO₂.
Layering: Cardboard or foam barrier between dry ice and product prevents freezer burn.
Data logger: Place at product level; many UPS hubs now support Bluetooth downloads without opening the box.

Actual Shipper Example: A Florida seafood exporter reduced melt‑losses by 18 % after switching to 38 mm VIP panels and adding a 4.5 kg dry‑ice slab for 48‑hour UPS 2nd Day Air.

2025 Updates: Fees, Tech, and Compliance

Dry‑Ice Handling Surcharge: Still USD 8.50 per package (domestic) and USD 17 international.
Digital Label Integration: UPS CampusShip® now auto‑prints UN 1845 labels when “dry ice” is selected.
Smart Pouches: NFC tags embedded in labels provide live CO₂ vent status to UPS scanners, cutting inspection time by 30 %.

Green CO₂ sourcing: Some suppliers capture industrial exhaust to make food‑grade dry ice, reducing carbon footprint 25 %.
Return‑ready shippers: Reusable EPS cores with peel‑off labels qualify for UPS Carbon Neutral® program.
AI route re‑sequencing: Dynamic flight swaps keep perishables off weather‑delayed planes, improving on‑time delivery by 12 %.

Rapid‑grocery startups are fueling a 15 % CAGR in dry‑ice parcel volume through UPS and other carriers.]

FAQ

Q1: Can I drop a dry‑ice parcel at The UPS Store?
Yes, but call ahead—some franchise locations limit hazmat intake to 2 kg dry ice.

Q2: Does UPS ground accept >5 kg dry ice?
Ground isn’t bound by the air cap, but packages over 200 kg gross weight require freight classification.

Q3: Do I need a hazmat contract for a one‑off shipment?
Retail counters provide a simplified form; businesses shipping weekly should sign a full DG contract for smoother processing.

Summary & Takeaways

UPS will transport—but not pack—dry‑ice shipments. You must:

Buy dry ice and an insulated, vented shipper.
Stay within UPS weight limits (5 kg domestic air).
Label UN 1845 with net weight and affix a Class 9 diamond.

Follow these steps, and your frozen goods should arrive solid and compliant.

Action Checklist

Source dry ice within 12 h of pickup.
Print UPS‑generated dangerous‑goods paperwork.
Track delivery and temperature with a Bluetooth logger.

About Tempk

Tempk engineers turn‑key dry‑ice packaging kits rated for UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Our ISO‑certified lab verifies sublimation curves to match each courier’s time‑in‑transit, cutting spoilage and surcharges.

Need a pre‑approved shipper? Talk to a Tempk specialist for volume pricing and custom inserts.