At £1,250 to £3,150 ex VAT (add 20% VAT), an insulated 10ft is the entry point of the refrigerated range — 30 to 50% below an operational Grade B of the same size, because you are buying the insulated shell without the fridge unit that does the cooling. That single difference decides whether it is the right box for you, so it is worth being clear about what it is.
What “insulated” means here
An insulated — or isothermal — container is a sealed, foam-lined steel box with no refrigeration unit fitted. It does not make cold. It slows the exchange of heat between inside and out, so pre-chilled contents warm up more slowly than they would in a dry box or a shipping container. There is no compressor, no temperature setting, no daily electricity draw, and none of the annual servicing an operational fridge unit needs. What you get is a well-sealed thermal envelope: the walls, ceiling and floor carry real insulation thickness, which is also why the inside is noticeably tighter than a dry 10ft. Compare it against the operational grades on our prices page.
Where a passive 10ft earns its keep
The 10ft is the smallest standard size — roughly 15 m³, four to five pallet spaces, about 2.99 by 2.44 by 2.59 metres on the outside. Read that external length carefully: on a box this short the insulation eats a proportionally larger share than on any bigger size, so the usable length inside is well below the 2.99 metres of the shell. Within those limits it suits a passive chill store where goods arrive already cold, a short holding buffer, a well-insulated dry store, or a base that will take its own cooling later. It fits a tight yard or a spot a 20ft could never reach. Browse the range in the catalogue.
When to reach for something else
Two things rule an insulated 10ft out. First, active cold: if you must hold +2°C, or anything frozen, a passive box cannot do it — you need an operational reefer that draws 50 to 70 kWh a day at +2°C for this size. Second, volume: 15 m³ is little, and the insulation trims it further, so anything beyond a few pallets points to a 20ft. Retrofitting a fridge unit is possible but rarely cheaper than buying an operational unit outright — our used buying guide covers what to check before you commit.
Specifications
| Size | 10ft |
|---|---|
| Usable volume | ~15 m³ |
| Capacity | 4-5 |
| Internal dimensions | ≈ 2,99 m hors tout |
| Condition | Insulated |
| Typical use | retail, food truck, hunting, private buyers |
What "Insulated" means
A former refrigerated container whose refrigeration unit has been removed or is out of service. The insulation is retained: the body slows temperature swings but produces none of its own.
What drives the price
- The refrigeration unit's running hours — the top factor on the used market, body condition being equal.
- The make of the unit — parts availability matters more than the name itself.
- The condition of the body — corrosion, door seals, flooring marked by forklifts.
- The region and site access — delivery by crane lorry costs £700 to £1,700.
EuroReefer does not sell containers. We hold no stock and run no depot: the ranges above are ballpark figures observed on the European market, not an offer of sale. We pass your enquiry on to specialist suppliers, who contact you directly if they can meet it.
Similar references
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Insulated 20ft Container
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10ft Refrigerated Container — Used, Grade A
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10ft Grade B Reefer (Used)
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10ft One-Trip Reefer (New)
Frequently asked questions
Will an insulated 10ft hold food at a set temperature?
No. It has no refrigeration unit, so it cannot produce or maintain a set temperature — it only slows the rate at which contents warm or cool. Load it with pre-chilled goods and the insulation buys you time, not a fixed +2°C. For a genuine chilled or frozen hold you need an operational reefer that draws power to make cold.
How much usable space is really inside a 10ft?
Less than the shell suggests. The 2.99 by 2.44 by 2.59 metres are outside dimensions; the insulation takes real thickness off every wall, the ceiling and the floor, and on a box this short that loss is proportionally the heaviest of any reefer size. Reckon on roughly 15 m³ and four to five pallet spaces, and never plan around the external length.
Can I fit a refrigeration unit to it later?
Yes — an insulated box is the shell an operational reefer is built on, so a retrofit is possible. But it is a job in its own right: the unit itself, mounting, a three-phase supply and commissioning all add up. If you already know you need active cold, buying an operational unit is usually simpler, and often cheaper overall, than converting a passive one.