In the cold chain industry, cold storage facilities are essential for maintaining product quality across sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, seafood, and chemicals. The temperature range and design of a cold room directly determine what type of goods it can store—and also how much it costs to build and operate.
If you’re planning to invest in a cold storage facility, understanding temperature classification, storage capacity, and estimated construction cost is the first step.

1. Chiller Cold Room (0°C to +15°C)
Applications: Fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, flowers, bakery items, electrolytes, and pharmaceuticals.
Typical Cost: Around $150–$250 per m² depending on insulation and refrigeration brand.
Storage Capacity Example: A 100 m² cold room (3 m height) can store roughly 60–70 tons of goods.
2. Freezer Cold Room (-5°C to -18°C)
Applications: Frozen meat, seafood, processed foods, hotpot ingredients, and industrial products.
Typical Cost: Approximately $220–$300 per m².
Power Consumption: Around 8–10 kWh/m² per day, depending on insulation and usage frequency.
3. Blast Freezer (-30°C to -35°C)
Applications: Seafood, ice, poultry, ready-to-eat meals, and frozen food processing lines.
Typical Cost: Between $350–$450 per m² due to high-power compressors and thicker insulation.
Storage Tip: Designed for rapid freezing — can lower product temperature from +25°C to -30°C within 6–8 hours.
4. Ultra-Low Temperature Cold Room (-40°C to -60°C)
Applications: Tuna, ocean seafood, precision instruments, and aerospace materials.
Typical Cost: About $600–$900 per m² depending on system type (cascade or double-stage compression).
Storage Capacity Example: A 500 m² ULT cold room can store about 400 tons of tuna for long-term preservation.
5. Pharmaceutical Cold Room (2°C to 8°C)
Applications: Vaccines, medical reagents, biological samples, and laboratory medicines.
Typical Cost: $250–$400 per m², as these systems must comply with GSP/GMP/ISO/EN certifications and include temperature monitoring and alarm systems.
6. Constant Temperature Room (10°C to 20°C)
Applications: Tropical fruits, wine, flowers, or products that require stable environmental control.
Typical Cost: $180–$250 per m².
Feature: Keeps internal temperature fluctuation within ±0.5°C for high-end or sensitive materials.

💰 Investment Overview & Cost Factors
While the above prices offer a general range, actual construction costs vary based on:
- Cold room size & storage volume
- Temperature level & insulation thickness
- Compressor brand and system type
- Project location & labor costs
- Room partitioning (number of chambers)
For example, building a 500 m² mixed-use cold storage (chiller + freezer) typically costs $130,000–$180,000, offering 300–400 tons of total storage capacity.
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