How to ship with dry ice

Use 10 pounds of dry ice for each 24-hour period in a standard well-insulated cooler. For longer times and larger coolers, multiply by this amount.

• SHIPPING REFRIGERATED OR FROZEN ITEMS

From frozen lasagna to chocolates. From human tissue to prescription drugs – more and more goods are shipped refrigerated or frozen. A good video explaining shipping with dry ice: Airgas Penguin Brand Dry Ice-Transporting Food

• FIRST, USE A WELL-INSULATED CONTAINER
  An inexpensive Styrofoam cooler from the grocery store will rarely work. It breaks easily and usually is not the right shape for shipping. A thick polystyrene box such as Omaha Steaks uses or the insulated boxes from Control Temp Packaging or Thermosafe will reduce the amount of dry ice needed and allow extended shipping times.

• NEXT, DOES IT NEED TO BE FROZEN OR REFRIGERATED?

  Use Dry Ice for shipping FROZEN goods as Dry Ice will freeze everything in the shipping box. Use “gel packs” or “blue ice” for goods to be REFRIGERATED. A combination of dry ice and gel packs will extend the shipping time by several days if the shipped items can be frozen for a short time or thawed for a short time.

• FOR DRY ICE SHIPPING
  Use 10 pounds for each 24-hour period in a standard well-insulated cooler. For longer times and larger coolers, multiply by this amount. Less efficient insulation will need more dry ice.

• FOR REFRIGERATED GEL PACK SHIPPING
  Use one pound per cubic foot per day. (Most gel packs come in 1/2 pound size but, newer ones are up to 2 pounds.) This will be last for up to three days. For an extended period, gel packs can be combined with dry ice, although there is a possibility of freezing the goods briefly initially.

• PACKING
  Put dry ice or gel packs and the product as close together as possible with the dry ice on top. Fill vacant space with wadded newspaper, styrofoam peanuts, or the latest bubble packs, as any “dead-air space” will cause the dry ice to sublimate faster.

• SHIPPING BY AIR
  Be sure to check with the airlines ahead of time to see their procedures and regulations regarding dry ice. Generally, you can use up use to five pounds.

• DRY ICE SUBLIMINATION (dry ice changes from a solid to a gas.)
  The rate will vary depending on the outside temperature, air pressure (It will sublimate faster on an airplane with lower air pressure), and insulation efficiency. The more dry ice you have stored in the container, the longer it will last. Dry Ice, at -109°F or -78°C, will freeze and keep frozen everything in the container until it is completely sublimated. These frozen items will then take additional time to thaw because they will have been hard frozen.

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