Between £4,500 and £7,000 ex VAT (add 20% VAT on top), the 10ft Grade A reefer is the smallest refrigerated container worth buying used with its appearance intact. Grade A here means a unit under roughly twelve years old, with clean bodywork, sound paint and a fridge group — Carrier, Thermo King, Daikin or Star Cool — run up to temperature and backed by a PTI dated under three months. On a box this small, that presentable finish is often the reason to choose it.
The smallest cold store that fits
At around 15 m³ and four to five pallet spaces, the 10ft is the compact end of the reefer range — a footprint of roughly 2.99 by 2.44 metres that drops into a courtyard or a spot where a 20ft would not turn in. Read the interior carefully, though: on so small a box the insulation and the refrigeration unit swallow a large share of the volume, so the usable length is well short of the 2.99-metre external figure. Expect the same -25°C to +25°C range as any reefer and a draw of about 50 to 70 kWh a day at +2°C — apply your own electricity tariff to that. Some units this size run on 230V single-phase rather than three-phase, which can save you an electrical connection; confirm it before delivery. A sound Grade A still offers ten to fifteen years of remaining service.
Who a 10ft Grade A is for
Small kitchens and delis, florists, a pharmacy or laboratory needing controlled storage, an ice-cream or fish stall, a bar buffering stock for an event: buyers whose volumes are modest and space tight. What ties them together on this grade is visibility. Grade A earns its price when the container stands where customers, guests or inspectors can see it — front of house, on a forecourt, at a show. The clean paint and honest bodywork you pay for are doing a job the cold never sees. Compare grades side by side on our prices page, and browse the full range in the catalogue.
When to look elsewhere
Three signals push you off this one. Need real pallet capacity and you will outgrow the 10ft fast — a 20ft’s ten to eleven spaces is the honest next step. Hide the box behind a shop where no customer sees it, and a Grade B from around £2,500 to £4,500 ex VAT holds cold just as well for less; our used buying guide covers the inspection. Need it for under eighteen to twenty-four months, and hiring — from roughly £12 a day on longer terms, though a ninety-day minimum is common — stays the wiser route. And if you never plug it in, an insulated non-operational 10ft costs only about £1,250 to £3,150.
Specifications
| Size | 10ft |
|---|---|
| Usable volume | ~15 m³ |
| Capacity | 4-5 |
| Internal dimensions | ≈ 2,99 m hors tout |
| Temperature range | -25 °C / +25 °C |
| Condition | Class A |
| Power supply | Three-phase 380/400 V, 32 A CEE plug (5-pin) |
| Common refrigeration units | Carrier, Thermo King, Daikin, Star Cool |
| Typical use | retail, food truck, hunting, private buyers |
What "Class A" means
A recent unit — often under 12 years old — with a refrigeration unit in good condition and a lightly marked body. The choice for intensive year-round use.
A standard reefer covers both modes: it's a setpoint to adjust, not a different product. It also heats, up to +25°C (frost-free storage).
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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20ft Used Grade A Reefer
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20ft Freezer Container (Grade A reefer)
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40ft High Cube Reefer — Used, Grade A
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40ft High-Cube Reefer Freezer — Grade A
Frequently asked questions
How much usable space is really inside a 10ft reefer?
Less than the roughly 2.99-metre external length suggests. On a refrigerated container the insulation and the fridge unit take a proportionally large bite out of such a small box — the walls, ceiling and floor all lose thickness to the foam. Reckon on around 15 m³ and four to five pallet spaces of genuine working volume, and measure your load before you commit.
Does a 10ft reefer need a three-phase supply?
Many reefers run on three-phase 380/400V through a 32A CEE plug, but some smaller units are wired for 230V single-phase — worth checking, because it can spare you an electrical connection you would otherwise pay for. Confirm the exact requirement with the supplier before delivery, and never assume the socket in your yard will match. The unit draws roughly 50 to 70 kWh a day at +2°C; apply your own tariff.
Is Grade A worth the extra over a Grade B on such a small unit?
Only if the box is seen. Grade A means clean bodywork and paint under about twelve years old; Grade B, from around £2,500 to £4,500 ex VAT, holds cold just as well but shows dents and rust pitting. If your 10ft sits behind a shop rather than in front of it, the cheaper grade makes more sense. Pay for the finish when customers, not just staff, will look at it.