State contract Pennsylvania COSTARS road-salt contract: statewide average $92.47 a ton for 2026–27, up 4.82%Published price A Pittsburgh yard lists bulk rock salt at $170 a tonNOAA normal Pittsburgh averages about 44.1 inches of snow a season; Allentown about 33.1Freeze-thaw Allentown averages about 88 freeze-thaw days a year; Pittsburgh about 73 (our count of NOAA data, 1991–2020)Pittsburgh code Pittsburgh asks owners to clear walks within 24 hours after snowEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during itState contract Pennsylvania COSTARS road-salt contract: statewide average $92.47 a ton for 2026–27, up 4.82%Published price A Pittsburgh yard lists bulk rock salt at $170 a tonNOAA normal Pittsburgh averages about 44.1 inches of snow a season; Allentown about 33.1Freeze-thaw Allentown averages about 88 freeze-thaw days a year; Pittsburgh about 73 (our count of NOAA data, 1991–2020)Pittsburgh code Pittsburgh asks owners to clear walks within 24 hours after snowEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during it

Price figures are estimates from public bids and published price lists, not quotes. Where these numbers come from

Loader working a blue treated salt pile beside a red covered bridge in a snowy Pennsylvania valley
Bulk de-icing salt · Pittsburgh & Lehigh Valley

Hills, ramps and refreeze ridges. Salt that sticks where Pittsburgh needs it.

Wholesale rock salt, treated salt, brine and pallets of ice melt for snow contractors, property managers and public works from Cranberry, Wexford and Monroeville to Bethel Park, Robinson and the Lehigh Valley.

  • Grip on gradesTreated salt that bounces less on hills and ramps
  • Fast deliveryBulk dropped at your site, no salt barn needed
  • Storm-night loadingExtended loading when a big event hits
Urgent salt request

How much, where, and when?

When do you need it?

No obligation. Availability and pricing are confirmed on your quote. Planning a whole season instead?

Bulk rock salt, treated salt and brine for contractors and property managers across Pittsburgh, its suburbs and the Lehigh Valley. Tell us the tons and the date, and we'll confirm availability and price on your quote.

Ice control is safety work. A timely, documented program protects people and shows reasonable care. Colored treated salt makes every application visible.
Orange plow truck pushing snow onto the shoulder of a treated road at dusk
Steep streets

Push the grade, then treat it

Pittsburgh's hills and ramps punish a lazy plan. Push to pavement, then treated salt that sticks on the slope instead of sliding to the bottom. The streaks behind the truck keep working after it passes.

  • Plow before you salt, every pass
  • Treat ramps, entrances and shaded drives first
  • Brine ahead of the storm so the first push comes up clean
Steep lot & ramp program

Grades, ramps and loading docks

Garage ramps

Ramps cool from below and ice up before flat pavement. Brine ahead, treated salt after the push, and sand at the bottom of the curve.

Steep drives & lots

Treated salt sticks where it lands instead of rolling downhill. Treat from the top and recheck the low end where meltwater collects.

Loading docks

Dock aprons slope toward the building and collect runoff. Keep drains clear and treat the apron before trucks back in.

Refreeze ridges

Plow ridges and pile runoff are where ridges form. Push piles downhill and away from walks, and log every treatment.

Material by grade

SurfaceFirst choiceAdd for the worst spots
Flat lotsRock salt or pre-wet saltTreated salt in cold snaps
Moderate gradesTreated saltBrine ahead of the storm
Steep drives, rampsTreated saltIce-control sand for traction
Steps, ADA rampsBlended ice melt or calciumHand-applied at label rates
Pennsylvania ice

Why Pittsburgh ice is different

Hills, river valleys and lots of freeze-thaw. Pittsburgh gets about 44 inches of snow a season, and steep streets and ramps turn every refreeze into a hazard.

Spreader truck treating a snowy highway at night

Hills and ridges

PA courts generally focus on ridges and elevations of ice, and ice made worse by drainage or human-caused conditions. Refreeze ridges in your lot matter.

24-hour walk rule

Pittsburgh asks owners to clear walks within 24 hours after snow, with fines for violations.

COSTARS

Pennsylvania municipalities can buy road salt through the statewide COSTARS contract, averaging $92.47 a ton for 2026–27.

Lehigh Valley freeze-thaw

Allentown averages about 88 freeze-thaw days a year, among the highest of any eastern metro we studied.

Summarized from Wentz v. Pennswood (Pa. 1986) and a 2022 Superior Court opinion, Pittsburgh DPW snow-removal rules and the PA DGS COSTARS 2026–27 salt contract. General information, not legal advice.

Specialty de-icing

Signature blends for Pennsylvania lots

Beyond plain rock salt: treated, colored and specialty materials made for the conditions Pennsylvania crews actually face. Each one is built for a job, from cold-snap lots to clinic entrances.

Signature

Glacier Blue

Treated & colored rock salt

Base
Plain rock salt (sodium chloride)
Treatment
Magnesium chloride liquid, sprayed and blended at the yard
Color
Blue dye, so you can see coverage
Working range
Keeps working below the ~15°F point where plain rock salt stalls. How far depends on the blend
Application
Start at your quote/label rate and calibrate. Treated salt usually lets crews cut back from plain-salt rates
Best for
Commercial lots, medical and retail walks: anywhere proof of service matters
Sold as
Bulk by the ton, delivered or loaded
Signature

Evergreen

Ag-blend treated rock salt

Base
Plain rock salt
Treatment
Agricultural (beet-juice style) liquid blend
Color
Green tint
Working range
Colder and faster than plain rock salt; less bounce and scatter
Application
Calibrate to what you see on the pavement
Best for
Routine events on lots and drives where you want less waste
Sold as
Bulk by the ton
Cold specialist

Arctic Cal

Calcium chloride

Chemistry
Calcium chloride pellets or flake
Working range
Commonly cited to around −20°F to −25°F
Speed
Fastest of the common deicers; gives off heat as it dissolves
Application
Follow the label rate. Overuse can leave a slick residue
Best for
The coldest days, steps and entrances
Sold as
50 lb bags, by the pallet or the bag
Blend

Polar Mag

Magnesium chloride

Chemistry
Magnesium chloride flake or liquid
Working range
Commonly cited to around −5°F to −10°F
Plants and concrete
Generally gentler on plants than rock salt at normal rates
Application
Follow the label rate
Best for
Walks near landscaping, cold snaps, salt treatment
Sold as
Bags by the pallet; liquid by the gallon or tote
Liquid

Clearline Brine

Salt brine & liquid deicer

Chemistry
Sodium chloride brine; blended liquids on request
Use
Anti-icing before the storm, pre-wetting at the spreader, direct liquid on light events
Working range
Brine works best on warmer pavement. Blends with mag or calcium chloride go colder
Application
Calibrate sprayers to the job; don't apply ahead of rain that will wash it off
Best for
Big lots and routes, and keeping snow from bonding
Sold as
By the gallon, tote or tanker
Walks

Walk-Safe

Pet-safe & blended ice melt

Chemistry
Blended and pet-safe ice melts (varies by product; check the label)
Use
Walks, steps, entrances, apartments, clinics
Application
Hand spreader or walk-behind at the label rate
Best for
High-foot-traffic doors and anywhere dogs walk
Sold as
Bags, by the pallet or the bag

Signature names are our product lines. Exact liquids, dyes and pack sizes depend on season and supply; your written quote lists the blend. Temperature ranges are commonly cited practical ranges, not guarantees. Follow product labels.

How we treat and color salt Choosing a deicer by temperature

Everything you spread, by the ton, gallon or pallet

Everything a snow and ice crew, property manager or city crew puts down, sold by the ton, the gallon or the pallet.

Bulk rock salt

Bulk rock salt

Plain sodium chloride by the ton. The workhorse for lots and roads above about 15°F.

More →
Custom treated & colored rock salt

Custom treated & colored rock salt

Rock salt coated with liquid deicer and dye. Works colder, bounces less, and shows where it went.

More →
Liquid deicer & brine

Liquid deicer & brine

Anti-icing before the storm and pre-wetting at the spreader. By the gallon or tanker.

More →
Bagged salt & ice melt

Bagged salt & ice melt

Bagged rock salt, ice melt blends, mag and calcium chloride and pet-safe melt, by the pallet or the bag.

More →

Pennsylvania Snow & Ice Guide Snow & ice equipment, tires & chains

Colored salt: proof you were there

Plain rock salt, coated with liquid deicer and dye. The liquid gets it working colder and faster and keeps it from bouncing off the pavement. The dye shows exactly where it went, so your crew stops over-applying, your client can see the lot was done, and a dated photo backs up your records if a slip-and-fall claim shows up months later.

How it's made and why

Large salt stockpile and conveyor at a bulk salt yard

Ice control is safety work

Every lot, sidewalk and loading dock you treat is somebody's walk to work, a delivery driver's path, a patient's ride to the clinic door. Ice control protects people first and property second. It's also how contractors and owners show they took reasonable care when a slip-and-fall claim shows up months later.

People

Ice on walks, steps and entrances is where falls happen. Getting material down before the freeze and keeping it working through the storm is the whole job.

Liability and claims

A documented, timely application program is one of the strongest positions a contractor or property owner can be in when a claim is filed. Colored treated salt helps: you can see it was applied, and so can a photo.

Property

The right material at the right rate protects concrete, landscaping, vehicles and buildings. Over-applying wastes money and does damage. Under-applying leaves ice.

Crew clearing snow from a city sidewalk in winter

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Ask your insurer and attorney what records they want you to keep.

Storm-priority list

Get in line before the storm, not during it

When a big event is on the radar, the people already on our list hear from us first: material availability, loading hours, and a heads-up text before the storm. Free, no contract, and you can drop off anytime.

Deicer chemistry

Salt, mag, calcium or potassium?

Four chlorides do almost all the work on Pennsylvania pavement. The right one depends on pavement temperature, the surface and what's growing next to it.

NaClSodium chlorideRock salt. Lowest cost; slows sharply below about 15°F pavement.
MgCl₂Magnesium chlorideWorks colder, commonly cited to about −5°F to −10°F; often gentler on plants.
CaCl₂Calcium chlorideThe cold specialist, commonly cited to about −20°F to −25°F. Fastest; follow label rates.
KClPotassium chlorideWeak in real cold (best above about 20°F–25°F); gentler on plants.

Treated salt is rock salt pre-coated with one of these liquids so it works colder, starts faster and bounces less. Dyed or colored material doesn't melt better; it proves where you applied, which matters when a liability claim arrives.

Full deicer comparison table

No salt barn? No problem.

Most snow contractors don't have covered storage. So they buy a few tons at a time, burn hours driving to the yard between pushes, and run short right when the storm peaks.

Bulk delivery fixes it. Material gets dropped at your shop, your lot or the customer's site in loads sized to the season. Pair it with storm-night loading for top-offs, and your trucks spend the night spreading instead of waiting in line.

  • Drops sized to your space: a few tons on a pad, a tarp-covered pile or a full semi load
  • Scheduled refills through the season, so you're never chasing material
  • Extended loading hours during major snow events
  • Bagged pallets delivered with the bulk for walks and entrances
Dump truck driving down a snow-covered rural road in winter
Wheel loader filling a truck with bulk material inside a large covered storage building

Loading when the storm hits, not when the office opens

Storms don't keep office hours. When a major event is forecast, loading hours stretch so contractors can refill spreaders and V-boxes at 2 a.m. instead of waiting until morning, when the lots are already glazed.

Seasonal contract customers get first place in line when supplies get tight. Ask about storm loading in your quote.

See pre-buy and seasonal contracts

More than a salt yard

Learn it, gear up, watch the radar

Learn

Pennsylvania Snow & Ice Guide

Pavement vs. air temps, eutectic points, rates per 1,000 sq ft, brine, pre-wet, refreeze and liability records, with a tonnage calculator.

Open the guide → Gear up

Snow & ice store

Contractor picks for spreaders, sprayers, pushers, tires and chains, ice choppers, heaters, safety and warm gear, plus wholesale pricing on commercial gear.

Shop contractor picks → Watch

Storm Center

Live NWS radar, 7-day forecasts for Pittsburgh, Cranberry, Allentown, Pennsylvania winter alerts and NOAA's winter outlook.

Check the radar →
Public works

Emergency resupply for Pennsylvania cities and counties

Pennsylvania municipalities can buy through COSTARS, but in a long winter deliveries fall behind. When the shed runs low, ask for bulk rock salt, treated salt or brine for pickup or delivery.

Public works resupply Request a quote

Large white salt stockpiles at a bulk salt facility
Big operations

Fleets, city yards and multi-site contracts

Running a city yard, a multi-site contract or a lineup of plow trucks and loaders across Western Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley? Lock in your season's tons before the first storm. We quote bulk rock salt and treated salt by the load or by the season, and confirm availability and price on your quote.

Rows of orange plow trucks staged at a salt yard at dusk
Spreader truck treating a snowy highway at night
Aerial view of plow trucks and loaders lined up at a snowy salt yard

Plan a season pre-buy Public works resupply

Images are illustrative.

Software & tools

Snow software, sorted by what it's best at

Snow software is good at different things. We grouped the tools by strength, so you can pick the one that fits how you run.

Estimating & biddingSatellite takeoffs and fast proposals.Crew & time trackingGPS clock-ins and who's where.Subcontractor managementRoutes, subs and service proof in one system.All-in-onePlan, dispatch, prove and bill.

Compare snow software Read our Yeti overview

Built for crews, managers and public works

Snow and ice contractors

Bulk and treated salt by the ton, brine for pre-treating, and pallets for walks. Delivered or loaded, with fall pre-buy pricing. Pre-buy →

Property managers and HOAs

Material for in-house crews, pallets for entrances and a steady supply plan for the season, so your walks never go untreated.

Cities, counties and schools

Emergency resupply when your supply runs short mid-season, plus seasonal contracts. Public works →

Delivery area

Pittsburgh and its suburbs first, out to Cranberry, Canonsburg and Greensburg, plus the Lehigh Valley.

PittsburghAllentown & Lehigh ValleyCranberry TownshipWexford & North HillsMonroevilleBethel Park & South HillsRobinson & MoonCanonsburgGreensburgBethlehem & EastonAll delivery areas →

FAQ

Do I need my own salt storage to buy bulk?

No. That's the point of delivery. Bulk salt can be dropped in loads sized to your season and your site, so you aren't buying a barn or making a run every storm. Tell us your tons per season and where you plow, and the quote will spell out drop sizes and timing.

Can I load out during a storm, at night?

Storm-night loading is part of the service. When a big event is coming, loading hours are extended so contractors can top off trucks and spreaders when they actually need material. Ask about storm loading when you request your quote.

What is the minimum order?

It depends on the product and whether it's pickup or delivery. Pickup can be as small as a spreader load. Delivered bulk usually has a minimum. Your written quote will list it.

Why do refreeze ridges matter in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania courts have generally held that owners aren't liable for general slipperiness from natural accumulation, but can be for ridges or elevations of ice they knew about, or for ice made worse by drainage or other human-caused conditions (the "hills and ridges" doctrine). Treating refreeze ridges and fixing runoff is part of reasonable care. Not legal advice.

Does Pennsylvania allow studded tires?

Yes, from November 1 to April 15 (75 Pa.C.S. §4525). Check the current statute for details.

Do you work with cities, counties and school districts?

Yes. Public works crews can request a quote for emergency resupply when their own supply runs short mid-season, or for a seasonal contract. See the public works resupply page.

Why do the prices on this site say estimate?

Because they are. The ranges come from public bid results and published price lists. Your price depends on product, tons, delivery distance and timing. Only a written quote is a price.

Does ice control really cut slip-and-fall risk?

Timely, documented ice control is one of the main things a property owner or contractor can do to keep people from getting hurt and to show they took reasonable care. It doesn't replace good judgment, inspection or your insurance advice, but it is the job.

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Built for Pennsylvania winters

Bulk salt, treated salt, brine and gear for the snow crews, property managers and public works who keep Western Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley moving all winter.

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Talk to real snow people

Get a wholesale quote

Talk to people who've run plows at 3 a.m. We know what it's like when the shed is empty, the radar is lit up and your clients expect dry walks by 7. Tell us what you need, and you'll get a straight answer and a written quote, not a sales pitch.

  • Fast delivery. Bulk dropped at your site, sized to your season, so you don't need a salt barn.
  • Storm-night loading. Extended loading hours when a big event hits.
  • Storm-priority list. Get in line for resupply before the storm, not during it.
  • See it first. Ask for a yard visit and see the treated salt in person.
  • Fall pre-buy and seasonal contracts. Lock in tons before the first flake.

Quotes are answered by a wholesale supplier serving Pittsburgh, its suburbs and the Lehigh Valley. Final prices, minimums and delivery area are on your written quote.

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