Food Costs > How Much Does a Bag of Ice Cost?

How Much Does a Bag of Ice Cost?

When it comes to ice, your ice cube trays may not be enough.

Thankfully, your local store will have bags of ice you can purchase.

Plastic Bags of Ice cubes Spartan Stores by stevendepolo, on Flickr

“Plastic Bags of Ice cubes Spartan Stores” (CC BY 2.0) by stevendepolo

How much does a bag of ice cost?

On average, a bag of ice will cost anywhere from as little as $1 for a 10-pound bag to as much as $6 for a 20-pound bag. The cost of ice will depend on the amount in the bag and the store selling it.
With grocery stores, gas stations and even some fast food chains selling bags of ice, refer to our table below to see what it could cost you:

Retailer	Average Price
7-11	$2.50 for 10-pound bag
Arby's	$1 for 10-pound bag
Burger King	$1 for 5-pound bag
Chick-fil-A	$1.50 for 5-pound bag
Costco	$1.79 for 20-pound bag
Kroger	$2.29 for 10-pound bag
Kwik Trip	$2.29 for 10-pound bag
McDonald’s	$1.49 for 8-pound bag
Sam's Club	$2.25 for 20-pound bag
ShopRite	$1.99 for 7-pound bag
Sonic	$2 for 10-pound bag
Steak ‘n Shake	$1 for 6-pound bag
Target	$1.37 for 5-pound bag
Walmart	$1.50 for 10-pound bag

NOTE: These are the prices we received. Your results may vary, depending on the geographical location. Also, these prices may change depending on the promotional rate.

What is going to be included?

The average bag of ice will come in a 10, 16 or 20-pound bags, and most ice will be made from purified water. Ice will almost always be sold as cubes, but in some cases, you may be able to find cocktail ice cubes, which refer to the smaller cubes used in beverages.
Some of the largest brands often found at a local retailer includes Arctic Ice, the Cape Cod Ice Company, Chesapeake Bay Ice, Diamond Ice, Penguin Ice and Reddy Ice.

Tips to know:

Ice can be purchased at most grocery stores, gas stations, and as mentioned, even fast food restaurant chains such as Sonic, McDonald’s and even Arby’s. This will vary from location to location as some won’t offer bags of ice for sale.
If purchasing a bag of ice for consumption, make sure it’s marked with the International Packaged Ice Association (IPIA) seal. This guarantees the ice has met the IPIA’s strict standards.

How can I save money?

Consider making your own ice at home. If you think you are going to be purchasing more ice in the future, consider purchasing smaller ice trays at a local dollar store. If your refrigerator has an ice making option, consider filling up a cooler the night before you leave. That way, when you wake up, the ice maker will be at full capacity again for another refill.
Bags of ice will usually be the same price across town. It is best that you purchase ice as close as you can to home, especially if you are bringing it back for an event.

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