# Buying dry ice online? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750 "2013-07-17T14:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/1 "2013-07-17T14:02:53Z")
I’ve had things shipped to me that were packed _in_ dry ice, but I seem to be striking out finding an online retailer that will overnight a hefty chunk of just dry ice. I know I’ll lose some in transit (contents may have sublimated during transit), but either I’m having an incredible Googlefart or there’s a GQ answer as to why it’s not normally sold online. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/2 "2013-07-17T14:21:19Z")
Given that, as you said, “contents may have sublimated during transit”, how do you price it? The amount will change between shipment and receipt. If you sell it in person to someone, you can at least charge them for the amount at that time. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/3 "2013-07-17T14:34:00Z")
I figure there’s got to be some sort of maths for these types of things. From what I remember when I got some locally years and years ago dry ice wasn’t all that expensive. So the Internet price would have to cover a somewhat substantial Styrofoam cooler, overnight shipping, the quantity desired plus the quantity predicted to be lost to sublimation. Sure, I’d be overpaying compared to a retail place, but since there are none in my area I’d be happy to buy, what, one and a half times the amount I need? Twice? ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/4 "2013-07-17T14:38:12Z")
I tried Google Shopping and simply entered “dry ice”. All the hits returned by Google were for ice-making machines, but one of the ads was titled “Buying Dry Ice - We Cater To All Dry Ice Needs‎”, and seems to be exactly what you are looking for, if you are in their area. I’d post their name or link, but the mods would probably delete it anyway (and I don’t have a problem with that). So I’m hoping that the headline of the ad is okay, and if you search on those words, you’ll find either them, or one of their competitors. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/5 "2013-07-17T14:42:02Z")
Thanks. I’m pretty sure the mods are happy with people posting merchant links–it’s bots and spammers that they shut down. Thanks for looking. My Google (and Bing and DDG) results have long been purple. If you’re talking about the place in the midwest (a lot of hits came up with the tag line) I’m outside their delivery area (I’m in NY). ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/6 "2013-07-17T14:44:43Z")
Do a Google search for manufacture dry ice Here is one firm which services Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa: [http://www.dryice8.com/shipped-to-your-door-dry-ice-8.html](http://www.dryice8.com/shipped-to-your-door-dry-ice-8.html) Note they say: YET DRY ICE HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE RETAIL PURCHASE. Why?.. ``` Extreme Perishability - Dry ice begins a process known as "sublimation" from the moment it is manufactured. Sublimation is essentially the conversion of dry ice from solid form to it's natural state of Carbon Dioxide gas. This means product loss is guaranteed (More time = More loss). Air Transit HAZMAT Restrictions - The "FAA" (Federal Aviation Association) has classified dry ice as a "HAZMAT" (Hazardous Material), this means that no more than 5 lbs. of dry ice is allowed per package shipped by air. Wholesale Industry - The dry ice industry has always predominantly catered to the large volume wholesale market, leaving little to no availability for the smaller volume or retail use consumer. ``` ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/7 "2013-07-17T14:47:08Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Do a Google search for > manufacture dry ice > > Here is one firm which services Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa: > [http://www.dryice8.com/shipped-to-your-door-dry-ice-8.html](http://www.dryice8.com/shipped-to-your-door-dry-ice-8.html) > Note they say: > YET DRY ICE HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE RETAIL PURCHASE. Why?.. > > ``` > Extreme Perishability - Dry ice begins a process known as "sublimation" from the moment it is manufactured. Sublimation is essentially the conversion of dry ice from solid form to it's natural state of Carbon Dioxide gas. This means product loss is guaranteed (More time = More loss). > Air Transit HAZMAT Restrictions - The "FAA" (Federal Aviation Association) has classified dry ice as a "HAZMAT" (Hazardous Material), this means that no more than 5 lbs. of dry ice is allowed per package shipped by air. > Wholesale Industry - The dry ice industry has always predominantly catered to the large volume wholesale market, leaving little to no availability for the smaller volume or retail use consumer. > > ``` If you look at the map on the webpage it has a shipping area limited to mostly 3 states and very small sections of two others. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/8 "2013-07-17T14:53:19Z")
What about the people who use it for ‘smoke’ in stage acts? They must buy it somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/9 "2013-07-17T14:55:11Z")
You can buy it not-online from local ice companies. Big edit: I’m sure the “produces lots of CO2” and “volume drops as time elapses” issues are a big part of the problem. I regularly ship medical samples on dry ice and they are **serious** about you recording on the outside of the package and on the waybill how much dry ice is in there. The first time, we forgot, and FedEx returned the box to us the next morning with instructions to correct that omission. The thing is, the chunks of dry ice were down a fair amount and we had to get some more, refill the box, package it up again, label, and send it out. Dry ice is transported normally inside very cold trucks. FedEx/UPS do not have temperature-controlled trucks for shipping stuff like that, to the best of my knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/10 "2013-07-17T14:56:17Z")
consider the steaks packing material. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/11 "2013-07-17T14:56:29Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > What about the people who use it for ‘smoke’ in stage acts? They must buy it somewhere. Lots of places sell it, but they either offer it in retail stores (party stores, grocery stores, etc) or their own warehouse, or they deliver it (mostly to commercial clients). The OP wants to mail order it. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/12 "2013-07-17T14:58:24Z")
All the local grocery stores around here sell it, usually by the exits. They have a small chest freezer that has packages of dry ice. Call a few of them. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/13 "2013-07-17T15:14:33Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Thanks. I’m pretty sure the mods are happy with people posting merchant links–it’s bots and spammers that they shut down. > > Thanks for looking. My Google (and Bing and DDG) results have long been purple. If you’re talking about the place in the midwest (a lot of hits came up with the tag line) I’m outside their delivery area (I’m in NY). Glad to help. Try [this link](http://chillywillysiceservice.clickforward.com/yonkers-ny-ice-products-and-services.htm?adid-2E343B92-B097-442c-BFA5-BE371E0325A2=1671368&kw-2E343B92-B097-442c-BFA5-BE371E0325A2=buying+dry+ice). It goes to Chilly Willy & Cool Carl’s Ice Service in Yonkers. Yonkers, NY; phone: 866-755-1070/ 914-595-6864 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/14 "2013-07-17T15:27:53Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > All the local grocery stores around here sell it, usually by the exits. They have a small chest freezer that has packages of dry ice. Call a few of them. Ditto - the Albertson’s right by my home even has it. OP, have you checked any local retailers? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/15 "2013-07-17T15:42:43Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Glad to help. Try [this link](http://chillywillysiceservice.clickforward.com/yonkers-ny-ice-products-and-services.htm?adid-2E343B92-B097-442c-BFA5-BE371E0325A2=1671368&kw-2E343B92-B097-442c-BFA5-BE371E0325A2=buying+dry+ice). It goes to Chilly Willy & Cool Carl’s Ice Service in Yonkers. Yonkers, NY; phone: 866-755-1070/ 914-595-6864 Which works for about 6 counties in New York. Unless the op’s address is in one of them this won’t work. I looks like the op may be on to something. It appears as if you can’t buy dry ice on-line unless you are within a short shipping distance of the supplier. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/16 "2013-07-17T15:50:06Z")
I think that’s going to be true of any goods that are not at room temperature. Can you buy regular water ice on-line, or metal heated to the melting point? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/17 "2013-07-17T15:54:52Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > What about the people who use it for ‘smoke’ in stage acts? They must buy it somewhere. At least in my part of California, some grocery stores (e.g. Safeway) stock it. Edit: ninjaed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/18 "2013-07-17T15:56:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I think that’s going to be true of any goods that are not at room temperature. **Can you buy regular water ice on-line** , or metal heated to the melting point? If it’s packed in dry ice, it should be fine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/19 "2013-07-17T15:58:05Z")
So I should be able to offer dry ice online, as long as I pack it in liquid nitrogen. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750/20 "2013-07-17T16:04:44Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So I should be able to offer dry ice online, as long as I pack it in liquid nitrogen. As long as you have some liquid helium. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-dry-ice-online/663750.md?page=2)