How Much Does It Cost to Build a 400 sqm Cold Storage Facility?

A 400 square meter cold storage facility is commonly used by food processors, agricultural distributors, pharmaceutical suppliers, and cold chain operators.

Typical Design Parameters for a 400 sqm Cold Storage

To provide a realistic reference, the following assumptions are used:

• Cold storage area: 400 m²
• Clear internal height: 3.5 meters
• Total storage volume: approx. 1,400 m³
• Typical temperature range: around 0°C (chilled storage)
• Application: fruits, vegetables, food ingredients, pharmaceuticals

This configuration supports palletized storage and standard forklift operation.

Construction Cost Overview

Under normal conditions, the construction cost of a 400 sqm cold storage facility typically falls within a broad range due to different technical choices.

Standard Configuration

• Polyurethane insulated panels
• Ceiling-mounted air coolers
• Standard refrigeration units
• Manual sliding doors

Estimated investment:
USD 48,000 – 70,000

Upgraded Configuration (Higher Specification)

Costs may increase by USD 15,000 – 30,000 if the project includes:

• B1 fire-rated insulation panels
• Premium compressor brands (Bitzer, Copeland, etc.)
• Electric sliding doors
• Stainless steel or anti-corrosion panels
• Multiple temperature zones or internal partitions

Special cold storage types such as blast freezers, controlled atmosphere storage, explosion-proof cold rooms, or ultra-low temperature facilities require significantly higher investment.

Storage Capacity Explained

In chilled storage applications, a common industry estimate is:

1 ton of product ≈ 4–5 m³ of cold storage volume

Based on 1,400 m³ usable volume:

• Estimated storage capacity:
  280 – 350 tons of goods

This scale is suitable for:

• Regional food distribution centers
• Agricultural storage hubs
• Medium-sized food processing plants

Energy Consumption & Operating Cost

Operating cost is a key concern for long-term profitability.

• Installed power: approx. 18–22 kW
• Average daily electricity consumption:
  300 – 450 kWh
• Estimated annual electricity cost:
  USD 12,000 – 18,000
  (depending on local electricity pricing and usage patterns)

Energy-efficient insulation and properly sized refrigeration systems help maintain stable operating costs.