Table of Contents
- What is the FedEx dry ice shipping cost made of?
- Which FedEx services accept dry ice?
- What drives FedEx dry ice shipping cost up?
- How should you pack and label dry ice for FedEx?
- Where can you drop off a FedEx dry ice package?
- What changes for international dry ice shipments?
- How does FedEx compare with UPS and USPS for dry ice?
- How can you lower your FedEx dry ice shipping cost?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
FedEx dry ice shipping cost is the normal rate for your service, weight and zone plus a per-package dry ice surcharge on FedEx Express services, along with any other charges your shipment triggers. Dry ice can’t ship with FedEx One Rate or in standard FedEx packaging, so you pay weight-based rates for your own insulated box, and its dimensional weight often sets the price.
The exact amount depends on your package, so the only firm number is a quote. This guide explains each part of the cost, which services accept dry ice, the packing and labeling rules, and where shippers lose money. Our guide to shipping perishables and food covers cold shipping beyond dry ice.
What Is the FedEx Dry Ice Shipping Cost Made Of?
A FedEx dry ice bill has the same building blocks as any FedEx shipment, plus a few that only cold shipments trigger:
| Cost component | What sets it | Can you avoid it? |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation rate | Service, zone and billable weight (the greater of actual and dimensional weight) | Partly, through service choice and box size |
| Dry ice surcharge | Charged per package on FedEx Express services, and per shipment on most international services | No, unless the shipment carries other dangerous goods, in which case only the dangerous goods charge applies |
| Fuel surcharge | A variable percentage FedEx adjusts regularly | No |
| Residential and delivery area charges | Delivery to a home or to select ZIP codes | Only by shipping to a business address |
| Saturday delivery | Added when a Friday shipment must arrive before Monday | Yes, by shipping Monday through Wednesday |
| Declared value | Coverage above the included liability limit | Optional |
| Re-icing (FedEx OnDemand Care) | Optional service to add dry ice in transit | Optional |
FedEx isn’t required to add dry ice to packages in its system, so plan enough refrigerant for the full trip. To price your exact package, enter it in FedEx’s rate and transit tool with the dry ice option selected. Our guide to FedEx shipping fees and surcharges explains the other charges in detail.
Which FedEx Services Accept Dry Ice?
Most FedEx services take dry ice, but the rules differ between air and ground:
| FedEx service | Dry ice accepted? | Key rules |
|---|---|---|
| First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight | Yes | Per-package dry ice surcharge; prepared under IATA rules |
| 2Day A.M., 2Day, Express Saver | Yes | Per-package dry ice surcharge; longer transit needs more dry ice |
| FedEx Ground | Yes, from the contiguous U.S. (not from Alaska or Hawaii) | Prepared under 49 CFR; notify the driver; scheduled pickup only |
| FedEx One Rate | No | Dry ice isn’t permitted with any One Rate shipment |
| FedEx International First | Yes | Dry ice is the only dangerous good it accepts outbound from the U.S. |
| International Priority Express, Priority, Economy | Yes | Dry ice surcharge per shipment; destination rules apply |
For most perishables, an overnight service is the cheapest option overall, even though the rate is higher, because a shorter trip needs less dry ice and a smaller box. Our overview of FedEx services and shipping options compares transit times for each tier.
What Drives FedEx Dry Ice Shipping Cost Up?
Four things push a dry ice shipment’s cost up more than anything else:
- Box size. Insulated coolers are bulky, so dimensional weight (length x width x height divided by 139 for FedEx) often exceeds the actual weight.
- Transit time. Every extra day in transit means more dry ice, which adds weight and often a larger cooler.
- Weekend timing. A Friday shipment needs Saturday delivery or enough ice to last until Monday.
- Delivery address. Residential and remote-area charges apply to dry ice packages the same as any other package.
Holidays add a day or more to transit. Check our FedEx holiday schedule before shipping perishables in a holiday week, since a package stuck over a closure day may need far more dry ice.
How Should You Pack and Label Dry Ice for FedEx?
Dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas as it warms, so the package must let gas escape. FedEx packaging can’t be used for dry ice, except FedEx Temp-Assure dry ice cooled packages. The usual setup is an insulated foam cooler inside a sturdy corrugated outer box, never sealed airtight.
- Mark and label every package. FedEx says all dry ice shipments require package marking and labeling, permanently fixed to the box by hand or with a self-adhesive label. A paperwork pouch doesn’t count.
- Include the standard markings. Air rules call for “Dry Ice” or “Carbon dioxide, solid,” the UN 1845 number, the net weight of dry ice in kilograms and a Class 9 label.
- Declare it on the shipment. No Shipper’s Declaration is needed if the package follows IATA rules, but you must check the dry ice box and enter the dry ice details on the airbill or in your shipping software.
- Use the FedEx dry ice label if you like. FedEx offers a specialized dry ice label, which you can order by calling 1-800-463-3339 and saying “dangerous goods.”
Anyone preparing dry ice shipments needs the dangerous goods training federal rules require. If your shipment includes other dangerous goods, mark both the dangerous goods and dry ice sections of the airbill.
Where Can You Drop Off a FedEx Dry Ice Package?
Not everywhere. FedEx doesn’t accept dangerous goods shipments, including dry ice, at FedEx Drop Boxes, FedEx Office locations, FedEx Authorized ShipCenters, FedEx OnSite locations or FedEx ShipSite locations. FedEx’s dangerous goods instructions say staffed U.S. FedEx locations can accept dry ice that’s processed with a paper airbill.
FedEx Ground dry ice must go through a scheduled pickup at your location, and you must tell the driver the package contains dry ice. Plan that pickup into your shipping day, since a missed pickup means another day of ice loss.
What Changes for International Dry Ice Shipments?
International dry ice shipments follow IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations plus the destination country’s import rules, and many food and biological items need permits on arrival. FedEx International Priority Express, International Priority and International Economy accept dry ice, and outbound from the U.S., dry ice is the only dangerous good International First accepts.
Longer international transit means more dry ice and a larger box, so the cost rises faster than for a domestic package of the same contents. Our guide to whether FedEx delivers internationally covers country coverage, and our guide to shipping human ashes through FedEx shows how FedEx handles another restricted item.
How Does FedEx Compare With UPS and USPS for Dry Ice?
| Carrier | Domestic dry ice | Quantity limits | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx | Express (air) and Ground, with a dry ice surcharge on Express | Set by IATA and FedEx rules for air; Ground hazardous material packages capped at 70 lbs. | Yes, on several international services |
| UPS | Air and ground, under UPS’s own dry ice rules | Confirm with UPS before shipping | Yes, to many destinations |
| USPS | Air and surface, as a refrigerant only | Up to 5 lbs. of dry ice per package by air; no stated limit by surface | No, dry ice is prohibited in international mail |
USPS requires air packages to carry a Class 9 label and the marking “Dry Ice, UN1845,” plus the name of the contents being cooled and the dry ice’s net weight. Surface packages are marked “Surface Only” with the same UN1845 marking and never travel by air. For heavier or temperature-controlled loads, our guide to refrigerated shipping cost covers reefer freight, and our FedEx Freight rates guide explains LTL pricing.
How Can You Lower Your FedEx Dry Ice Shipping Cost?
- Ship early in the week. Monday through Wednesday shipments avoid weekend layovers and Saturday delivery charges.
- Right-size the cooler. A snug cooler with less empty space needs less dry ice and has a lower dimensional weight.
- Match ice to transit. Test your packaging over the actual transit time rather than guessing, since over-icing adds weight and under-icing loses the shipment.
- Use the slowest service that works. If frozen goods survive two days, 2Day can cost less than overnight once the extra ice is counted. If they don’t, overnight wins.
- Consider gel packs for chilled items. Products that only need refrigeration, not freezing, can often ship with gel packs, which aren’t dangerous goods.
- Compare carriers. For domestic packages with up to 5 lbs. of dry ice, USPS Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail may be worth pricing alongside FedEx.
If you’re open to UPS or USPS instead, ParcelPath is free and offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS. You can compare live UPS and USPS rates in the ParcelPath calculator, and our guide to shipping with UPS covers UPS’s services. Small businesses can learn more in our guide to shipping for small business, and our overview of shipping services and solutions compares carriers more broadly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FedEx charge extra to ship dry ice?
Yes. FedEx adds a dry ice surcharge per package on its U.S. Express services, such as Priority Overnight and 2Day, and per shipment on most international services. If the package also contains other dangerous goods, FedEx charges only the dangerous goods fee instead. The surcharge comes on top of the normal transportation rate, fuel surcharge and any residential or delivery area charges.
Can I ship dry ice with FedEx One Rate?
No. FedEx states that dry ice isn’t permitted with any FedEx One Rate shipment, and standard FedEx packaging can’t be used for dry ice either. The exception is FedEx Temp-Assure dry ice cooled packaging. That means a typical dry ice package ships in your own insulated box at weight-based rates, where dimensional weight often sets the FedEx dry ice shipping cost.
Can I drop off a dry ice package at FedEx Office?
No. FedEx doesn’t accept dry ice at FedEx Drop Boxes, FedEx Office locations, Authorized ShipCenters, OnSite or ShipSite locations. Express dry ice packages can be handed over at staffed FedEx locations when processed with a paper airbill, or through a scheduled pickup. FedEx Ground dry ice must go through a scheduled pickup, and you must tell the driver.
Does FedEx Ground accept dry ice?
Yes, from origins in the contiguous U.S., but not from Alaska or Hawaii. Packages must be prepared under 49 CFR, marked as containing dry ice, entered with the dry ice option in your shipping software and tendered through a scheduled pickup. FedEx also requires approval before you ship hazardous materials by Ground, and hazardous material packages can’t exceed 70 lbs.
Sources
- FedEx Service Guide 2026 (U.S.): dry ice surcharge rules, One Rate exclusion, drop-off restrictions, packaging and re-icing terms
- FedEx: How to ship dangerous goods, dry ice marking, labeling and Shipper’s Declaration exemption
- FedEx: How to ship hazardous materials by FedEx Ground, including dry ice
- USPS Publication 52: Packaging Instruction 9A, Dry Ice
- IATA: Dangerous Goods Regulations
- U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Part of our FedEx Shipping Fees guide. Related: FedEx Freight Rates, FedEx Shipping hub.
