Why it's called "dry"
At normal pressure, solid CO₂ skips the liquid stage entirely. It sublimates straight to gas, so there's no puddle left behind — one reason it's popular for shipping and food transport.
Common uses
Keeping frozen products frozen during transport, shipping medical and lab samples, cooling coolers for trips, keeping freezers cold during outages, industrial dry ice blasting, and fog effects for events.
Handling basics
Dry ice can burn skin on contact. Handle it with insulated gloves or tongs. Dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas. Always use it in a well-ventilated area and never in a sealed room, walk-in space or closed vehicle cabin.
Dry ice releases carbon dioxide gas and requires proper ventilation. Handle only with insulated gloves, and never seal it in an airtight container.
Last reviewed: September 2026