If you are ordering dry ice for the first time, the choice between pellet sizes can feel like an afterthought. Dry ice is dry ice, right? In practice, the size you choose has a real effect on how well the product performs for your specific application, how long it lasts in storage, and whether you get the result you are after.
Both sizes are food-grade, non-toxic, and produced at -78.5°C. But they behave differently, and those differences matter depending on what you are trying to do. Here is a straightforward breakdown of each pellet, what it is best suited for, and how to decide which one you need.
What the Sizes Actually Look Like
The 3mm pellet is a thin, straw-like cylinder, roughly the diameter of a piece of spaghetti. Small in size, but manufactured to a high density, which is the key characteristic that defines its performance. More on that shortly.
The 10mm pellet is a nugget-style pellet, noticeably larger and chunkier. At roughly the diameter of a standard pencil eraser, it has significantly more mass per pellet and a lower surface-area-to-volume ratio than the 3mm. That physical difference is what gives it a longer sublimation time under the same storage conditions.
Both are available for collection from Myaree or delivery across Perth metro and regional WA.
The Case for 3mm Pellets
Dry Ice Blasting
The 3mm pellet was engineered primarily for dry ice blasting, and it is the only pellet size that works for this application. When pellets are accelerated through a pressurised air stream at high velocity, size and density determine the kinetic energy delivered to the surface on impact. The 3mm pellet’s high density gives it the mass needed to create effective thermal shock and contaminant removal despite its small diameter.
Using a larger pellet in a blasting application does not produce better results. The 3mm is specifically sized and compressed to perform optimally in the blasting equipment nozzle. It is the right tool for the job in a way that is not interchangeable.
Food Production and Preservation
The 3mm pellet’s food-grade certification and consistent sizing make it well suited to food production environments where dry ice is used for rapid chilling, cooling during processing, or maintaining product temperature. The smaller pellet size is also easier to distribute evenly across product surfaces or within packaging.
Pharmaceutical and Laboratory Settings
Where precision temperature control is needed and the dry ice is being used in smaller quantities or more controlled environments, the 3mm pellet offers reliable performance. It is also used in shrink fitting applications in engineering and manufacturing, where metal components need to be cooled and contracted for precision assembly.
When 3mm Is the Right Choice
- You need dry ice for blasting or surface cleaning
- You are working in food production or processing
- You need precise, even distribution of dry ice across a surface or within packaging
- You are using dry ice in laboratory or pharmaceutical settings
- You are doing shrink fitting of mechanical components
The Case for 10mm Pellets
Longer Sublimation Time
The most significant practical advantage of the 10mm pellet is that it sublimates more slowly than the 3mm under identical storage conditions. Because each pellet contains more mass relative to its exposed surface area, it takes longer for ambient temperature to work through to the core. For applications where dry ice needs to remain effective over several hours or across a full day, the 10mm gives you more working time per kilogram.
Special Effects and Events
For wedding fog effects, stage production, film sets, and events, the 10mm pellet is what goes into the fog machine. Dropped into hot water, it produces the thick, low-lying cloud effect that stays at ground level. The larger pellet size sublimates more evenly in this application and is easier to handle and load into the machine. If you are hiring a fog machine for an event, 10mm pellets are what you need.
Transport and Cold Chain Logistics
When dry ice is used to keep perishable goods cold during transport, whether food, pharmaceuticals, biological samples, or temperature-sensitive products, the 10mm pellet’s slower sublimation rate makes it the better choice. A shipment that needs to stay cold for twelve hours in transit benefits from pellets that hold their mass longer, rather than pellets that sublimate quickly and leave the shipment without cooling before it reaches its destination.
This matters particularly for medical and pharmaceutical cold chain applications, where vaccines, biologics, and clinical samples must maintain specific ultra-low temperatures. The 10mm pellet, especially when stored in a well-insulated Low Loss Container, provides more consistent and extended cooling performance.
Industrial Cooling and Shrinking
For industrial applications where dry ice is used over longer periods, such as cooling components during fabrication or managing temperature during extended production runs, the 10mm pellet’s longevity is an advantage. It is also used in shrinking applications where a component needs to be held at a low temperature for a longer period before installation.
When 10mm Is the Right Choice
- You are running a fog machine for an event, wedding, or production
- You need dry ice to keep goods cold during transport or storage over several hours
- You are shipping temperature-sensitive products including pharmaceuticals or food
- You need cooling over an extended industrial or manufacturing process
- You want maximum sublimation time from your dry ice purchase
Side by Side: The Key Differences
| 3mm Pellets | 10mm Pellets | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Thin straw-like cylinder | Chunky nugget |
| Density | High density | Standard |
| Sublimation rate | Faster (higher surface area) | Slower (lower surface area) |
| Blasting use | Yes — purpose-built for it | No |
| Fog machine use | No | Yes |
| Food and pharma | Yes | Yes |
| Transport and cold chain | Suitable for short runs | Preferred for longer runs |
| Shrink fitting | Yes | Yes |
Can You Use Either Size for General Cooling?
For everyday cooling tasks such as keeping a food delivery cold, chilling a portable esky, or maintaining temperature during a short transport run, either size will do the job. The 10mm will generally last a little longer in open storage, but the 3mm’s higher density means it is not dramatically less efficient in a well-insulated container for short-term use.
Where the distinction becomes more important is when cooling performance over time is critical. A medical shipment, a multi-hour event, or an overnight freight run all benefit from the 10mm’s slower sublimation rate. A same-day blasting job or food processing application is where the 3mm earns its place.
Both Are Available Fresh to Order
Both pellet sizes are produced to order, which means you are getting the freshest possible product rather than pellets that have been sitting in storage losing mass. Orders placed before 11:30 AM are ready the following day for collection or delivery.
For smaller quantities, foam eskies are available to keep your dry ice in good condition for transport. For larger orders, Low Loss Containers dramatically reduce sublimation during transit and storage, keeping the pellets in peak condition from pickup through to use.
If you are still not sure which size fits your application, the team can advise based on what you are trying to achieve. Getting the right pellet for the job means better results, less waste, and more confidence that the dry ice will perform the way you need it to.
Browse available sizes and order online for next-day collection or delivery across Perth and regional WA.
