Ice melt for a 10 × 20 ft driveway, by how bad the ice is
Pounds for one treatment of 200 sq ft at the three rates in the calculator, the same in 12 oz coffee mugs, and the share of a 40 lb bag it uses:
| Rate | Ice | Ice melt | Mugs | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 lb per 1,000 sq ft | A dusting or thin frost | 0.6 lb | 0.8 | 0.02 |
| 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Normal snow and ice, cleared first | 1 lb | 1.33 | 0.03 |
| 8 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Thick ice or packed snow | 1.6 lb | 2.13 | 0.04 |
Bags for the winter
At the normal rate, by how many times you treat it in a winter and the size of bag you buy. Bags are rounded up to whole bags.
| Winter | Ice melt | 20 lb bags | 40 lb bags | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 treatments | 6 lb | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 treatments | 12 lb | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 treatments | 20 lb | 1 | 1 | 1 |
A short single driveway: treat the wheel tracks
A 10 × 20 ft pad is 200 sq ft and takes about 1 lb a treatment. You rarely need to cover all of it. Two wheel tracks 2 ft wide down its 20 ft length are 80 sq ft and take only 0.4 lb, with a path from the car door to the house added on.
On a pad this short the car usually sits on it overnight, so clear and treat the strip in front of the tires before you leave, and the rest once the car is out. A 20 lb bag covers 20 treatments of the whole pad at the normal rate.
See how much ice melt you need for spreading tips.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Ice Melt Calculator: How Much Salt for a Driveway or Walk: edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How much ice melt for a 10 × 20 ft driveway?
About 1 lb for one treatment of normal snow and ice at 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft, on 200 sq ft. Use about 0.6 lb for a thin frost and 1.6 lb for thick ice or packed snow. Where the bag gives a rate, use that.
How many bags of ice melt for a 10x20 driveway for the winter?
1 bag of 40 lb for 12 treatments at the normal rate (12 lb in all). A snowy winter of 20 treatments takes 1 bag.
Do I need to salt the whole driveway?
No. Two 2 ft wheel tracks down a 20 ft pad are 80 sq ft and take about 0.4 lb, against 1 lb for the whole 200 sq ft.
How many treatments does a 20 lb bag give on a 10 × 20 ft driveway?
About 20 of the whole pad at 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft, and more if you treat only the tracks.
Related sizes and guides
Related sizes
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.