China cold storage solution provider
A -18°C freezer room is essential for long-term storage of meat, seafood, poultry, and frozen food products. For many international buyers, the most important questions are: How much does it cost per square meter? What is the total investment? How much product can it store?
1. Cost Per Square Meter for a -18°C Freezer Room
Based on current industry data and real project cases, the cost to build a -18°C freezer room is typically:
➡️ USD 240–280 per square meter
(Converted from RMB 1,700–2,000/m² at 1 RMB ≈ 0.14 USD)
This cost range includes insulation panels, refrigeration units, evaporators, electrical work, installation, and system commissioning.
2. Example: Cost of a 100 m² -18°C Freezer Room
A standard 100 m² freezer room (height 3–4 m) will cost approximately:
➡️ USD 24,000 – 28,500
This includes:
- PU/PIR insulation panels
- Air-cooled condensing units
- Evaporators
- Control system
- Electrical components
- Labor and commissioning
3. How Much Can a -18°C Freezer Room Store?
Storage capacity depends on layout and stacking method. Below is the general capacity for a 100 m² freezer room:
Storage Volume:
100 m² × 3.5 m height ≈ 350 m³
Storage Capacity:
- Frozen meat: 65–90 tons
- Seafood: 55–80 tons
- Frozen poultry: 70–95 tons
- Palletized goods: 80–120 pallets
This makes -18°C freezers ideal for food distributors, seafood processors, cold-chain logistics operators, and supermarkets.
4. Operating Cost Considerations
Foreign buyers pay close attention to monthly electricity usage.
For a -18°C freezer room:
- Daily power consumption: 45–70 kWh per ton
- Monthly electricity bill: USD 1,800–3,200 (depending on climate and insulation)
- Good design can reduce energy use by 10–18%
Investment & ROI Example
A customer in Manila, Philippines built a 120 m² -18°C frozen seafood storage room, using air-cooled condensing units and polyurethane insulation panels.
- Investment: ~USD 33,000
- Storage Capacity: ~85 tons of fish, shrimp, and squid
- Energy Consumption: 50–65 kWh per ton per day
- Payback Period: 1.5–2 years, supported by stable seafood demand and high cold-storage rental rates