How do I store it when it arrives?

In its EPS box, with the lid on but not taped shut, somewhere cool and ventilated, out of reach of children and pets. The container must never be airtight.

Can I put it in the freezer?

No. At −78.5 °C it’s far colder than a home freezer (−18 °C): it can damage the thermostat and the seals, and it will keep sublimating anyway.

Is it the same as liquid nitrogen?

No. Liquid nitrogen is a different substance: it’s a liquid, at about −196 °C. Dry ice is solid CO₂.

It depends on the use, the hours and the insulation. For fog, as a guide: 3 kg at home, 10 kg for a big party and 15 to 20 kg for a bar or an event. For transport or samples, tell us the hours and the volume and we’ll work it out.

What is
dry ice?

It’s carbon dioxide (CO₂) in solid form, at −78.5 °C. It doesn’t melt: as it warms up it turns straight into gas. That’s why it cools far more than ordinary ice and leaves everything dry.

In Spanish it’s hielo seco, also called nieve carbónica; in Catalan, gel sec.

Buy dry ice Safety rules

DryIcePackTechnical dataCO₂

Substance: Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
State: Solid
Temperature: −78.5 °C at atmospheric pressure
Change of state: Sublimation: from solid to gas, with no liquid
Residue: None: it doesn’t wet anything or leave puddles
DryIcePack formats: 3 mm pellets and 16 mm nuggets
Transport: UN 1845 · Carbon dioxide, solid

How is it different from ice and ice packs?

	Dry ice	Water ice	Ice packs and gels
Temperature	−78.5 °C	0 °C	Depending on the model, from 0 to about −33 °C
As it warms up	Turns into gas	Melts into water	Thaws
Leaves liquid	No	Yes	No, but condensation forms
Reusable	No: it’s used up	No	Yes, by refreezing
Used for	Frozen goods, samples, fog, processes	Chilling drinks and fresh produce	Chilled goods on short journeys

Figures for ice packs and gels vary by manufacturer.

Actual size.

This is how big the two formats are. The on-screen size is approximate.

**3 mm**PelletsMore surface area: they cool faster and make thicker fog.

**16 mm**NuggetsMore mass per piece: they last longer in the box. For transport and samples.

Where does it come from?

CO₂ · Gas
Captured

The CO₂ usually comes from industrial processes that already emit it, such as fermentation or chemical plants.
CO₂ · Liquid
Purified and liquefied

It’s cleaned and compressed until it turns liquid.
CO₂ · Snow
Turned into snow

When the pressure is released, the liquid cools and becomes CO₂ snow.
CO₂ · Solid
Pressed

The snow is pressed through a die: out come the 3 mm pellets or the 16 mm nuggets.

As it sublimates, that CO₂ returns to the air. Because it reuses a gas that was already being emitted, it usually doesn’t add to emissions; the impact comes mainly from transport.

Questions about dry ice

How do I store it when it arrives?
In its EPS box, with the lid on but not taped shut, somewhere cool and ventilated, out of reach of children and pets. The container must never be airtight.
Can I put it in the freezer?
No. At −78.5 °C it’s far colder than a home freezer (−18 °C): it can damage the thermostat and the seals, and it will keep sublimating anyway.
Is it the same as liquid nitrogen?
No. Liquid nitrogen is a different substance: it’s a liquid, at about −196 °C. Dry ice is solid CO₂.
How much do I need?
It depends on the use, the hours and the insulation. For fog, as a guide: 3 kg at home, 10 kg for a big party and 15 to 20 kg for a bar or an event. For transport or samples, tell us the hours and the volume and we’ll work it out.