How Much Does It Cost to Build a 3,000 sqm Food Cold Storage Facility (5m Height)?

During hot summer months, many food products cannot be safely stored at room temperature. To ensure freshness and quality, companies in the fruit, vegetable, flower, and food industries often invest in cold storage warehouses. A properly designed cold room extends shelf life, reduces waste, and ensures product safety.

Recently, a client consulted Haocool about building a 3,000 sqm food cold storage facility with a height of 5 meters. Based on initial engineering estimates, the total construction cost is around CNY 2.6–2.9 million (approx. USD 364,000–406,000). Below is a breakdown of the design.

Project Overview: 3,000 sqm × 5m Food Cold Storage

• Total Volume: 15,000 cubic meters
• Storage Capacity: Approx. 3,000 tons of food products
• Estimated Cost: CNY 2.6 – 2.9 million (USD 364,000 – 406,000)

Design Breakdown

1.10,000 cubic meters (Chilled Storage 0°C to +15°C)

• Equipment: 100P² parallel-connected Bitzer (Germany) compressor units
• Cooling: 12 × DL105 air coolers
• Application: Fresh-keeping of fruits, vegetables, and general food products

2.5,000 cubic meters (Frozen Storage at -18°C)

• Equipment: 40P & 30P Bitzer compressor units
• Cooling: DJ140 evaporator units
• Application: Frozen storage of meat, seafood, and processed foods

Key Factors Influencing Food Cold Storage Construction Cost

Several factors will affect the final cost of a food cold storage project, including:

• Cold room type (chilled, frozen, combined, or variable temperature)
• Insulation materials (panel thickness, fire resistance, airtightness)
• Refrigeration system (compressor brand, efficiency, configuration)
• Automation & monitoring (remote control, humidity adjustment, alarms)
• Construction site & logistics (location, climate, labor cost)

Because of these variables, the CNY 2.6–2.9 million estimate (USD 364k–406k) is only a reference. A precise quotation requires a detailed project assessment.

📌 If you’d like to see how similar projects have been successfully delivered, take a look at our food cold storage project case