How Much Dry Ice Does a Cleaning Job Use? Consumption Math That Holds Up
Pellet consumption drives both your cost and your schedule. Here are realistic feed rates by application, plus how to estimate total pounds before the crew mobilizes.
Dry ice consumption is the single most predictable line in a blasting estimate — and the one most often guessed at. Machines meter pellets at a set rate, so once you know the feed rate and the blast hours, the pounds follow.
Typical feed rates
- Precision / delicate work (electronics, molds, food contact): 1.0–2.0 lb per minute
- General industrial cleaning: 2.0–3.0 lb per minute
- Heavy carbon, coating removal, structural steel: 3.0–5.0 lb per minute
The estimate in three steps
- Estimate actual trigger time — usually 50–65 percent of shift hours, not 100 percent.
- Multiply trigger minutes by the feed rate for the application.
- Add 10–20 percent for sublimation loss between delivery and use.
Worked example: an eight-hour shift at 60 percent trigger time is about 288 blasting minutes. At 2.5 lb/min that is 720 lb, plus 15 percent sublimation loss, so plan on roughly 830 lb delivered. Pellets typically ship in 400–500 lb insulated totes, so that is two totes.
What drives consumption up
- Cold substrates — less thermal differential means slower release and more passes
- Thick, layered, or baked-on contamination
- Large open surfaces blasted with a wide fan nozzle
- Operators holding the trigger between passes instead of walking the pattern
What drives it down
- Blasting while equipment is still warm from production
- Correct standoff distance — usually 1–4 inches, not 12
- Nozzle selection matched to geometry instead of one nozzle for everything
- A pre-scrape or degrease step on gross buildup
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does dry ice cost per pound?+
Bulk pellet pricing generally runs $1.00–$2.50 per pound delivered, varying by region, order size, and distance from the production plant.
Can I buy dry ice ahead of the job?+
Only a day ahead at most. Sublimation loss is roughly 2–10 percent per day even in good insulated totes, so most contractors schedule delivery for the morning of the job.
Does a bigger machine use more ice?+
It can feed faster, which finishes the job in fewer hours. Total consumption is usually similar; the schedule shortens.
For full pricing structure — labor, mobilization, and equipment — see our cost guide.
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