Refrigerated Containers for sale

Buying a refrigerated container: sizes and prices

The right reefer depends on how much product you're holding and where you'll park it. A 10ft fridge-freezer fits a tight back lot and runs off lighter power; a 20ft used reefer is the workhorse for most butchers, breweries and farm stands; a 40ft High Cube reefer gives you the most floor space and headroom for pallet racking. Prices in this category run from about $3,100 for a smaller used unit up to $20,500 for a one-trip 40ft High Cube.

What to check before you buy a reefer

• Condition: used (tested working, cosmetic wear) versus one-trip (near-new, full machine hour log)
• Temperature range: chiller-only is cheaper; a unit that also freezes costs more
• Machine make and hours: Carrier, Thermo King and Daikin units with documented run hours
• Power on site: you'll need three-phase supply or a generator
• Floor space: insulation eats a few inches, so interior is tighter than a dry box of the same length

Used versus one-trip reefers

A used reefer is the value buy — we test the cooling and certify it working before shipping, so you get a proven machine at a lower price with some paint and dent wear. A one-trip unit has made a single voyage, looks nearly new, and comes with a clean machine history if you're putting it somewhere customer-facing. Both ship fast from stock, usually handling in 1-3 days and arriving in roughly 3-10 days.

Common reefer makes and what to ask

The machines you'll see most are Carrier, Thermo King and Daikin. None is automatically better — what matters is documented run hours, whether the unit chills only or also freezes, and that it's been tested to pull temperature. When you call, have your power situation ready (three-phase amperage or generator) and the temperature you need to hold; that tells us whether a chiller-grade unit will do or you need a freezer machine. It also affects price, since a deep-freeze-capable unit costs more than a straight cooler.

Delivery and getting it running

In-stock reefers handle in 1-3 days and arrive in roughly 3-10 days on a tilt-bed truck, placed on your prepared spot. Before it lands, sort two things: a firm, level base so the unit sits true and drains right, and your power. A reefer needs three-phase supply or a generator — a regular wall outlet won't turn the machine over. Once it's plugged in and pulled down to temperature, you load it like a walk-in. Most buyers are storing product within a day of delivery.

Want the full picture on how reefers operate and what power they draw? Read our refrigerated containers overview. Need true deep-freeze for pharma or seafood? See the -40°F freezer units, or browse other specialized containers. When you've picked a size, request a quote — flat $500 delivery applies anywhere in the lower 48.