BagOrBulk
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Ice melt calculator

Driveway and walk size in. Bags per storm and per winter out.

The math: Bags per application = square feet ÷ coverage per bag, rounded up. Season bags = square feet × applications ÷ coverage per bag, rounded up once. If your label gives pounds per square yard or per 1,000 square feet, coverage = bag pounds ÷ that rate in pounds per square foot. Coverage comes from your bag’s label, so nothing is pre-filled.

Area, bag label and applications

How do you want to enter the area?
How many times you expect to spread it. Count last winter’s storms if you are not sure.
Coverage from the bag’s label
Coverage depends on the product and on conditions, so use the number on your bag. No default is filled in. How to read the label.
Bag vs bulk or pallet (optional)
A pallet’s weight is its bag count × bag size. A ton is 2,000 lb.

No prices are filled in, because they vary by store, brand and season. The comparison appears once you enter both prices and the pounds in the pallet or unit.

FAQ

How many bags of ice melt do I need?

Divide your square feet by the coverage printed on the bag, then round up. Enter the coverage from your label and the calculator does the rest, per application and for the whole winter.

Where do I find the coverage on the bag?

Look at the application rate on the label. It is usually given as a weight per area, such as pounds per square yard or per 1,000 square feet, or as the square feet one bag covers. The calculator accepts all of those.

Why is the season total not just bags per application times applications?

Rounding up on every application overbuys. The calculator adds up the product for every application first and rounds up once.

Is a pallet or bulk ice melt cheaper than bags?

Enter your bag price and your pallet or bulk price with its weight in pounds. The calculator compares the cost for the amount you need, and bulk is bought in whole units.

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