Frequently Asked Questions

How much dry ice do I need? How long will my dry ice last?

It depends. There is no single answer to how long your dry ice will last. Cooler design, ambient conditions, and the types of items stored all influence how long dry ice lasts, making the exact length of time difficult to estimate.

Use the chart below as a guide to estimate how much dry ice you need.

Cooler Size (qts) 12 Hours 1 Day 2 Days 3 Days 4 Days 5 Days 7+ Days
5-10 1-5 lbs 5-10 lbs 10 lbs N/A N/A N/A N/A
20 1-5 lbs 5-10 lbs 10-15 lbs 20-30 lbs 30-40  lbs N/A N/A
40 5 lbs 5-10 lbs 10-15 lbs 25-30 lbs 30-40 lbs 50 lbs N/A
65 5 lbs 5-10 lbs 10-15 lbs 25-30 lbs 30-40 lbs 50 lbs 70-100 lbs
100 5-10 lbs 10-15 lbs 15-20 lbs 30-50 lbs 50-70 lbs 70-100 lbs 100-200 lbs

Listed dry ice weights are provided as estimates only.


The estimates above are a good start, but making your dry ice last is up to you.

IN GENERAL, AN EMPTY 45 QUART COOLER CAN FIT 50 LBS OF DRY ICE PELLETS

Tips for extending the life of dry ice:

•  Use a well insulated cooler
•  Open cooler as little as possible
•  Keep cooler out of direct sunlight 		 •  Minimize cooler airspace
•  Insulate the outside of the cooler

What is the average size of Cayman’s dry ice pellet?

Cayman’s dry ice pellets vary in size and dry ice will shrink as it sublimates over time. We produce pellets that are either 3 mm or 16 mm in diameter. Currently our default is the 3 mm pellet, which is sometimes referred to as a "rice-sized" pellet. This size is very versatile and has many industry applications, including but not limited to:

  • Dry Ice Blasting
    • Automotive (engine degreasing and restoration)
    • Cleaning, mold, smoke, and fire remediation

  • Electronics Manufacturing
    • Cleaning sensitive components

  • Medical & Research Labs
    • Flash freezing biological samples
    • Rapid cooling in lab environment
    • Controlled cooling for chemical reactions

  • Special Effects & Science Demonstrations
    • Fog generation

  • Cold Chain Logistics
    • Shipping frozen or temperature sensitive goods
    • Food safety for catering and events
    • Preserving organs, samples, or test kits for medical transport

  • Emergency Cooling
    • Power outages
    • Emergency transport of frozen goods

What are your hours?

We are generally open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., however, we are closed for the following holidays:

•  Memorial Day
•  Independence Day
•  Labor Day
•  Thanksgiving and the following Friday
•  Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day

All orders for same day pickup must be placed by 4 p.m. and picked up before 5 p.m. If you can not make it before closing time please arrange to pick up your order the following business day. Please have your order number handy for faster pickup. 

Have unanswered questions?

Submit your questions or feedback using the form below and we will get back to you within a couple of days. If you have an urgent matter, please reach out to our customer service department at 1-800-364-9897.