Silica Gel Size Chart 1g–1kg: How to Choose by Cargo Weight

Overview of Common Silica Gel Packet Sizes

The industrial silica gel market offers 10 standard weight grades, from 1g to 1,000g. Selecting the wrong size results in either over-spending (packet too large) or inadequate moisture protection (packet too small).

The 10 standard sizes in ascending order: 1g, 2g, 3g, 5g, 10g, 20g, 50g, 100g, 500g, 1,000g. Each size has a distinct packet footprint, number of packets per kilogram of silica gel granules, and typical application range.

Full Size Chart — Cargo Weight vs Silica Gel Packet

Packet Size (g)	Approx. Dimensions (mm)	Packets / kg of Granules	Air Volume Protected (litres)	Recommended Packaging	Typical Application
1g	30 × 40	~1,000	0.5–1	Non-woven KD red / Tyvek	Pill bottles, capsule jars, small metal accessories
2g	35 × 55	~500	1–2	Non-woven KD white	Small confectionery bags, eyewear cases
5g	45 × 70	~200	3–5	Non-woven / OPP film / Tyvek	Shoe boxes, garment bags, small electronics
10g	60 × 80	~100	5–10	Non-woven blue / OPP film	Electronic component trays, small export cartons
20g	70 × 100	~50	10–20	Non-woven blue	Electronics cartons, dried seafood cartons
50g	90 × 130	~20	25–50	Tyvek printed / Non-woven	Export cartons, furniture packaging
100g	110 × 160	~10	50–100	Non-woven blue	Large timber crates, garment pallets
500g	150 × 250 (hook)	~2	250–500	Non-woven hanging hook	20-ft container (12–16 packs needed), large warehouses
1,000g (4 bags)	4 × 250g hanging	~1	500–1,000	Non-woven 4-bag hanging	40-ft container (6–8 packs needed), port warehouses

Note: Dimensions and packets per kg are industry-standard estimates; actual values may vary ±10% by manufacturer and granule packing density. Reference: ASTM E96/E96M-22 moisture vapor transmission rate standard.

Silica Gel Calculation Formula by Volume

The most widely used quick estimation formula in the logistics and packaging industry:

Silica gel required (g) = Sealed air volume (litres) × 1 g/litre

(Valid at 30°C / 70% RH — typical tropical conditions in Vietnam and Southeast Asia)

Practical calculation examples:

• 20-foot container (TEU): Internal volume ~33 m³ = 33,000 litres → requires 33,000 g = 33 kg silica gel. In practice, 6–8 × 500g hanging packs + 2 × 1,000g packs = 5–6 kg is used, covering 60–70% of adsorption demand (containers are not perfectly sealed). See: how to choose container desiccants.
• Carton 60 × 40 × 40 cm: Volume ~96 litres → ~100g silica gel → use 2 × 50g or 1 × 100g packet.
• Glass display cabinet 1 m³: 1,000 litres → ~1,000g silica gel → use 2 × 500g packs.
• Shoe box (30 × 20 × 15 cm): ~9 litres → 5–10g → use 1 × 5g packet.

Adjustment factors: Moisture-sensitive goods (electronics, pharmaceuticals) multiply by 1.5–2.0. Long voyages (60+ days) multiply by 1.5.

5 Common B2B Use Cases

Case 1 — Pharmaceutical Manufacturer (Tablets, Capsules)

Requirements: FDA GRAS compliance, lint-free, minimal footprint inside blister or bottle. 1g silica gel in red non-woven KD or white Tyvek is the industry standard. MOQ typically 100,000–500,000 packets per order.

Case 2 — Confectionery and Packaged Food Manufacturer

Small confectionery bags (50–200g content) typically use 2g–3g silica gel placed inside the bag with the product. Food-grade PP non-woven or Tyvek required. 2g white food-grade non-woven KD is the most cost-effective option for high-volume production.

Case 3 — Footwear Export Company

Each shoe box typically requires 1 packet of 5g–10g. At 10,000 pairs per month, that equals 10,000–20,000 packets per month — suitable for pallet purchasing. 5g Japanese-labelled non-woven (printed with "乾燥剤") is required for many Japan-bound orders.

Case 4 — Electronics Assembly and Export

Electronics cartons of 0.05–0.2 m³ need 1–2 packets of 10g–20g. Lint-free requirement is critical. 10g Tyvek or OPP film packets prevent fibre contamination of PCBs. Per container order: each 20-ft electronics container = 500–2,000 packets of 10g–20g.

Case 5 — Freight Forwarder, Logistics Provider, Port Operator

Buying for resupply to shippers on demand. Need stock across multiple sizes: 50g, 500g, 1,000g. 500g and 1,000g hanging non-woven packs are the highest-volume items for ocean container shipments. See: how many desiccant packs per container.

MOQ + Pricing Tiers — Bulk Silica Gel Orders

CEMACO Sai Gon applies volume-based pricing tiers. Contact us for specific pricing — the table below shows standard MOQ levels and lead times:

Order Tier	Quantity (example: 50g packets)	Equivalent Granules (kg)	Lead Time	Format
Tier 1 — Sample	100–1,000 packets	5–50 kg	3–5 days (stock)	Small carton pickup
Tier 2 — Small Production	1,000–10,000 packets	50–500 kg	3–7 days (stock)	Standard pallet
Tier 3 — Monthly Contract	10,000–100,000 packets	500 kg – 5 tonnes	7–14 days	Recurring supply contract
Tier 4 — Custom Logo Print	50,000+ packets (Tyvek)	≥ 2.5 tonnes	21–30 days	4-colour logo print, custom packaging

Request a quote: fill in the RFQ form or call +84 983 929 232 (24/7) to receive a price list by size and packaging type.

Warning Signs of Low-Quality Silica Gel

When sourcing bulk silica gel from unknown suppliers, check for these 5 warning signs:

1. Excessive dust when shaking the packet: Quality silica gel produces minimal dust. High dust levels indicate broken granules during transit or inferior-grade raw material, potentially contaminating packaged goods.
2. Significant granule breakage: Pour some onto a tray — a breakage rate below 5% is acceptable; above 10% indicates poor quality.
3. Indicator does not change colour properly: Orange indicator must shift to green when saturated; blue must shift to pink. Faded or non-responsive indicator means the indicating agent does not meet specification.
4. No MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) available: MSDS is mandatory documentation for industrial chemicals. Suppliers who cannot provide MSDS on request are a red flag.
5. No ISO 9001 certification: ISO 9001 ensures consistent quality-management processes. CEMACO Sai Gon holds both ISO 9001 and HACCP certifications — see our certifications page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to buy bulk silica gel in Ho Chi Minh City?

CEMACO Sai Gon — 279 Dien Bien Phu Street, Gia Dinh Ward, HCMC — is a B2B silica gel manufacturer and distributor certified ISO 9001 + HACCP. Hotline +84 983 929 232 (24/7), with nationwide delivery. Request a quote to receive a volume price list.

How many silica gel packs does a 20-foot container need?

A 20-foot container (~33 m³) on a 30–45-day ocean voyage typically requires 6–8 × 500g hanging packs or 3–4 × 1,000g packs (total 3–4 kg silica gel). Electronics or food cargo requires double that amount. See the detailed formula in our guide on choosing container desiccants.

What is the shelf life of unused silica gel packets?

Silica gel in sealed, undamaged packaging has a shelf life of 2–3 years from the manufacturing date. Once placed inside cargo packaging, working life depends on ambient conditions — typically 30–90 days for ocean container shipments.

Can I order silica gel with custom printed logo?

Yes. CEMACO Sai Gon accepts custom logo printing on non-woven KD and Tyvek packaging. MOQ for custom print starts at 10,000 packets; production lead time is 14–21 days after design proof approval. Contact us for a custom print quotation.

How much does 50g silica gel cost per packet?

Pricing depends on packaging type (non-woven KD vs Tyvek), order quantity and whether custom printing is required. CEMACO Sai Gon does not publish fixed retail prices due to raw material fluctuations — call +84 983 929 232 or fill in the RFQ form to receive current volume pricing.

Read more — flagship article: Silica Gel — The Complete Guide 2026 — chapters 4 + 5 cover size selection 1g–1,000g per industry and the volume-based quantity formula.

Related — container shipping guides: What Is Container Rain? · Container Desiccant Quantity Calculator · Silica Gel vs Clay vs CaCl₂ for Container Shipping.