Dry Ice Calculator (Beta)
Estimate how much dry ice you need for your insulated box.
In testing. Always check the result against the ADR 2025 text. Found an error? Write to us.
recommended dry ice (with safety margin)
- Consumption rate: 0 kg / 24 h
- Max autonomy (full charge): 0 h
- Heat ingress: 0 W
- Box surface area: 0 m²
Valid for all transport modes; for air, confirm IATA limits.
Estimate only. Real consumption varies with box quality, how often it is opened, packing and ambient conditions.
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What is dry ice?
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO₂) at −78.5 °C. It does not melt: it sublimates — turning straight from solid to gas, leaving no water or residue. Ideal for the cold chain in frozen food, pharmaceuticals, biotech and clinical samples.
How the calculator works
It estimates the kilograms of dry ice from heat transfer and sublimation. Two modes:
- Our boxes: uses the tested performance of each temperature-controlled packaging model (BioTherm / PharmaTherm / GreenTherm).
- Custom dimensions: estimates from your box size, wall thickness and insulation.
What changes consumption
Insulation quality, ambient temperature along the route, how often the box is opened, pre-cooling the box, and how it is packed.
Handling & safety
- Always wear insulated gloves — contact at −78.5 °C causes cold burns.
- Handle in ventilated areas; CO₂ displaces oxygen in closed spaces.
- Never seal airtight — gas pressure is dangerous. Our boxes vent the gas safely.
- Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Dangerous goods transport
Dry ice is UN 1845, Class 9, regulated for air (IATA DGR), road (ADR), rail (RID) and inland waterways (ADN), with its own quantity limits, marking and documentation.
- Correct labelling: dry ice labels (BS5609-approved) and Class 9 labels.
- Paperwork that passes: check your shipping documents with MYDG2CHECK before you ship.
Disclaimer
This calculator gives estimates based on standard rates. Actual times vary with box quality, ambient temperature and how often it is opened. For critical shipments, validate with real tests and data loggers.
FAQ — dry ice (UN1845)
What is dry ice?
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide at about -78.5 °C. It does not melt: it sublimates, passing straight from solid to gas, and leaves no water and no residue. That is why it is used in the cold chain for frozen food, pharmaceuticals, biotech and clinical samples — and it is also why the gas it gives off has to be able to escape from the packaging.
Is dry ice a dangerous good?
It depends on the mode, and this is where almost everyone gets it wrong. Dry ice is UN1845, Class 9, classification code M11. By road, Table A of the ADR lists it as not subject to ADR except for section 5.5.3, and 5.5.3.1.1 makes clear that for UN1845 the conditions of that section, other than 5.5.3.3.1, apply to every type of carriage, whether it travels as a coolant or as the consignment itself. By air it is the opposite: the IATA DGR treats it as fully regulated Class 9, with packing instruction 954, quantity limits per package, the label, the net mass in kilograms and its mention on the declaration.
Can I keep goods chilled at +2/+8 °C with dry ice?
No. Dry ice holds the contents deep-frozen, well below the chilled range. For +2/+8 °C use gel packs or phase change materials (PCM). Choosing dry ice for a chilled shipment is an expensive mistake: the goods arrive frozen and, for many medicines and biological samples, that ruins them.
Does a double-wall box help?
Yes. A double wall slows the heat coming in, so the same shipment needs less dry ice: in our own boxes the saving approaches 30 %. It changes nothing about a condition that always holds: the packaging must let the carbon dioxide escape. A package containing dry ice is never sealed airtight.
How much dry ice do I lose per day?
It depends on the box, on the wall and on how full it is. Sublimation loss is exactly what the calculator gives you for each box, in kilograms per 24 hours, so you can size the charge against the real transit time and not the ideal one. Allow for delays: the dry ice that has already sublimated is no longer cooling anything.
What the ADR requires for dry ice (UN1845)
| Requirement | Reference |
|---|---|
| No provision of ADR other than this section applies to the carriage of UN1845. | 5.5.3.1.1 · 5.5.3.2.1 |
| If other dangerous goods travel in the same unit, their provisions apply in addition to this section. | 5.5.3.2.2 |
| Persons handling or carrying these vehicles and containers shall be trained commensurate with their responsibilities. | 5.5.3.2.4 |
| Packages under packing instructions P203, P620, P650 or P800: follow that packing instruction. | 5.5.3.3.1 |
| Other packages shall withstand very low temperatures and permit the release of gas. | 5.5.3.3.2 |
| Vehicles and containers that are not well ventilated: a warning mark at each access point. | 5.5.3.6.1 |
By air and sea the regime is different: dry ice is fully regulated and per-package limits apply. Check the regulation for that mode before shipping.
Source: ADR 2025, 5.5.3.1.1, 5.5.3.2.1, 5.5.3.2.2, 5.5.3.2.4, 5.5.3.3.1, 5.5.3.3.2 and 5.5.3.6.1. UN1845 is Class 9, classification code M11.