Refrigerated container (reefer) or cold room?
To store at low temperatures, two technical options: the refrigerated container (reefer) or fixed cold room. Each has its strengths. Objective comparison to know which one suits your activity.
Comparison table
| Criterion | Reefer | Fixed cold room |
|---|---|---|
| Type of installation | Mobile, placed | Fixed, integrated into the structure |
| Installation lead time | 48-72 h | 4-12 weeks |
| Purchase price for 20 m² | £8,925 – £14,700 (20') | £15,750 – £26,250 |
| Purchase price for 40 m² | £12,600 – £23,100 (40') | £26,250 – £42,000 |
| Monthly rental | £473 – £1,155 | Not available |
| Temperature range | -25 °C to +25 °C (adjustable) | Fixed at installation |
| Customisable | No (formats 20'/40') | Yes, custom-made |
| Portable | Yes | No |
| Annual maintenance | £840 – £1,575 | £525 – £1,260 |
| Service life | 20-25 years | 25-35 years |
| Building permit | No (mobile installation) | Yes if building extension |
Our recommendation
- Reefer for: temporary need (event, season, backup), nomadic activity (food truck, caterer), variable use (temperature changes), test before long-term investment, urgent need (48h).
- Cold room for: permanent activity restaurant / butcher's shop / bakery / food retail, volume > 50 m² to store, precise sizing of the space (L-shaped layout, integrated room), single temperature use without planned changes.
- Hybrid — many restaurants and caterers combine: main fixed cold room + reefer as backup during season. This is often the optimum economic solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the fundamental differences?+
Reefer: mobile autonomous unit, deliverable in 48-72 h, plugs into 415 V three-phase (BS 7671) power, fixed power by format (20' or 40'). Cold room: fixed installation in a brick-built premises, custom size, refrigeration capacity sized by an engineer. The cold room is designed to last 20-30 years at one location, the reefer for flexibility and mobility.
Compare prices?+
Reefer: purchase of new £8,925 – £14,700 (20 feet), £12,600 – £23,100 (40 feet). Rental £473 – £998. Fixed cold room: £15,750 – £42,000 installed for 20-40 m², cost varies greatly with insulation, refrigeration capacity and associated brickwork. The reefer is cheaper to buy outright and allows short-term rental impossible with a fixed installation.
What flexibility in use?+
Reefer: temperature range -25 °C to +25 °C adjustable, can change settings according to the goods. Cold room: generally sized for one temperature range (refrigeration 2-4 °C or freezing -20 °C), changing configuration requires work. The reefer is clearly more flexible for variable uses (week X: refrigeration drinks, week Y: caterer freezing).
And maintenance?+
Reefer: external refrigeration unit, annual maintenance £840 – £1,575, expensive spare parts (compressor £4,200 – £7,350). Cold room: group often remote, standard parts available locally, maintenance £525 – £1,260/year, local engineer interventions. The cold room is slightly cheaper to maintain over the long term, especially in rural areas where reefer technicians may be far away.
For what use choose which?+
Reefer: seasonal peaks (harvests, festivals), event-based, temporary backup, nomadic usage (construction site), occasional external delivery. Cold room: permanent activity (restaurant, bakery, butcher's shop, supermarket), large and constant volume, fixed location without planned relocation.