Artisanal Solutions / Free tools / Gel pack and dry ice calculator

Free tool

Gel pack and dry ice calculator

How many gel packs for refrigerated food, or how much dry ice for frozen, based on product weight, days in transit and the season. A starting amount for your first test box.

Use the calculatorGet a plan and a price

Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Gel pack and dry ice calculator

A starting amount for your first test box. Your box, your liner and the weather change the answer, so test before you sell.

Start with

0

  • Coolant weight
  • Box size to plan for
  • Ship daysMonday to Wednesday

Starting points: about 1 lb of frozen gel per 1 lb of refrigerated product for a 1 day trip, and 5 to 10 lb of dry ice per 24 hours for frozen, more in heat. Put a thermometer in the test box. Under 40°F on arrival for refrigerated, still frozen for frozen.

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Free for blogs, markets, extension offices and maker groups. Paste this code where you want it to show.

<iframe src="https://madelines.co/pages/gel-pack-and-dry-ice-calculator?view=embed" title="Gel pack and dry ice calculator" width="100%" height="620" style="border:0;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Gel pack and dry ice calculator by <a href="https://madelines.co/pages/gel-pack-and-dry-ice-calculator">Madeline's</a></p>

The starting rules

Start with about 1 lb of frozen gel per 1 lb of refrigerated product for a 1 day trip, and more for longer trips and warm weather. For frozen food, plan 5 to 10 lb of dry ice per 24 hours in transit for a mid-size box. Then ship a test box with a thermometer inside before you sell.

Before you ship

  1. Freeze gel packs solid

    Gel packs straight from a freezer hold far longer than packs from the fridge. Give them a full day.

  2. Follow the dry ice rules

    Mark the box with the UN1845 label and the dry ice weight, and never seal it airtight. USPS caps dry ice at 5 lb per package; UPS and FedEx allow more with proper marking. Air shipments have stricter rules.

  3. Fill the empty space

    Air warms a box. Pack cold product straight from the walk-in and fill gaps.

  4. Test a box

    Ship one to yourself with a cheap thermometer or data logger. Under 40°F on arrival for refrigerated, still frozen for frozen.

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How it works

  1. Run the numbers

    Use the calculator above with your own costs. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

  2. Tell us what you make

    If you want these numbers built into your store, price lists and books, send a note.

  3. Get a short plan

    Keep this, replace that, connect these, and the cost.

  4. We set it up

    Setup done for you. You approve before anything goes live.

Questions

How many gel packs do I need to ship cheese?

Start with roughly 1 lb of frozen gel per 1 lb of cheese for a 1 day trip, more in summer or for 2 days. Then test a box with a thermometer inside.

How much dry ice do I need per day?

Usually 5 to 10 lb per 24 hours of transit for a mid-size box, more in hot weather.

Can I ship dry ice with USPS?

Yes, up to 5 lb per package, with the box marked UN1845 and the dry ice weight. For more, use UPS or FedEx with proper marking.

Gel packs or dry ice?

Gel packs for refrigerated food like cheese, butter and cured meat. Dry ice for frozen food. Dry ice freezes things, so keep it away from cheese.

Get a plan and a price

Tell us what you make and what you use today. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer. We reply by email with what we would keep, what we would change and what it costs.

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