How Much Does a 1,000㎡ Cold Storage Cost? Detailed Budget & ROI Analysis

In industries such as cold chain logistics, food processing, and pharmaceutical storage, building a reliable cold storage facility is a crucial investment. A well-designed cold storage system not only maintains product quality and safety but also significantly improves operational efficiency and reduces long-term costs.

So, how much does it cost to build a 1,000-square-meter cold storage? Let’s break it down by type and application.

1. Fruit and Vegetable Cold Storage

This type of cold room usually maintains temperatures between 0°C and 5°C, with moderate insulation and equipment requirements.

• Estimated cost: $100,000 – $150,000 USD
• Storage capacity: Around 600–800 tons of fruits or vegetables
• Energy consumption: ≈ 5,000–6,000 kWh/month

This setup helps reduce spoilage and extend shelf life by 2–3 times, ensuring freshness during transport and sale.

2. Food Freezer Cold Storage

Designed for deep freezing, usually between -18°C and -25°C, to keep meat, poultry, or processed foods safe and stable.

• Estimated cost: $120,000 – $170,000 USD
• Storage capacity: ≈ 500–650 tons of frozen products
• Energy consumption: ≈ 6,000–7,500 kWh/month

Thanks to stable low-temperature control, this type of cold storage ensures long-term food preservation and compliance with international hygiene standards.

3. Pharmaceutical Cold Storage

Used for medicines, vaccines, and biological products, which require strict temperature and humidity control.

• Estimated cost: $150,000 – $220,000 USD
• Storage capacity: ≈ 400–500 tons
• Energy consumption: ≈ 5,500–6,500 kWh/month

These facilities are often equipped with intelligent temperature monitoring systems, ensuring compliance with WHO and GMP standards.

4. Cold Chain Logistics Warehouse

Designed for large-scale distribution of temperature-sensitive goods such as seafood and meat, often requiring fast-freeze and multi-zone temperature areas.

• Estimated cost: $160,000 – $210,000 USD
• Storage capacity: ≈ 800 tons
• Energy consumption: ≈ 7,000–8,000 kWh/month

Such warehouses improve logistics efficiency, reduce transport losses, and enhance cold chain performance for exporters and distributors.

5. Seafood Low-Temperature Cold Storage

Seafood cold rooms are the most demanding type, often maintaining -25°C to -30°C to keep fish, shrimp, and shellfish fresh.

• Estimated cost: $170,000 – $200,000 USD
• Storage capacity: ≈ 600 tons
• Energy consumption: ≈ 7,500–8,500 kWh/month

They help maintain natural flavor and texture, ideal for seafood exporters and wholesale processors.

Investment Return Example

Let’s take a real-world example:

• Project type: 1,000㎡ fruit and vegetable cold storage in Malaysia
• Storage capacity: 700 tons
• Construction cost: ≈ $130,000 USD
• Monthly power consumption: ≈ 5,200 kWh
• Payback period: 2.5–3 years

After operation, the client reported a reduction in product spoilage by 30%, improved supply chain stability, and increased overall profits by 20% within the first year.