Ice Melt Calculator
Stop guessing bags at the hardware store. From your driveway and walkway area, get kilograms per application and how many 20 kg bags a full season takes.
Your results
Worked example
A 50 m² driveway and walkway, treated at the standard rate, 20 times over the winter:
- Per application: 50 m² × 100 g per m² = 5,000 g = 5.0 kg
- Season total: 5.0 kg × 20 applications = 100 kg
- Bags: 100 kg ÷ 20 kg per bag = 5 bags
At the light rate of 50 g per m², the same area and season would take 2.5 kg per application and 3 bags, which is the savings on the table for treating early and shovelling first.
How this calculator works
The rates here, 50 g per m² for a light treatment and 100 g per m² as the standard, are the guidance used across this site. Ice melt works by lowering the freezing point of water, not by melting through thick ice from the top, so a thin, even scatter applied before or early in a storm outperforms a heavy dump applied late. Excess product mostly ends up on lawns and in flower beds, where it damages both.
Common questions
Is rock salt the same as ice melt?
Rock salt (sodium chloride) is the cheapest option and works down to about minus 9 C in practice. Blends with calcium or magnesium chloride keep working in colder snaps and are usually gentler on concrete, at a higher price per bag. The rates on this page apply to either.
How do I apply less and still keep the driveway clear?
Shovel or blow first, then treat the thin layer that remains, and treat before freezing rain arrives rather than after. Most over-application comes from spreading product on top of snow that should have been cleared mechanically.
Estimates only. Results are provided for planning purposes and use the application rates stated on this page as guidance. Follow the rate on your product packaging where it differs, and keep product away from planting beds where possible. Mississippi Maple accepts no liability for purchase decisions made using this calculator.