Short answerIn the sellers’ own listings we checked in October 2026, dry ice ran from $1.00 to $2.99 per pound before tax. Producers selling at their own dock were at the low end, and single 1 lb bags at grocery stores at the high end. Prices vary by seller and location.
Prices we have seen (examples, not averages)
- Dry Ice Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): $1 per lb plus tax at its manufacturing facility, 16 mm pellets or 5 lb blocks. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Cayman Dry Ice (Ann Arbor, MI): $1.80 per lb for pellets, ordered online for pickup. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Columbia Market Food and Dry Ice (Columbia Heights, MN): $1.99 per lb plus tax, 10 lb blocks only, 5 lb minimum. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Art in Ice (Warwick, RI): $2.22 per lb plus sales tax, from its website. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Hy-Vee: $2.59 for a 1 lb bag (Penguin brand) on its website. Checked October 28, 2026. Varies by store.
- Smart & Final: $2.99 for a 1 lb bag (Penguin brand), in store only. Checked October 28, 2026. Varies by store.
What changes the price
- Where you buy. In these examples, a producer’s own dock was cheapest per pound and single 1 lb grocery bags were the most expensive.
- Minimums. Some sellers require a minimum, like Columbia Market’s 5 lb.
- Form. Some sell only blocks or only pellets, and some charge for special pellet sizes or bulk orders. Cayman Dry Ice, for example, needs 24 hours’ notice and a 100 lb minimum for 16 mm pellets.
- Tax. Several sellers quote prices plus tax.
Work out your total
Figure out how many pounds you need first, then multiply by the price where you are buying. Buy as close to when you need it as you can, because it shrinks from the moment you buy it.
Sources (checked October 29, 2026)
- Dry Ice Pittsburgh: Retail Location Pickup
- Cayman Dry Ice (Ann Arbor, MI): Dry Ice Pellets
- Columbia Market Food and Dry Ice (Columbia Heights, MN)
General guidance, not professional safety advice. Follow your supplier’s and carrier’s instructions.