Yardtally is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Yardtally earns from qualifying purchases. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
The best ice melt depends on three things: how cold it gets, what it’s going on, and who’s walking on it. Grab the wrong bag and it either stops working on the coldest night of the year, eats the surface off your driveway, or burns your dog’s paws and the grass along the sidewalk.
This guide compares the 6 common types of ice melt by how cold they work, explains which are safest for concrete, pets, and plants, and covers how to use ice melt so you need less of it.
WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE
The Quick Answer
If you just want to know what to buy:
- For the coldest nights: calcium chloride. It keeps working far below zero, long after rock salt quits.
- If you have pets: a pet-friendly ice melt, which is usually made with magnesium chloride or urea. Wipe their paws when they come in anyway.
- For concrete less than a few years old: skip chemical ice melt and use sand for traction.
- For the cheapest option on milder days: rock salt, used sparingly and kept away from your plants.
6 Types of Ice Melt Compared
Every deicer has a temperature where it stops working. Below that, you’re just throwing salt on ice. Kansas State University Extension lists the lowest working temperature for each common type. Source: Kansas State University Extension — Choosing the Best Ice Melt Product
Rock Salt (Sodium Chloride) — works down to about 12°F
The cheapest and most common deicer. K-State notes it only works at about 12°F or warmer, and it’s well documented for damaging unsealed concrete. Runoff can also harm the grass and shrubs along your driveway.
Calcium Chloride — works down to about -25°F
The best ice melt for cold snaps. K-State says calcium chloride has the lowest temperature threshold of the common types, working down to about 25 below zero, and it’s gentle on plants when used as directed. It’s also the one we recommend in our guide on how to prevent ice dams. A 50-pound bag of calcium chloride ice melt will get most homes through a whole winter.
Magnesium Chloride — works down to about 5°F
A good middle ground. K-State says magnesium chloride is generally safe for pets, but it’s harder on concrete than potassium chloride.
Potassium Chloride — works down to about 20°F
Gentler on concrete, but it only works down to about 20°F, and K-State notes it’s corrosive to metal. It can also injure plants if you use too much.
Urea — works down to about 15°F
Urea is the same nitrogen found in lawn fertilizer. A moderate amount near plants is fine, but K-State warns that too much can burn grass and plants.
Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) — works down to about 20°F
CMA has no chloride at all, and K-State considers it relatively safe for plants. The tradeoff is that it only works down to about 20°F and costs more than the others.
Sand, wood ash, and clean cat litter don’t melt ice, but K-State points out they give you traction and are safe for your plants. They’re a good backup on the coldest days, or anywhere you can’t use chemicals.
The Best Ice Melt for Concrete
Rock salt is the hardest on concrete. K-State notes it’s well documented for damaging unsealed concrete and advises against using it on porous concrete. Among the other chlorides, magnesium chloride is harder on concrete than potassium chloride.
New concrete is the most at risk. The City of Pendleton, Oregon, which treats concrete as new for its first five years, tells residents not to use rock salt, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or any deicer containing ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate on it. It recommends sand or cat litter instead. Check the bag, too. Many labels warn against using them on new concrete. Source: City of Pendleton, Oregon — Avoid Winter Damage on New Concrete
On any concrete, the less you use, the less damage it does. Shovel first, use only enough to break the bond between the ice and the surface, and sweep up the leftovers once it’s clear.
The Best Ice Melt for Pets
The ASPCA says the most common problem when a pet eats a deicer is an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. Eating larger amounts can cause more serious trouble, and calcium chloride products can cause sores in the mouth. Salt can also crack and irritate paw pads. Source: ASPCA — Keeping Pets Safe During Winter: The Dangers of Ice Melts
A pet-friendly ice melt is the best ice melt for homes with dogs or cats. The ASPCA notes these usually contain urea or magnesium chloride. They’re safer, but they can still upset a pet’s stomach. So no matter which product you use:
- Wipe your pet’s paws with a damp cloth as soon as they come inside, before they can lick them.
- Try paw wax or booties if your dog’s pads get cracked or irritated.
- Store the bag where pets can’t get into it.
If your pet eats any of it, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
How to Protect Your Lawn and Plants
That brown strip of grass along the driveway every spring is usually salt damage. Purdue Extension explains that salt on twigs and evergreen leaves dries them out, and salt that builds up in the soil can harm plants and break down soil structure. The damage often doesn’t show up for months. Purdue says sodium-based salts are the most likely to hurt plants and recommends calcium chloride or CMA instead when possible. Source: Purdue Extension — Deicing Salts Helpful for People but Not Landscape Plants
A few habits keep salt off your plants:
- Don’t shovel or blow salty slush onto your flower beds and shrubs.
- Wrap shrubs near the street or driveway in burlap to block salt spray.
- Use sand or clean cat litter for traction near your best plants.
- In spring, water the strip along the driveway deeply to flush the salt down past the roots.
How to Use Ice Melt the Right Way
K-State’s first tip is the most important: remove as much snow and ice as you can by hand first, then spread the product. It works best on a thin layer. It isn’t meant to melt 4 inches of snow. Source: Kansas State University Extension — Choosing the Best Ice Melt Product
Here’s the routine that uses the least product:
- Clear the snow with a good snow shovel before it gets packed down by feet and tires.
- Spread a thin, even layer, not handfuls in piles. A handheld spreader puts it down evenly and keeps it off your skin. Wear work gloves if you spread it by hand.
- Give it time to work, then scrape away the slush.
- Sweep up the leftovers once the surface is dry, so it doesn’t get tracked inside or washed into the grass.
A bag of it is one of the things to stock up on before the first storm. See the “Get Ready for Snow and Ice” section of our winter home maintenance checklist for the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ice Melt
What is the best ice melt for very cold temperatures?
Calcium chloride. It works down to about -25°F, while rock salt stops working at about 12°F.
What is the best ice melt for concrete?
The less chloride, the better. Avoid rock salt, especially on unsealed or porous concrete. On new concrete, skip chemical ice melt entirely and use sand for traction. Always check the bag for a warning about new concrete.
Is ice melt safe for dogs?
Pet-friendly ice melts, usually made with urea or magnesium chloride, are safer, but no ice melt is completely safe if a dog eats it. Wipe their paws when they come inside and keep the bag out of reach.
Is rock salt the same as ice melt?
Rock salt is one type of deicer. It’s sodium chloride, the cheapest option, but it only works down to about 12°F and is the hardest on concrete and plants.
Does ice melt kill grass?
It can. Salt that builds up in the soil along driveways and sidewalks damages grass and plants, and the damage may not show up until spring. Use less, keep salty slush off the lawn, and water the area deeply in spring.
Should I put ice melt down before it snows?
A light layer before freezing rain can keep ice from bonding to the pavement. For snow, it’s better to shovel first and then use a thin layer of ice melt on what’s left.
Sources & Further Reading
- Source: Kansas State University Extension — Choosing the Best Ice Melt Product
- Source: Purdue Extension — Deicing Salts Helpful for People but Not Landscape Plants
- Source: ASPCA — Keeping Pets Safe During Winter: The Dangers of Ice Melts
- Source: City of Pendleton, Oregon — Avoid Winter Damage on New Concrete