When a funeral director’s cold chamber is full, out of service or simply too small for a sudden rise in numbers, the shortfall has to be covered quietly and without fuss. Local authorities meet the same problem from the other direction: heatwave and contingency plans need temporary holding capacity that can be brought in, used for a defined period and removed afterwards. A refrigerated container answers both — a self-contained, walk-in chilled space that holds a controlled positive-cold temperature and can stand discreetly on a yard or service area. EuroReefer is an editorial comparison site specialising in reefers; we hold no stock, depot or fleet, and we pass your request to specialist suppliers. This page sits alongside our other sector guides.
Two needs: everyday surge and planned contingency
Two distinct situations bring this requirement to a refrigerated container. The first is everyday surge: a funeral home whose chamber is full, being serviced or refurbished, and which needs interim capacity for a few weeks. The second is planned contingency — councils and health bodies that build temporary mortuary provision into heatwave and major-incident plans, where capacity may be called on at short notice and stood down again once the pressure eases. Both point to the same answer: dignified, temperature-controlled holding that is separate, secure and unobtrusive.
Positive cold, held steadily
Temporary holding is done in positive cold — a chilled setpoint a few degrees above zero, not a freeze. A standard reefer’s working range runs from -25 °C to +25 °C, so it delivers a directed chilled temperature comfortably, with deeper cold below zero available where a longer hold is specified with the relevant professionals. Plan around one constraint: a single unit holds one setpoint at a time, so separate requirements mean separate boxes. We cite the working range rather than a guaranteed precision — how tightly a unit tracks its target depends on the refrigeration group fitted.
Discretion and fit-out
Discretion is part of the brief, not an extra. Units are commonly plain and unmarked, sited out of public sight lines and screened where needed. Inside, the box is fitted to purpose: internal racking to hold capacity in tiers, sealed lighting, a washable floor, a strip curtain at the door to limit cold loss on each opening, and a temperature recorder where a log is wanted. None of this is fixed — set out format, capacity, racking and access when you enquire, and have the supplier confirm the fit-out in writing.
Sizing the unit
A reefer’s interior is smaller than a dry container of the same format — the insulation takes thickness off the walls, ceiling and floor — so plan a little tighter than the headline volume.
| Format | Internal (approx.) | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | usable length well under the 2.99 m overall | ~15 m³ |
| 20 ft | ≈ 5.44 × 2.29 × 2.27 m | ~28 m³ |
| 40 ft HC | ≈ 11.58 × 2.29 × 2.55 m | ~67 m³ |
The 10 ft suits a single funeral home covering a short shortfall; the 20 ft, with 5.44 m of internal length, handles larger or longer needs; the 40 ft high-cube, with 2.55 m of internal height, is contingency-scale capacity for a council or a major site.
Hire or buy
Most funeral and contingency needs are temporary, which points to hire. As a rule of thumb, below roughly 18 to 24 months of continuous use hire tends to win; beyond that, buying is worth costing.
| Option | Indicative UK price (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| Long-term hire | from ~£12/day |
| Used unit (class A or B) | £4,500 – 7,500 |
| New “one-trip” | £18,995 – 22,500 |
Figures are indicative UK-market rates for 2026, ex VAT (UK VAT applies at 20 %), before delivery and any fit-out. Minimum hire periods of around 90 days are common, since transport at each end dominates a short job; genuine short-term hire exists with some suppliers at a higher day rate. A sound used unit has 10 to 15 years of service left, and a class A machine is typically under 12 years old — ask for a PTI (Pre-Trip Inspection) report less than three months old. Our hire and for-sale pages cover each route, and the prices page gathers every range on the site.
Power and running costs
A holding unit runs around the clock. At a positive-cold setpoint the daily draw is modest for the smaller formats; multiply the daily figure by your own electricity tariff.
| Format | Setpoint | Consumption / day |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | +2 °C | 50 – 70 kWh |
| 20 ft | +2 °C | 85 – 95 kWh |
| 40 ft HC | +2 °C | 170 – 190 kWh |
Connection is usually three-phase 380/400 V through a 5-pin 32 A CEE connector, drawing 5 to 12 kW depending on format; some small formats accept single-phase 230 V. Where mains three-phase is not available — a temporary council location, for instance — a suitably sized generator is the usual answer. Settle the supply before delivery, not after.
Siting, dignity and the rules
Two things to keep straight. ATP approval governs the refrigerated transport of perishable goods; a unit standing static on a yard or service area does not fall under it. And the standards that do apply — public-health guidance and local planning — vary by country and authority, so treat them as something to confirm rather than assume. Speak to your local authority and the relevant health body before siting a unit, particularly for contingency provision on a public site.
Describe your need precisely: format, target setpoint, internal racking, access and duration. Request your quotes here — we pass your request to specialist suppliers, who contact you directly if they can meet your requirement.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature does a mortuary refrigerated container hold?
Temporary holding uses positive cold — a chilled setpoint a few degrees above zero, not a freeze. A standard reefer works across -25 °C to +25 °C, so it delivers a directed chilled temperature, with deeper cold available where a longer hold is specified. Each unit holds one setpoint at a time, so mixed requirements mean more than one box.
Is a refrigerated container discreet enough for funeral use?
Yes, and it is a routine requirement. Units are usually plain and unmarked, and can be sited out of public sight lines or screened where needed. Inside, they are fitted to purpose: internal racking, sealed lighting, a washable floor and a strip curtain at the door. Specify the fit-out when you enquire, and ask the supplier to confirm it in writing.
How quickly can a unit arrive during a heatwave?
We cannot promise a delivery time — the need often arises suddenly, when a chamber fails or numbers rise. The practical step is to enquire as early as you can and give suppliers the full brief: format, setpoint, racking, access and dates. We pass your request on, and suppliers contact you directly if they can meet it.
Does a static mortuary container need ATP approval?
ATP approval covers the refrigerated transport of perishable goods, not a unit standing on a yard or service area, so a stationary holding container falls outside it. The standards that do apply — public-health guidance and local planning — vary by country and authority. Check with your local authority and the relevant health body before you site the unit.