In　cold　regions,　the　freezing　of　pore　water　in　rock　affects　the　mechanical　behavior　of　the　rock.　This　paper　studied　the　ice　content　of　frozen　sandstone　at　different　temperatures　and　its　effects　on　the　mechanical　properties　of　sandstone.　First,　the　progressive　freezing　treatment　(from　25.0　to　−　30.0 °C)　and　in-situ　nuclear　magnetic　resonance　test　were　conducted　to　study　the　evolution　of　the　ice　content　of　sandstone　with　temperature.　This　evolution　was　quantitatively　described　by　the　frozen　ratio　defined　as　the　percentage　of　the　mass　of　ice　and　the　total　mass　of　water.　Then,　the　mechanical　properties　of　frozen　sandstone　at　different　temperatures　(25.0 °C,　0.0 °C,　−　5.0 °C,　−　10.0 °C,　−　20.0 °C　and　−　30.0 °C,　respectively)　were　tested,　such　as　P-wave　velocity,　uniaxial　compressive　strength　(UCS),　peak　strain　and　elastic　modulus.　Finally,　the　effects　of　the　frozen　ratio　on　these　properties　were　discussed.　The　results　show　that　the　pore　water　in　sandstone　shows　three　stages　as　the　temperature　decreases:　stable　liquid　(from　25.0　to　0.0 °C),　sharp　phase　transition　(from　0.0　to　−　2.5 °C)　and　slow　phase　transition　(from　−　2.5　to　−　30.0 °C).　Especially,　the　capillary　and　bulk　water　in　sandstone　is　almost　completely　frozen　in　the　sharp　phase　transition　stage.　As　the　temperature　decreases,　the　frozen　ratio　first　remains　constant,　then　increases　rapidly　and　finally　increases　slowly.　Moreover,　as　the　frozen　ratio　increases,　the　P-wave　velocity,　UCS　and　peak　strain　increase　while　the　elastic　modulus　decreases.　Interestingly,　the　compressive　failure　mode　of　sandstone　changes　from　brittle　to　ductile　as　the　frozen　ratio　increases.　©　2023,　The　Author(s).