Ice melt for a 3 × 30 ft walkway, by how bad the ice is
Pounds for one treatment of 90 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 | 0.27 lb | 0.36 | 0.01 |
| 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Normal snow and ice, cleared first | 0.45 lb | 0.6 | 0.01 |
| 8 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Thick ice or packed snow | 0.72 lb | 0.96 | 0.02 |
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 | 2.7 lb | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 treatments | 5.4 lb | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 treatments | 9 lb | 1 | 1 | 1 |
A front path: a handful, not a bag
A 3 × 30 ft path is 90 sq ft, so one treatment is about 0.45 lb of ice melt, or 0.6 of a 12 oz mug. A whole winter of 12 treatments comes to 5.4 lb, which is why a 20 lb bag lasts this path 3 winters or more if it is kept dry.
Most of the salt on a path like this ends up on boots and then on the floor inside, so put a mat at the door and spread the ice melt thinly, mostly on the steps and the slope. Keep it off the bed or the lawn along the edge: salt that washes into the soil there is what browns the grass in spring.
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
Affiliate links As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not change what you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much ice melt for a 3 × 30 ft walkway?
About 0.45 lb for one treatment of normal snow and ice at 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft, on 90 sq ft. Use about 0.27 lb for a thin frost and 0.72 lb for thick ice or packed snow. Where the bag gives a rate, use that.
How many bags of ice melt for a 3x30 walkway for the winter?
1 bag of 40 lb for 12 treatments at the normal rate (5.4 lb in all). A snowy winter of 20 treatments takes 1 bag.
Is a 20 lb bag of ice melt enough for a front path?
For a 3 × 30 ft path, yes: 12 treatments at the normal rate use 5.4 lb, so a 20 lb bag lasts 3 winters if it stays dry.
How much ice melt is 0.45 lb?
About 0.6 of a 12 oz coffee mug, at roughly three quarters of a pound of salt to a mug. It looks like very little, and it is enough to start a brine.
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.