How Much Does It Cost to Build a Vegetable Cold Storage per Square Meter?

In modern agriculture and cold chain logistics, vegetable cold storage plays a crucial role. It helps keep vegetables fresh during storage, extend shelf life, and ensure stable supply to the market, ultimately increasing economic benefits. However, when it comes to the cost per square meter of building a vegetable cold storage, there is no fixed price. The construction cost depends on several factors, such as the scale of the facility, storage type, design requirements, insulation materials, refrigeration equipment, compartment layout, and even geographical location.

1. Impact of Scale on Cost

The size of the cold storage is one of the most important factors influencing cost. Generally, larger cold storages enjoy lower costs per square meter due to economies of scale.

• A 100 m² small vegetable cold storage may cost around $3,5000 in total, or about $350 per m².
• A 1,000 m² large-scale vegetable cold storage may cost around $110,000, or only $110 per m².

This shows that as the scale of the cold storage increases, the unit cost per square meter typically decreases.

⚠️ Note: The above prices are based on construction costs in China. Actual prices may vary in other countries due to differences in labor, materials, and equipment sourcing.

2. Type of Cold Storage

Vegetable cold storage can be classified into two common types:

• Standard Preservation Cold Storage – Suitable for short-term storage and frequent in-and-out of goods. It offers a lower investment cost but with a shorter storage cycle.
• Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Cold Storage – Suitable for long-term preservation and off-season sales. It provides better freshness retention but comes with a higher construction cost.

👉 For reference, you can also check our [fruits and Vegetable Cold Storage Project Case] to see real-world examples of cost, design, and construction details.