Searching "where to buy dry ice in Metro Vancouver" gets you a list of pins on a map. It does not tell you if the place has the format you need, whether they have a minimum order, or how long ago the ice was made. This checklist is what to check before you drive anywhere.
We make dry ice to order at our plant in Delta. This checklist covers what to ask any supplier in Metro Vancouver, us included.
What should you check before driving out for dry ice?
Check five things: the format (pellets, nuggets, slices or block), the minimum order size, the hours and whether pickup needs a reservation, when the ice was made, and what you need to bring. Skipping any one of these means wasted driving time or ice that is already half gone before you get it home.
Format: pellets, nuggets, slices or block
Not all dry ice does the same job. 3 mm pellets are the standard feed for dry ice blasting machines and pack tight around oddly shaped items. 16 mm nuggets last longer per pound, which makes them the common choice for coolers, fishing trips and shipping boxes that spend a day or two in transit. Slices are flat and stack well in coolers or under trays, good for events and food service where you want even coverage without crushing anything underneath.
If you are not sure which one suits your job, ask before you order. We cover more on formats and jobs on our uses page.
Minimum orders and hours, ask first
Some places have a minimum order before they will serve you at all. Others only open a few hours a day, or only on certain weekdays. Call or check the site before you drive. We take any amount from 1 lb. An order under $25 worth of ice is charged $25 plus GST, so very small orders cost more per trip, but there is no hard minimum weight.
Our plant at 2-730 Eaton Way in Delta is open for pickup Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm, closed on BC statutory holidays. Same-day pickup works when the order is in stock. If it is not, order by 2 pm for next-day pickup. Delivery runs Monday to Friday during the day with no fixed time slot. Order by 2 pm for delivery the next working day. The price goes by the distance from our plant and shows at checkout before you pay. Delivery is paid in advance.
When was the ice made?
This one gets skipped a lot. Dry ice sublimates from the moment it is made, so it loses weight every hour it waits. Ask when the ice was made and buy it close to the day you need it.
We make ours to order in Delta for the pickup or delivery day you choose. Two bags of dry ice feel the same cold to the touch. The difference shows up in how much you have left by the time you load your cooler.
Bring a cooler that can vent, and gloves
Never handle dry ice bare-handed: it is -78.5 °C (-109.3 °F) and causes frostbite-like burns. Bring insulated gloves. For transport, bring a cooler with a lid that sits on top but is not latched down. Dry ice needs to vent as it sublimates into gas, a sealed container can build pressure. Keep the cooler out of the passenger cabin where you can. If it rides inside, keep a window open, and never leave it in a parked car. Keep kids and pets away from the open cooler.
If your trip is longer than a quick run home, plan for loss. A cooler with the lid on but not latched loses 5-10 lb per 24 hours, so a one-day trip costs you that much before the ice does any actual work, and a 3-day trip can burn through 15-30 lb. We go through the numbers in more detail in how long dry ice lasts in a cooler, car or freezer.
How far is the drive from Delta?
From our plant in Delta, driving times outside rush hour run roughly: New Westminster about 15 minutes, Burnaby and Surrey about 20 minutes, Richmond about 25 minutes, and Vancouver about 35 minutes. Traffic on the bridges and the Alex Fraser will add to all of these during rush hour, so if you are timing a pickup around work or school, build in slack. Our where to buy page has the address and a map link if you need exact directions.
If the drive does not make sense for your schedule, delivery solves it. Our driver covers Monday to Friday daytime, next-working-day if you order by 2 pm, and the price is calculated by distance and shown before you pay. No fixed time window, so plan for a daytime delivery rather than an exact hour.
What if you need a large order?
Orders of 150 lb or more go out in our returnable bins, rented by the week. This matters for restaurants, labs, and event crews moving volume rather than a single cooler's worth. 3 mm pellets and 16 mm nuggets are sold by the pound, slices come in 5 lb packs, and 500 lb orders are sold online and go out in a returnable bin. For volume, order ahead so the ice is made for your day.
Ordering online: the easiest way to not waste a trip
You can order from 1 lb and choose pickup or delivery right from our shop page. Pick your format, your weight, and your date. Current prices are on the shop page, they change with supply so we do not quote numbers here. If it is in stock, same-day pickup is possible. If not, get the order in by 2 pm for next-day pickup, or next-day delivery.
This matters most for anything time-sensitive. Fog for an event, a freezer that just lost power, or perishables going into a shipping box all need the ice on a schedule, not whenever you happen to have an afternoon free. If you are planning event fog, see how much dry ice you need for Halloween fog for the numbers on buckets and run time. If your freezer just went dark, saving a freezer in a power outage walks through how much ice a chest freezer needs.
Run through this buyer's checklist once, then order your dry ice online and pick pickup or delivery to suit your schedule. For questions, call 604 239 9333.
Frequently asked questions
What format of dry ice should I buy?
It depends on the job. 3 mm pellets are the standard feed for dry ice blasting machines and fill tight gaps. 16 mm nuggets last longer per pound, so they are the common pick for coolers and shipping boxes. Slices are flat and stack well in coolers or under trays for events and food service. Ask your supplier if you are unsure which suits your use.
Does dry ice lose weight while it waits?
Yes. Dry ice sublimates from the moment it is made, turning straight into gas, so it gets lighter every hour it sits. In a cooler with the lid on but not latched, expect 5-10 lb per 24 hours. Ask when the ice was made and buy it close to the day you need it, so more of what you pay for is left when you use it.
Is there a minimum order for dry ice?
At our plant, you can order any amount from 1 lb. Orders under $25 worth of ice are charged $25 plus GST, so small orders cost more per trip, but there is no hard minimum weight. Orders of 150 lb or more go out in returnable bins rented by the week, and 500 lb orders are sold online in a returnable bin.
How long does it take to drive to a dry ice plant in Delta from other parts of Metro Vancouver?
Outside rush hour, driving times from Delta run roughly 15 minutes to New Westminster, 20 minutes to Burnaby or Surrey, 25 minutes to Richmond, and 35 minutes to Vancouver. Rush hour traffic on bridges and the Alex Fraser will add time, so build in slack if you are timing a pickup around work or school.
Need dry ice? Order online and pick up at our plant in Delta, or have it delivered. Not sure how much? See how much dry ice you need.
