Where to Buy Ice – Unexpected Spots You’d Never Guess (Plus Where to Buy in Bulk & Save!)
Check out where to buy ice and the best prices!
We’ve sourced where to buy ice year-round, from gas stations, grocery stores, and surprising places you may not have thought about!
*Note that select locations listed below may not sell ice so be sure to call ahead of time. Ice prices will vary by location.
Searching for a “bag of ice near me”? These are the top places in 2024 to buy ice depending on your needs:
Fast Food Restaurants:
Many fast-food restaurants surprisingly sell bags of ice. However, they’re not always on the menu so it’s always best to ask beforehand to see if it’s available.
We found McDonald’s to have the best prices on ice, with prices as low as 16¢ per pound. If you only need a little bit of ice, you may be able to get it FREE at Starbucks.
Burger King
At Burger King, select locations may sell bags of ice for just $1.99. I’ve been told by current employees that this is traditionally just 4-5 scoops into a bag, so the weight is unknown. However, even if you get 2 pounds, you’re still paying a high premium per pound.
Chick-fil-A
On the Chick-fil-A app, you may be able to place your order online for a bag of ice. In the past, you were able to snag these 5-pound bags of ice for $1.79, but we recently noticed that the price has crept up to $2.59 for most of our team. That’s a whopping 52¢ per pound for this highly sought-after ice.
How to order: In the app, navigate to Beverages – Other – Ice Products to add them to your order if Chick-fil-A ice is available at your location.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s doesn’t specify the option to buy ice on their menu, but if you ask the cashier or manager, they might have bags of ice for sale at select locations. You can expect 8lb to 10lb bags for around 99¢ to $1.50. Our Hip2Save sidekick, Lina, was able to buy an 8 lb bag for just $1.29 through the drive-thru. That’s just 16¢ per pound! Read more about McDonald’s ice.
Sonic
The popular ice from Sonic (if you know, you know) is available in a large, 10-pound bag at select Sonic locations! Our Hip sidekick, Cam, said a Sonic bag of ice was just $3.25 for a 10-pound bag, which is 33¢ per pound.
Starbucks
While Starbucks doesn’t sell entire bags of ice, you can get a large cup of ice, and according to multiple locations, the price is usually free. Of course, we’d encourage you to get a drink, too, but either way, if you only need a little extra ice, this might be the best place to go.
Big Box Stores:
Many big box stores sell bags of ice. If a specific retailer offers their ice online, you may even be able to get it delivered by a third-party delivery or do order pick-up.
We found Walmart to have the best prices on ice in the big box stores section with prices as low as 17¢ per pound.
BJ’s
At BJ’s, you can score a 20-pound bag of ice for just $4.49. That’s just 23¢ per pound.
Dollar Tree
At the Dollar Tree, you can score 7-pound bags of ice for just $2 which is 29¢ per pound.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s sells 7-pound bags available for delivery priced at $2.88 each. If you’re buying enough and can forgo shipping costs, that onlinees out to 41¢ per pound.
Walmart
At Walmart, you can buy a bag of ice that ranges in size from 16-22 pounds for $3.82. That’s 24¢ per pound at 16 pounds and as low as 17¢ per pound if you end up with a 22-pound bag. Regardless of the weight, it’s still one of the best prices to score a bag.
Grocery Stores:
Many grocery stores offer various bags of ice typically ranging from 5 to 20 pounds. You can sometimes even find specialty ice like filtered water cubes ideal for drinking, ice in spheres, and even dry ice. Grocery stores are a convenient way to get ice and you may even be able to add it to your next grocery delivery order to save even more time.
We found Kroger to offer the best deal on bags of ice with their 20-pound bag costing just 20¢ per pound.
Albertsons
At Albertsons, you can score a 10-pound bag of ice for around $2.99. That’s just 30¢ per pound.
Giant Foods
At Giant Foods, you’ll get the best deal on ice when you score a 20-pound bag of ice for just $5.79. That’s just 29¢ per pound. You can also get a 10-pound bag for $3.79 (38¢/lb), a 5-pound bag of cocktail spring water ice for $2.59 (52¢/lb), or even a 6-count of slow-melting ice spheres for $5.79 (97¢/ea).
Food Lion
At Food Lion you’ll get the best deal on a 16-pound bag of ice for $5.69. That’s 39¢ per pound, or you can grab a 7-pound bag for $2.99 (43¢/lb).
Fred Meyer
At Fred Meyer, you can score a 10-pound bag of ice for $2.50 which is just 25¢ per pound. They also offer 10-pound blocks of ice at the same price and 7-pound bags of crushed ice.
Harris Teeter
At Harris Teeter, you can buy a 7-pound bag of ice for $2.29. That’s just 33¢ per pound.
H-E-B
At H-E-B grocers, you can score a 7-pound bag of ice for just $1.87+ which is just 27¢ per pound.
Hy-Vee
At Hy-Vee you’ll get the best deal on a 20-pound bag of ice for around $6.29. That’s just 32¢ per pound or you can grab an 8-pound bag for $3.39 (42¢/lb) and they even offer 5 pounds of dry ice for $13.45 ($2.69/lb).
Kroger
Kroger offers various sizes of bags starting at 7 pounds to 22 pounds. Even better, you can choose between crushed, cubed, or nugget ice! You’ll get the best deal on their 22-pound crushed ice bag for only $4.49 which is just 20¢ per pound.
Price Chopper
At Price Chopper you can score a 16-pound bag of ice for $6.29 which is 39¢ per pound or a 5-pound bag of ice for $3.09 (62¢/lb).
Publix
At Publix, you can score a 16-pound bag of ice for $4.99 which is just 31¢ per pound, or 7-pound bags for $2.59 (37¢/lb). They also offer specialty ice such as dry ice packs, 5-pound bags of spring water cocktail cubes for $3.49 (70¢/lb), and 6-count of low melting sphere ice for $7.99 ($1.33/ea).
Safeway
At Safeway, you can score the best deal on a 16-pound bag of ice for $6.99, which is 44¢ per pound. They also offer 10-pound bags for $3.99 (40¢ per lb), 9-pound bags for $4.99 (55¢/lb), and 5-pound bags for $3.99 (80¢/lb). Safeway even offers dry ice blocks for $3.99 per pound.
ShopRite
At ShopRite, you can score a 16-pound bag of ice for just $4.99 which is 31¢ per pound, or an 8-pound bag for $2.99 (37¢/lb). They also offer the 6-count of low melting sphere ice for $4.99 regularly $5.99 making them currently just $1 each.
Wegmans
The best deal on ice you’ll score at Wegmans is their 16-pound bag priced at $6.89, which breaks down to 43¢ per pound. They also have 5-pound bags for $3.49 (70¢/lb) and a specialty 6-count of low melting sphere ice for $6.89 ($1.15/ea).
Whole Foods
At Whole Foods, they offer 7-pound bags of ice priced at $2.69 which is 38¢ per pound.
Gas Stations:
Gas stations are the most well-known place to grab a bag of ice when you’re in a pinch, but they also proved to be the priciest with some bags as much as 64¢ per pound. Many gas stations will have them conveniently outside for you to grab after paying inside and some you may even be able to buy through their app. Most gas stations offered just one size bag as well.
We found 7-Eleven to have the best prices on bags of ice at just 22¢ per pound and BP onlineing in close second at 23¢ per pound.
7-Eleven
At 7-Eleven you can buy bags of ice easily through their mobile app. You’ll get the best deal on their 20-pound bag for $4.29 which is just 22¢ per pound. They also offer 10-pound bags for $2.69 (27¢/lb), 8-pound bags for $2.49 (31¢/lb), and 7-pound bags for $1.99 (29¢/lb).
BP
At BP, you can grab a 20-pound bag for $4.49, which is 23¢ per pound or they also offer a 7-pound bag for $2.49 (36¢/lb).
Chevron
At Chevron, you can grab a 20-pound bag for $8.11, which is a whopping 41¢ per pound, or they also offer a 7-pound bag for $3.56 (51¢/lb).
Circle K
Circle K offers just 7-pound bags of ice for around $3.99. That’s a steep 57¢ per pound.
Citgo
Citgo offers 8-pound bags of ice for around $2.49. That’s a steep 31¢ per pound.
Cumberland Farms
Cumberland Farms offers 5-pound bags of ice for around $3.19 which is a steep 64¢ per pound.
ExxonMobil
Exxon offers 8-pound bags of ice for about $2.99 which is a steep 37¢ per pound.
Family Express
Family Express offers two different sizes of ice, and you’ll get the best deal on their 20-pound bag for $4.99 which onlinees out to 25¢ per pound. They also offer an 8-pound bag for $2.39 (30¢/lb).
Maverik
The gas station Maverik offers either a 10-pound bag for around $3.49 or a 7-pound bag for the same price. That means you can either pay 35¢ per pound or 50¢ per pound.
Royal Farms
Royal Farms offers 7-pound bags for $2.89 which onlinees out to 41¢ per pound.
Sheetz
Sheetz offers two different sizes of ice but you’ll get the best deal on their 20-pound bag of ice for $7.99 which onlinees out to 40¢ per pound. They also carry a 7-pound bag for $4.99 (71¢/lb).
Wawa
Wawa offers 7-pound bags of ice at $2.99 which onlinees out to 43¢ per pound.
Best place to buy ice in bulk:
Ice2U (AKA: Ice Vending Machines)
The Ice2U app is the best place to find bulk ice near you. Since it eliminates packaging and shipping to a store, you’re paying less too. Even better, the ice is purified so it’s healthier for you to drink and it’s not sitting in a freezer for long periods like other bags of ice do. Overall, it’s more likely to be enjoyed by a crowd.
There are over 4,000 Twice the Ice locations worldwide and it’s definitely your best bulk option if you’re buying ice for a large event like a wedding or for a business. Prices range, but I spotted 20-pound bags for just $3 which makes this ice just 15¢ per pound. You’ll even immediately get rewards just for downloading the app such as a potential free bag of ice!
