Ice Thickness Table The American Pulpwood Association has developed a table for judging the relative safety of ice on lakes and streams. This is just a guide; use your own good judgment before going out on any ice. Avoid areas of moving water, including where streams enter the lake, and around spillways and dams.
Ice Thickness Permissible Load
2 inches | One person on foot |
3 inches | Group in single file |
7.5 inches | one car (2 tons) |
8 inches | light truck (2.5 tons) |
10 inches | truck (3.5 tons) |
12 inches | heavy truck (7-8 tons) |
15 inches | 10 tons |
20 inches | 25 tons |
Note: This guide is based on clear, blue, hard ice on non-running waters. Slush ice is about 50 percent weaker. Clear, blue ice over running water is about 20 percent weaker. Many ice anglers do not like to fish on less than five inches of ice, and do not like to drive a pick-up truck on less than 15 inches of ice. Use common sense!