How to make fog with dry ice in 3 steps
In short: drop dry ice pellets into hot water in a wide, open container. The fog appears straight away, is heavier than air and stays at floor level.
What do you need?
- Dry ice as 3 mm pellets: they’re small, so they release fog straight away.
- A wide, open container: a cauldron, a punch bowl, a deep tray. Never with a lid: the gas pressure can burst it.
- Hot water. The hotter it is, the more fog you get.
- Thermal gloves and a pair of tongs. Dry ice is at −78.5 °C and burns if you touch it with bare hands.
How much dry ice should I order?
| For | Guide quantity |
|---|---|
| A party at home or a Halloween table | 3 kg |
| A big party, fog in several rounds | 10 kg |
| A bar, a stage or a long event | 15–20 kg |
At checkout, choose delivery on the day of the party or the day before. Not earlier: dry ice sublimates over time and you’d be paying for kilos you won’t use.
How do you do it, step by step?
- Prepare the water. Fill the container halfway with hot water.
- Add the pellets. With your gloves on, drop a few in with the tongs. The fog appears instantly.
- Top up. When the fog dies down, swap the water for hot water and add more pellets.
Can you make fog in drinks and cocktails?
Yes, but always with a double container: the dry ice goes in an outer container with water and the drink in another one inside it. Never put a pellet in a glass someone is going to drink from: dry ice must never be eaten or drunk.
What precautions should you take?
- Thermal gloves and tongs, always: never let it touch your skin.
- A ventilated space: CO2 displaces oxygen in enclosed spaces.
- Keep the dry ice out of reach of children, guests and pets.
- Don’t keep it in the fridge or in closed containers: store it in its box.
- In the car, never in the passenger compartment: in the boot, with ventilation.
- If the venue has smoke detectors, check first: dense fog can set them off.