How Much Does It Cost to Build a 600 sqm -18°C Frozen Cold Storage?

A 600 square meter frozen cold storage facility is typically classified as a medium-sized cold room, widely used for storing meat, frozen foods, seafood, and poultry products.
With a design temperature of -18°C, this type of cold storage plays a critical role in food safety, inventory stability, and cold chain logistics.

Cold Storage Design Assumptions

To provide a realistic cost estimate, this project is calculated based on standard industrial configurations:

• Cold storage area: 600 m²
• Internal clear height: 4 meters
• Total storage volume: approx. 2,400 m³
• Design temperature: -18°C
• Application: frozen meat, seafood, frozen processed foods

At this height and temperature range, the facility supports forklift operation and palletized storage, which is essential for efficient logistics.

Construction Cost Breakdown

For a -18°C frozen cold storage, insulation and refrigeration performance are the main cost drivers.

• Insulation panels:
  • Minimum 120 mm polyurethane sandwich panels
  • Required to ensure thermal stability and low energy loss
• Refrigeration system:
  • Medium-to-low temperature compressor units
  • Ceiling-mounted air coolers with high airflow efficiency
• Average construction cost:
  USD 130 – 170 per m²

Estimated Total Investment

USD 78,000 – 100,000 (equipment + installation + commissioning)

Final pricing varies depending on:

• Compressor brand (Bitzer, Copeland, Frascold, etc.)
• Redundancy requirements
• Control system sophistication
• Local installation conditions

Storage Capacity Explained

In frozen storage projects, a common industry rule is:

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

Based on this standard:

• Total storage capacity:
  480 – 600 tons of frozen goods

This capacity is suitable for:

• Regional frozen food distribution centers
• Meat and seafood exporters
• Food processing plants with seasonal inventory peaks

Energy Consumption & Operating Cost

Energy efficiency is a major concern for overseas investors operating frozen facilities long term.

• Installed power: approx. 35–40 kW
• Average daily electricity consumption:
  650 – 850 kWh
• Estimated annual electricity cost:
  USD 28,000 – 35,000
  (based on standard industrial electricity pricing)

Proper insulation thickness and correctly sized compressors help reduce unnecessary energy waste.

Investment & ROI Summary

From an investment standpoint, a 600 sqm -18°C frozen cold storage offers a solid balance between capital input and operational output.

Total Investment

• USD 75,000 – 100,000

Effective Storage Capacity

• 480 – 600 tons

Annual Operating Cost (Electricity)

• USD 28,000 – 35,000

Revenue Potential

• Average frozen storage service fee:
  USD 10 – 15 per ton / month
• Estimated annual storage revenue:
  USD 60,000 – 100,000 (depending on utilization rate)

Estimated Payback Period

• 3 – 5 years under stable occupancy