How to Choose a Rock Salt Supplier: 6 Things to Consider

Sept 26th, 2025

When it comes to keeping your property, business, or site safe during the winter, choosing the right rock salt supplier is essential. Your decision should be based on more than just price - it’s about reliability, quality, and peace of mind that your products arrive when you need them.

Here at Online Rock Salt, we have spent nearly two decades helping customers across the UK stay safe with high-quality de-icing products.

Based on our time in the industry, we have outlined six key factors to help you make the right choice.

When choosing your de-icing salt supplier, make sure they offer the full range of products you might need. Some suppliers only sell one or two options which means you have to compromise.

At Online Rock Salt we provide a complete selection including rock salt, white salt, liquid de-icers and grit bins:

White Salt – ideal for areas that experience a lot of traffic in and out of buildings. It leaves no residue behind, helping to keep those spaces clean.

Rock Salt – a cost-effective, reliable choice for most applications, but it can leave a slight residue behind.

Liquid De-Icers – a solution offering rapid and efficient winter-weather protection, even in extreme cold conditions.

However, it’s not just about what you can buy – it’s also about how you can buy it. Both rock salt and white salt are available in pre-packed bags, bulk bags, or loose loads, while liquid de-icers can be supplied in cans or IBCs. This way you always get the right product in the right format to suit your site.

Choosing a supplier that offers so many options means they can easily adapt to your future needs. For example, if you ever decide to scale up from pre-packed bags to loose loads, it will be done with no issues and no delays - which, as we know, is key to keeping your areas safe during the colder months.

It is often presumed that all rock salt suppliers offer the same standard of de-icing salt in their products. Sadly, that’s not the case.

The quality can vary from one supplier to another, with many selling poor quality, high moisture content salt. It can be recognised as it often feels damp or sticky to the touch.

This is why it is important to only buy your de-icing salt from suppliers that meet the BS 3247:2011 standard, such as ourselves.

The BS 3247:2011 ensures that the rock salt you buy does not contain more than 4% moisture and the salt particles are the right size. Poor quality salt clumps together, spreads unevenly and works more slowly, leaving areas unsafe for longer. In simple terms, good quality rock salt will last longer, keep you safe, and be ready to use whenever you need it.

Buying rock salt can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. A good supplier can make things much easier by offering clear advice and support. With a knowledgeable team that listens to the challenges you face during winter, you can get product recommendations tailored to your needs. This takes away the stress of choosing the wrong option.

A reliable supplier should also provide excellent customer service if any issues arise. They should respond quickly to questions and concerns, so you always feel supported. At Online Rock Salt, for example, our de-icing experts are available through live chat, email at info@onlinerocksalt.co.uk, or by phone on 01695 425038. We also share regular blogs and guides in our knowledge base for those who prefer to do their own research or simply enjoy learning more about salt.

By contrast, buying from a supplier without strong customer support can cause real problems. You may receive little guidance, end up with the wrong products, or struggle with poor communication. In the worst case, if an issue does occur, it could take far longer to resolve.

Your rock salt supplier needs to be reliable. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a situation where you can’t get your salt when you need it most, as your supplier ran out of stock or their distribution capacity is limited.

This is why Online Rock Salt doesn’t just resell from others – instead, we import our own white salt from warmer countries and rock salt directly from the Winsford Mine. This allows us to offer our customers the best prices as well as offering a steady, reliable supply of salt, no matter what the winter brings.

Our longevity in this industry has allowed us to work through some of the UK’s harshest winters, such as the Beast from the East, too. This gives us the experience needed to handle periods when the demand is at its peak effortlessly.

Choosing a supplier with this level of reliability means peace of mind: you know your salt will be there when you need it, helping you keep your site safe all winter long.

De-icing salt is heavy. Unless you can transport it yourself, choose a supplier who offers delivery that works for you. Check the delivery details on their website or contact them if it’s unclear. Terms like ‘standard delivery’ or ‘economical delivery’ can mean different things at different companies, so always confirm how long each option takes.

Cold snaps can happen suddenly, so it’s best to pick a supplier who can deliver their products quickly. Online Rock Salt, for example, offers next-day delivery across the UK mainland for orders placed before 2pm. Alternatively, you can choose a different delivery date at checkout.

We also offer extra services to make this process as easy and convenient as possible. These include pre-1pm delivery service, Saturday delivery, and a signature-free delivery. That way, all our customers can choose the option that works best for them.

Delivery vehicles can make a big difference to how easily your order reaches you. At Online Rock Salt we normally deliver using 18-tonne trucks, but if access to your site is restricted you can request a smaller vehicle. We will always do our best to accommodate these requests, although availability can vary. When choosing a supplier, it’s worth checking that they can offer the same flexibility.

Please note: on some dates, a surcharge may apply. This helps us manage busier periods and ensures we can deliver your products reliably and in the best condition. If one day is particularly busy, you may find a quieter day available at a lower cost. All delivery options and any charges will be shown clearly at checkout.

It may be tempting to simply purchase your salt from the cheapest supplier you can find. Unfortunately, when something seems too good to be true - it usually is. Some low-cost suppliers may provide low-quality products. As explained in the product quality section, these can end up being more costly in the long run since they are less effective and may not be ready to use when you need them most.

Instead, look for a supplier that offers both competitive pricing and excellent quality, like Online Rock Salt.

Make sure that your supplier can process purchase orders if you intend to place one. In our business, these can be emailed to info@onlinerocksalt.co.uk . If you are a public-sector organisation, we can set up an account for you. If not, we will ask you to complete a credit application form first.

Choosing the right rock salt supplier is about more than just price.

The best partner should offer a wide range of quality products, reliable service, and flexible delivery – all while keeping pricing competitive. This way, your supplier can support your needs not just this winter, but for many years to come.

At Online Rock Salt, we have nearly two decades of experience. We’ve helped businesses, public organisations, and homeowners across the UK stay safe during even the harshest winters. Our strong supply chain, dependable service, and expert team mean you can count on us no matter the weather.

Do you want to work with a rock salt supplier you can rely on? Explore our full product range or speak to one of our de-icing experts on 01695 425038 and get your tailored quote today!