Ice melt for a 20 × 20 ft driveway, by how bad the ice is
Pounds for one treatment of 400 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 | 1.2 lb | 1.6 | 0.03 |
| 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Normal snow and ice, cleared first | 2 lb | 2.67 | 0.05 |
| 8 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Thick ice or packed snow | 3.2 lb | 4.27 | 0.08 |
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 | 12 lb | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 treatments | 24 lb | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 treatments | 40 lb | 2 | 1 | 1 |
A two-car driveway: which ice melt for the cold
A 20 × 20 ft two-car driveway is 400 sq ft, about 2 lb a treatment at the normal rate. Rock salt (sodium chloride) is cheapest but stops working somewhere around 15°F, while calcium chloride keeps working to about −25°F. In a cold snap, a bag of the cheaper salt on this driveway does very little.
A snowy winter of 20 treatments takes 40 lb, which is 1 bag of 40 lb. If your concrete was poured within the last year, keep ice melt off it for the first winter and use sand for grip instead.
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 20 × 20 ft driveway?
About 2 lb for one treatment of normal snow and ice at 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft, on 400 sq ft. Use about 1.2 lb for a thin frost and 3.2 lb for thick ice or packed snow. Where the bag gives a rate, use that.
How many bags of ice melt for a 20x20 driveway for the winter?
1 bag of 40 lb for 12 treatments at the normal rate (24 lb in all). A snowy winter of 20 treatments takes 1 bag.
How much rock salt for a 2-car driveway?
About 2 lb a treatment on a 20 × 20 ft driveway at the normal rate, and 3.2 lb for thick ice. Rock salt does little below about 15°F; calcium chloride works to about −25°F.
Can I use ice melt on a new concrete driveway?
Not in its first winter. Keep ice melt off concrete poured within the last year and use sand for grip instead; after that, spread thinly and shovel the slush off rather than letting it sit.
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.