Create dry ice fog

One of the most popular uses for dry ice is to create dry ice fog. This is especially fun for parties or events where you want a fog effect -- especially during Halloween!

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Dry ice fog is created when you place dry ice into warm or hot water. This white fog is condensed water vapor, mixed with the invisible carbon dioxide release as part of sublimation, which is the process when dry ice goes from a solid state to a gas.  

To create dry ice fog, you’ll need:

• Container

• Your container should be on the larger side, like a bucket or roasting pan , to allow for more dry ice and give space for bubbling fog.

• Hot water

• Hot tap water works great - as hot as you’re comfortable with using

• Dry ice

• Dry ice comes in either blocks or pellets. For this project you can use either dry ice

  blocks or pellets

  .

Always handle dry ice with care and wear gloves whenever touching it. An oven mitt or towel will also work if gloves are not handy. If touched briefly, dry ice is harmless, but prolonged contact with the skin will cause injury similar to a burn.

Find more safety information on our dry ice safety page.

Step 1

Fill your container half full of hot water

Step 2 

Break a block of dry ice. Directions on how to break a dry ice block are available on this page. 

Step 3

Add a few pieces of dry ice directly into the hot water. You’ll immediately get a significant amount of fog. As a rule of thumb, one pound of dry ice will create 2-3 minutes of fog effect.

Here's the same roasting pan as the picture above, 3-4 minutes after the dry ice was first placed into the hot water:

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Step 4

After 5-10 minutes, your fog will start to slow as the water cools. To keep the fog going, you’ll need to add more hot water to the container, or replace the cold water entirely with a new batch of warm water. You’ll also need to keep feeding the warm water with dry ice, as it sublimates.

Here's an example of what the roasting pan above looked like when the water got too cold to give off significant fog:

The amount of fog you’ll create and how long the fog will last depends on a couple of variables: water temperature, size of the container, amount of dry ice. If you’d like to increase the amount of fog you get, you’ll want to increase the temperature of the water and increase the amount of dry ice. Remember that the hotter your water is, the faster your dry ice will sublimate.

Here's a condensed example of how dry ice fog looks within a roasting pan:

Here's another condensed example of how dry ice fog looks like within a bucket:

Create Long-Lasting Fog Effects with Dry Ice 

Creating fog with dry ice is perfect for evoking a frightening feeling on Halloween, adding a dramatic flair when shooting photography or turning a garage band performance into a concert-quality event. The key to creating an unforgettable fog effect with dry ice is to keep the fog flowing from the start of your event until the finish. You can find Penguin Brand Dry Ice® near you using our store locator.

Here are four tips that can help you maximize fog created with Penguin Brand Dry Ice®:

1. Use the right water-to-dry-ice ratio

The ideal water to dry ice ratio for long-lasting fog effects is about 1/2 gallon of hot water per pound of dry ice. Using the right amount of hot water will help maximize the fog. 

2. Make sure your bowl is deep enough

Ideally, you want to use a thick, rectangular chunk of dry ice and a bowl large enough that the water submerges the dry ice by about half an inch. A good rule of thumb is to find a bowl that’s about three times as deep as the thickness of the dry ice you’re using. This will allow the fog to pool before it spreads out.

3. Take control of your fog’s direction by using a fan

Whether you’re indoors or outside, dry ice fog will only dissipate about three feet from the source. To maximize the range of the effect and allow the fog to cover a larger area such as a dance floor, use a small fan on a low setting to direct the fog where you want it to go.

4. Cycle the water as often as possible

This tip has the largest impact on how long your dry ice fog effect will ultimately last. If you have a setup where you can circulate the water on a regular basis, you’ll be able to keep the reaction going longer. If you allow the water to stagnate, the amount of carbonation infused in the water will decrease the amount of fog you can generate.

Now you can create endless dry ice displays for every occasion. To get started, use our store locator to find a retail location that sells Penguin Brand Dry Ice nearest you. 

For more Dry Ice Low Fog Machineinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.