How Much Does It Cost to Build a 2,000m² Cold Storage Warehouse (800-Ton Capacity)?

Building a 2,000-square-meter cold storage warehouse with a capacity of around 800 tons is a critical investment for agricultural producers, food processors, and logistics companies aiming to maintain product freshness.

The actual scene of the 2000 square meters cold storage being delivered and put into use

1. Why Invest in 2,000m² Fresh Produce Storage?

A 2,000m² cold storage facility (800-ton capacity) is essential for farms and food distributors to:

✅ Extend shelf-life of fruits/vegetables by 3-6x

✅ Access premium off-season markets with 30-50% higher pricing

✅ Reduce spoilage losses from >20% to <5%

Global Need: 45% of perishables spoil pre-consumption (FAO 2024). Cold storage cuts this by 80%.

2.Key Factors Affecting the Construction Cost

Location

• Urban areas may involve higher land acquisition or rental costs.
• Remote areas can increase transportation and labor expenses.

Insulation System

• Commonly, 100mm polyurethane sandwich panels are used for fresh produce storage.
• Thicker or higher-density panels improve energy efficiency but increase upfront costs.

Refrigeration Equipment

• Options range from domestic Chinese brands to imported compressors (e.g., Bitzer, Copeland).
• Imported equipment offers higher efficiency but comes at a higher purchase price.

Control System

• Automated temperature and humidity monitoring systems improve management efficiency.
• Advanced PLC-based systems add cost but reduce long-term labor and energy expenses.

Construction Complexity

• Ground foundation requirements, internal partitioning, and airflow design can affect installation costs.

The actual scene of the 2000 square meters cold storage being delivered and put into use

3.Estimated Cost Breakdown

Based on industry experience in China, building a 2,000m² (800-ton capacity) fresh produce cold storage facility typically costs CNY 1.5–1.8 million (approximately USD 210,000–252,000).

Typical cost allocation:

• 30–40%: Civil works & steel structure
• 20–30%: Refrigeration systems (compressors, condensers, evaporators)
• 15–25%: Insulation works (polyurethane panels, floor insulation)
• 10–20%: Electrical, automation, and safety systems