Buying a 20ft Refrigerated Container in the UK

The 20ft refrigerated container is the size most buyers end up choosing, and for good reason. With roughly 28 m³ of chilled or frozen space — enough for 10 to 11 standard pallets — it is large enough to run a proper cold store, yet compact enough to sit in a yard, a corner of a car park or behind a farm shop. On the UK market, a used 20ft reefer for sale typically changes hands at £4,500 to £7,500, while a new “one-trip” unit is generally listed at £18,995 to £22,500 ex VAT. All prices on this page are indicative market observations, quoted ex VAT, with VAT at 20% applying on top.

Why the 20ft is the standard size

Caterers, butchers, breweries, growers and event companies all tend to land on the same format. A 10ft unit suits occasional overflow, but its usable length shrinks disproportionately once the insulation and the refrigeration machinery have taken their share. A 40ft high cube offers far more volume, but it needs delivery access and standing room that many sites simply do not have. The 20ft threads the needle: it travels on a standard lorry, can be positioned by crane in most yards, and holds enough stock to matter — a full week’s chilled production for a small food business, or the entire drinks stock for a festival bar.

It is also the most liquid segment of the second-hand market. Because shipping lines run 20ft reefers in vast numbers, more of them come up for sale than any other size, which gives buyers genuine choice on age, grade and refrigeration unit.

Dimensions and capacity

Note that the interior is smaller than a dry 20ft container’s: the insulation takes real thickness out of the walls, the ceiling and the floor. If your racking or trolleys are sized for a dry box, check them against the internal figures above before committing.

What a 20ft reefer costs

A used 20ft refrigerated container typically sells for £4,500 to £7,500 in the UK, depending on age and condition. Second-hand units are commonly graded A to C: a Grade A machine is generally under 12 years old with a well-documented refrigeration unit, while lower grades show more cosmetic wear and a longer service history. A sound used reefer still has 10 to 15 years of service ahead of it, which is why the second-hand route is so popular — our used reefer listings cover what to expect grade by grade.

A new one-trip unit — shipped once with cargo, then sold — runs from £18,995 to £22,500 ex VAT. You pay a substantial premium over used, in exchange for an as-new box and a refrigeration unit at the very start of its life.

What drives the price

• Age and grade. The single biggest factor. Two 20ft reefers can look identical in photographs and sit thousands of pounds apart on condition.
• The refrigeration unit. Carrier, Thermo King, Daikin and Star Cool are the main makes. They differ in spare-parts availability and in which machines local engineers know best — worth checking before you buy, whichever badge is on the unit.
• PTI recency. A Pre-Trip Inspection report under three months old is the benchmark. A unit sold without one is a question mark, and should be priced like one.
• What the seller includes. Professional sellers may offer a cold-running test before dispatch, delivery by crane lorry, and sometimes a warranty — it is the supplier who provides one, if any, so ask exactly what is covered.
• Delivery. Crane offload, distance and site access all move the final figure; get delivery quoted to your postcode rather than assuming it.

The used buying guide walks through the full inspection checklist.

Power supply and running costs

A 20ft reefer runs on three-phase 380/400V power through a 32A five-pin CEE plug. If your site only has single-phase, budget for an electrician before the container arrives — our power supply guide explains the options.

Once running, expect roughly 85 to 95 kWh per day when chilling at +2°C, and 95 to 110 kWh per day when freezing at −18°C. Multiply by your electricity unit rate to estimate the daily cost. The standard operating range is −25°C to +25°C, so one machine covers everything from frozen storage to temperature-controlled dry goods.

Buy or hire?

If your need is seasonal or short-lived, hiring a refrigerated container is worth pricing first: long-term hire starts at around £12 a day, though many hire companies apply a 90-day minimum term, with genuine short-term hire available only from some suppliers. As a rule of thumb, once you expect 18 to 24 months of continuous use, buying tends to win — and the container keeps a resale value at the end.

Getting supplier prices

Listed prices are a starting point; the figure that matters is a delivered quote for your site. Tell us the size, temperature and timescale you need through our quote form, and we pass your request to specialist suppliers, who contact you directly if they can meet your requirement. Compare the offers on unit condition, PTI documentation and delivered cost — not the headline price alone.