Where to Buy Dry Ice (Near You): 45+ Places with Prices (2025)

Key Things to Know Before You Buy Dry Ice

If you’re in a rush, this is what you really need to know:

Where to buy: Your best bet is usually a major grocery store like Walmart, Costco, Safeway, or Kroger. Some gas stations and local ice suppliers sell dry ice too.

Average cost of dry ice: Plan on spending somewhere between $1.00 and $3.00 a pound of dry ice.

Handling: You absolutely must wear thick, insulated gloves. Never, ever touch it with your bare hands. It will give you a nasty burn-like injury in seconds.

Transport: Put it in an insulated cooler but make sure it’s not airtight. You need to let the gas escape. Crack a few windows in your car for ventilation.

Storage: NEVER store dry ice in a sealed container or your regular home freezer. Trust me on this. The gas pressure can build up and literally cause an explosion.

Find Dry Ice Near You

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So What is Dry Ice Anyway?

Dry Ice is basically frozen carbon dioxide (CO2).

Unlike regular ice, it doesn’t melt into a puddle of water. It just turns directly into a gas, which is a process called sublimation. That’s why they call it “dry” ice!

Because it’s CO2, you can’t eat it or put it in your drinks.

If you’re looking for ice for a cooler of sodas, this isn’t it. Its main jobs are being a super-strong cooling agent (it can keep food frozen for days) and creating that awesome fog effect you see at concerts and parties.

Types of Dry Ice

• Blocks: Best for maximum cooling time in a large cooler, like for a long camping trip. Dry ice blocks can measure 10″ x 10″ x 12″ and can weigh up to 60 pounds.
• Slabs: Good when you need to cover a large, flat surface, like the top of a frozen shipment.
• Pellets: Best for filling in gaps around items or for creating spooky fog effects, since they have more surface area and sublimate faster. You can usually order pellets by weight. Each pellet is usually around the size of a sugar cube or a little larger. There are three types of pellets, which are rice pellets, carbonic pellets, and regular pellets.

How Much Does Dry Ice Cost?

Dry ice usually costs $1 to $3 per pound. The cost of dry ice varies though depending on things like the amount you need and where you buy it.

It’s usually cheaper to buy dry ice online and in bulk. So, this is a good option if you need a lot of ice.

You can find great prices for dry ice at large retailers too, like Kroger or Albertsons.

Where to Buy Dry Ice: 25+ Major Grocery Stores

Before we get to the list, let me answer one of the most often asked questions about who sells dry ice, “Does Walmart sell dry ice?“.

The answer is yes, Walmart does sell dry ice, as you will see from the list below!

A lot of the big grocery stores near you probably carry dry ice.

The tricky part is, they don’t just leave it out in the aisles. You’ll usually have to ask an employee or the store manager for it. Since you’re already there, it’s a perfect time to use a few tricks to save money on your other groceries as well.

Here’s my most important tip: Always call your local store first to make sure they have it. It’ll save you a wasted trip, as some locations carry it while others don’t.

Here are the grocery stores that sell  dry ice:

1. Acme Markets
2. Albertsons
3. Chef’Store (Formerly Smart Foodservice)
4. Costco
5. Dillons
6. Fred Meyer
7. Gelson’s Market
8. Giant Food Stores
9. Harris Teeter
10. H-E-B
11. Hy-Vee
12. Ingles Markets
13. King Soopers
14. Kroger
15. Meijer
16. Publix
17. Ralphs
18. Safeway
19. Smart & Final
20. Smith’s
21. Tom Thumb
22. Vons
23. Walmart
24. Weis Markets
25. Wegmans
26. Whole Foods Market
27. WinCo Foods
28. Winn-Dixie

Gas Stations that Sell Dry Ice Near You

It’s not just grocery stores that sell dry ice. Many gas stations also provide dry ice.

While grocery stores don’t usually allow you to handle dry ice yourself, many gas stations will allow this. If that’s the case, be sure you are following the right safety precautions, such as wearing thick gloves, when handling dry ice. For tips on packing, handling, and storing dry ice, make sure you read the rest of the post.

It’s important to note that some of these gas stations may only offer dry ice at select locations. That’s why you should call ahead at your local station to ask if they sell dry ice. You don’t want to waste a trip, right? So, give your nearby station a call before you head out!

Here’s a list of gas stations that sell dry ice.

29. 7-Eleven
30. Hy-Vee Gas Stations
31. Maverik
32. QuikTrip
33. Sheetz
34. Speedway
35. Wawa
36. Weigel’s

Where to Buy Dry Ice Online

Few companies and even online grocery stores allow you to order dry ice online and have it delivered right to your home.

Some of these companies also allow you to buy dry ice in bulk.

Here’s a list of places that sell dry ice online:

37. AirGas
38. Amazon
39. Continental Carbonic
40. Dry Ice Corp
41. Dry Ice Delivered
42. Emergency Ice
43. The Ice Factory

Other Places to Get Dry Ice

Okay, so above, you have quite a lot of places to buy dry ice including grocery stores, gas stations, and online delivery companies. Those aren’t your only options for getting dry ice near you, though.

There are a few other places where you can buy dry ice.

44. Butcher shops

Since many butchers use dry ice to store meat, they may offer some of their excess dry ice for sale.

Contact local butcher shops to see if they have any dry ice for sale. To find butcher shops near you, simply enter the phrase “butcher shop near me” into Google and hit enter. You’ll get a list of places near you and their contact information. Start calling butcher shops to enquire about dry ice.

45. Some FedEx locations

Some FedEx locations may provide dry ice for packaging and mailing products that need to be kept cold, like frozen meat or fish.

Just contact your local FedEx to ask if it has any dry ice for sale.

46. Some UPS Stores

Some UPS stores have dry ice, again for packing and mailing products that need to be kept cold, like fish or frozen meat. So, contact your local UPS store to ask if they have any dry ice for sale.

47. Local ice companies

There could be local ice companies in your city that sell dry ice.

For example, in the Midwest, Arctic Ice is one of the biggest dry ice manufacturers and sellers. They sell dry ice in bulk or small quantities like a 5 or 10-lb block.

Here are a few regional dry ice companies that may have locations around you:

• CK Supply
• Penguin Brand Dry Ice
• Arctic Ice Inc
• Airgas Dry Ice

To find places near you, simply enter the phrase “dry ice company near me” or “dry ice company [name of your town or city]” into Google and hit enter. This should show you any ice companies that sell dry ice near you. Contact them to ask if they sell dry ice.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Dry Ice Safety

Okay, let’s talk safety. This stuff is amazing, but it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Please read this section carefully so you know how to work safely with dry ice.

There are so many safety concerns you should be aware of when it comes to dry ice:

• Dry ice should NEVER be swallowed. It can burn internally, and it releases gas as it turns from a solid to a gas.
• Dry ice causes burns on the skin.
• If it’s stored in a sealed container, dry ice can cause an explosion.
• An excess of carbon dioxide fumes can cause asphyxiation.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind:

Step 1: Handling Dry Ice the Right Way

DO wear insulated gloves (leather work gloves are perfect) and some sort of safety glasses.

DO NOT touch dry ice with your bare skin. I can’t say this enough. It will injure you almost instantly.

DO use tongs or a kitchen towel to pick up any pieces.

DO NOT eat it or swallow it. It’s for cooling things, not for human consumption.

Step 2: How to Pack and Drive With It

Warning: Driving with dry ice in a sealed car is a real hazard. The CO2 gas it releases can push out the oxygen in the car. As health experts like the CDC and universities like Cornell University warn, this can be dangerous.

DO use an insulated container that is not airtight. A simple Styrofoam cooler with the lid placed on loosely works great. A regular cooler is fine too, just don’t latch it shut.

DO NOT put it in a thermos, a sealed jar, or any other airtight container. The gas pressure will build up, and it could literally explode.

DO try to keep the cooler in your trunk or truck bed.

DO crack a few windows if it has to be in the main part of the car with you.

Step 3: How to Store Dry Ice Correctly

Dry ice starts vanishing the moment you buy it. In a typical insulated container, expect it to shrink by 10% to 30% every day. To make it last as long as possible:

DO keep the cooler in a cool, well-ventilated spot, like a garage. Keep it out of direct sunlight.

DO stuff any empty space in the cooler with crumpled-up newspaper. This helps slow it down.

DO NOT put it in your kitchen freezer. The freezer is airtight, which is dangerous. Plus, the extreme cold can shut off your freezer’s thermostat.

Step 4: Getting Rid of Leftovers Safely

DO just let any leftover ice turn to gas on its own.

DO leave the cooler outside or in a garage with the door open, away from where kids or pets can get to it.

DO NOT just throw it in the trash can or dump it down the sink. It can damage your pipes or hurt a sanitation worker.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Ice

Here are some quick answers to questions I get all the time.

How much does dry ice cost?

Usually, you’ll find it for $1.00 to $3.00 per pound. If you buy in bulk, you can sometimes get it for a little cheaper.

Can I put dry ice in a regular cooler?

Absolutely. A normal picnic cooler works perfectly. Just remember to leave the lid slightly unlatched to let the gas out.

How long will a block of dry ice last?

It depends on the cooler, but you can generally expect a 10-pound block to last about 24 hours. Check out my storage tips above to make it last longer.

How do I safely dispose of leftover dry ice?

Just let it “melt” away in a safe, ventilated spot where no one can touch it.

Do you have to be 18 to buy dry ice?

Yep, most places will ask for your ID. Because it’s a hazardous material, they want to make sure an adult is buying it.

Does Walmart sell dry ice pellets?

It depends on the store. Most grocery stores like Walmart sell it in blocks, not pellets. Your best bet is always to call that specific store and ask what they have.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many places where you can buy dry ice in bulk or small quantities, such as grocery stores, supermarkets, and big box retailers, like Walmart, Albertsons, and Kroger.

You can also buy dry ice at many gas stations like Speedway, 7-Eleven, and Wawa, butcher shops, and local ice stores. And, you can also order ice online and have it delivered to you.

So now that you know where to buy dry ice near you, it’s a matter of calling these stores to find the cheapest place that sells dry ice near you so you can save more money!