How Much Does It Cost to Build a 1,000 m² Cold Storage Warehouse in 2026?

As the cold chain industry continues to grow rapidly, more companies are preparing to invest in cold storage facilities. For 2026, one of the most common questions we receive is:

“How much does it cost to build a 1,000 m² cold storage warehouse, and how much product can it hold?”

Below is a clear breakdown of the cost ranges, cold room types, and real storage capacity, based on Haocool’s 2026 engineering data.

1. Cost of Building a 1,000 m² Cold Storage (2026 Estimate)

① Standard Chiller Storage (−10°C to +10°C)

Used for fruits, vegetables, dairy, beverages, chilled meat.

• Cost: USD 140–210 per m²
• Total for 1,000 m²: USD 140,000–210,000

② Low-Temperature Frozen Storage (−20°C to −40°C)

Used for seafood, ice cream, frozen meat, frozen prepared foods.

• Cost: USD 220–280 per m²
• Total for 1,000 m²: USD 220,000–280,000

Costs vary depending on insulation thickness, compressor type, layout, refrigerant, and energy-saving configuration.

2. How Much Product Can a 1,000 m² Cold Room Store?

This is the part customers care about most.

A 1,000 m² cold room typically has a height of 5–6 meters, giving a total volume of 5,000–6,000 m³.

Using Haocool’s standard storage density:

Estimated Storage Volume (5,000–6,000 m³):

• Frozen meat: 2,000–2,400 tons
• Frozen fish: 2,350–2,820 tons
• Mixed goods: 2,000–3,000 tons (depending on stacking)

So a 1,000 m² cold store can easily serve as a city-level distribution center or regional frozen goods warehouse.

3. Investment Return Example

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Project Type: 1,000 m² low-temperature frozen storage
Volume: 5,500 m³
Equipment: Haocool screw compressor + inverter system
Total Investment: USD 240,000
Storage Capacity: 2,200–2,700 tons (frozen meat + seafood)
Energy Consumption: 38–45 kWh per hour
Payback Period: 12–16 months, depending on monthly turnover and rental rates