De-icer category page — the umbrella for all chloride, non-chloride, and organic-blend products used to melt or prevent ice on Canadian roads, parking lots, walkways, and driveways.
De-icer as a noun refers to the *chemistry* — the bag, drum, tote, or tank of product that gets applied. The service that applies it is de-icing (see /services/de-icing). Five product families dominate the Canadian market, each with a different active ingredient, working temperature, and unit price.
Five de-icer families on Canadian shelves
- Sodium chloride (NaCl) — standard rock salt, $180–$420/tonne, melts to ‒10 °C
- Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) — pellet or flake, $700–$1,200/tonne, melts to ‒29 °C, exothermic
- Magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) — pellet or liquid, $580–$880/tonne, melts to ‒15 °C, less corrosive
- Acetates (CMA, KAc) — chloride-free, $3,200–$4,800/tonne, used on bridges and at airports
- Urea, glycols, organic blends — niche, pet-safe consumer products and aviation lines
Buying by volume vs by the bag
Residential customers buy de-icer by the 10–20 kg bag at $8–$28 each. Small contractors buy by the pallet (50×20 kg sacks) at $320–$680. Commercial accounts buy by the big bag (1 tonne tote) at $240–$1,100 depending on chemistry. Municipalities and large contractors buy by bulk truck delivery (25 t semi-load) at $145–$2,400 per tonne FOB regional terminal.
What is the best de-icer?
There is no single best de-icer — the right product depends on temperature, surface, and constraints:
| Conditions | Best pick | Cost (per tonne) |
|---|---|---|
| Above –10 °C, asphalt | Rock salt (NaCl) | $180–$420 |
| –10 to –20 °C | Treated rock salt | $250–$580 |
| Below –20 °C | Calcium chloride pellets | $700–$1,200 |
| New / decorative concrete | Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) | $3,200–$4,500 |
| Aviation, steel decks | Potassium acetate | $3,400–$4,800 |
| Pet-safe residential | Safe Paw or Paw Thaw | $2,400–$3,400 |
Are there non-chloride de-icers?
Yes — the non-chloride category covers situations where chloride corrosion or environmental sensitivity rule out standard products:
- Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) — most common non-chloride municipal alternative. Used on bridges, steel-deck structures, salt-sensitive sites.
- Potassium acetate — standard for airport runways and aircraft de-icing (does not corrode aluminum).
- Propylene glycol — additive in pet-safe ice melts; aircraft de-icing fluid.
- Urea — occasionally used as low-temp alternative but problematic (high biological oxygen demand in waterways).
Non-chloride de-icers cost 8–25x straight rock salt per tonne and are reserved for applications where chloride is genuinely unsuitable.
How do I choose between de-icer products?
Three variables decide:
- Pavement temperature at application — rock salt above –10 °C; treated salt or calcium chloride below
- Surface material — sealed cured concrete handles chlorides; new or decorative concrete needs acetate
- Environmental constraint — wetlands, fish-bearing streams, salt-sensitive landscape need magnesium chloride, CMA, or potassium acetate
Most commercial operations run a portfolio of 2–4 products keyed to temperature band and surface type — not a single product.
How do I store de-icer between seasons?
Dry chloride de-icers are hygroscopic — they absorb atmospheric moisture and clump or solidify if stored uncovered.
- Sealed factory packaging: stores 2–3 years
- Opened bags: transfer to sealed plastic bin with tight lid
- Calcium chloride pellets: worst offender — a 22 kg bag left uncovered in humid garage solidifies into a single block in 60 days
- Storage location: dry, covered, on a pallet off the ground
Liquid brines need freeze protection:
- Sodium chloride brine: store above –10 °C
- Magnesium chloride brine: above –20 °C
- Calcium chloride brine: above –25 °C