Where to buy dry ice when the pharmacy and the supermarket don’t have it

2 min read

Short answer: pharmacies and supermarkets don’t usually sell dry ice. You buy it from specialist suppliers, who ship it in an insulated box or have it ready for collection.

Why don’t pharmacies or supermarkets sell it?

Because dry ice can’t sit on a shelf waiting for a customer to come in:

It sublimates. From the moment it’s made, it slowly turns into gas and loses weight every hour, even in an insulated box.
It can’t be kept in an ordinary freezer. It’s at −78.5 °C and, in a closed container, the gas pressure can burst it.
It travels as dangerous goods (UN 1845), with its own packaging and labelling.
It has to be handled with gloves and in ventilated spaces.

That’s why it’s sold by companies that prepare it just before shipping.

So where can you buy it?

Online shop with delivery

You choose the format and the kilos, see the total with delivery included, and pay. At DryIcePack, if you order before 12:00 (Spanish time), you have it the next morning in an insulated box, anywhere in mainland Spain. We deliver Tuesday to Saturday (Saturday depending on the area, with a surcharge).

Collection from the warehouse

If you’re nearby, you save on delivery. Our warehouse is in Mataró (Barcelona) and you can collect Monday to Saturday, including public holidays: you choose the day when ordering and we confirm the time. Prices are round figures with VAT included, the same online and at the warehouse: 3 kg for €35 and 10 kg for €60. On Saturday, +€10 (VAT included). Except 31 October: no surcharge. You pay in cash, with the exact amount: we can’t give change.

Industrial gas suppliers

For very large quantities and continuous supply to a plant, they work with tailored contracts.

What should you check before you order?

Format: 3 mm pellets for fog and fast cooling; 16 mm nuggets to make it last longer.
Minimum quantity: at DryIcePack, from 3 kg.
Final price with delivery: you should see it before you pay, not at the last step.
Delivery day: have it arrive on the day you’ll use it or the day before, not earlier: it sublimates over time.
Invoice: if you’re buying for a company, make sure you can get a full invoice.

What precautions should you take when using it?

Thermal gloves and tongs, a ventilated space and never in a sealed container. Never eat or drink it: in drinks, always use a double container. Keep it out of reach of children and pets and, in the car, never in the passenger compartment: in the boot, with ventilation.