Refrigerated Container Suppliers
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ContainerMondo lists refrigerated container suppliers and connects you with a nationwide network of verified sellers, so you can compare working reefers, non-operating units, and delivery options quickly and easily. Refrigerated containers are also known as reefers, reefer containers, and cold storage containers.
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Refrigerated or insulated?
A refrigerated container is a steel container with a cooling unit built into one end. It does not just keep cold in, it actively makes cold and holds a setpoint anywhere from deep freeze to chilled. An insulated container has the same foam lined walls but no machine, so it only slows how fast the temperature changes.
This is the first fork in the road, and getting it right can save you thousands. Working reefers cost more to buy and more to run.
- Choose a reefer when you must hold a set temperature: frozen, chilled, or climate controlled.
- Insulated is enough when you only need to slow heat, such as a cool store or shade plus buffer.
- No temperature control at all? A standard container is the most affordable option.
How it works
How a reefer keeps its cool
The refrigeration unit blows chilled air under the floor, not straight at the cargo. Air rises through a grooved T-bar floor, wraps around the load, and returns along the ceiling to the unit, a constant loop that keeps every box at the same temperature.
Air delivery runs bottom up, so airflow matters as much as the temperature setting when you load a reefer. Blocked T-bars or an overpacked load will hold warm spots even when the display reads correctly.
The part most buyers miss
How will you power it?
A working reefer almost always runs on three-phase power, commonly around 460 volts at 60 Hz in the U.S., not the single-phase supply in a typical home or small shop. Sort out power before you buy, not after the container is sitting in your yard.
A standard wall outlet will not run a working reefer. Confirm the exact voltage, phase, and frequency stamped on the unit, match it to what you can supply, and have a licensed electrician size the circuit and breaker. Start-up draw is higher than the running draw, so plan for the peak.
Grid three-phase
If your site already has three-phase service, you can often wire the unit directly. Best for a fixed, always-on installation.
Phase converter
A rotary phase converter turns your single-phase supply into three-phase where grid three-phase is not available at the site.
Generator (genset)
A diesel genset, clip-on or standalone, powers a reefer off grid or on the move, for events, remote sites, or transport.
Ways to buy
Three ways reefers are sold
The same looking container is sold three very different ways. Which one is right depends entirely on whether, and how hard, you need it to run cold.
Working reefer
A tested unit that cools out of the box. This is what you want for active refrigeration or freezing. Expect to confirm the machine's condition and running hours.
Non-operating reefer (NOR)
A reefer whose machine is dead, removed, or simply not sold as working. It is bought purely as a heavily insulated storage box and will not cool on its own.
One-trip or new
A unit that has shipped only once, or is brand new. Cleanest interior, newest machinery, longest service life, and the highest price.
Sizes and specs
Reefer sizes: 20ft and 40ft
Refrigerated containers come mainly in two lengths. A reefer gives up a little interior room compared with a dry box the same size because the insulation and raised T-bar floor take up space. Figures below are typical, so always confirm the exact numbers on the specific unit.
20ft refrigerated container
Standard height. The right pick for smaller cold rooms, tighter sites, and single door setups, easier to place and move.
- Internal length~17 ft 8 in
- Internal width~7 ft 5 in
- Internal height~7 ft 5 in
- Capacity~1,000 cu ft
- Pallets (floor)~9 to 10
40ft refrigerated container
Almost always high cube at 9 ft 6 in tall. The workhorse for bulk cold storage, roughly double the room of a 20ft unit.
- Internal length~37 ft 8 in
- Internal width~7 ft 5 in
- Internal height~8 ft 2 in
- Capacity~2,350 cu ft
- Pallets (floor)~20 to 21
The heart of the unit
The machinery matters more than the box
Two reefers can look identical and be worlds apart, because the refrigeration unit is what you are really buying. A few things carry most of the weight when you compare working units.
- Brand and serviceability. Carrier Transicold, Thermo King, Daikin and Star Cool dominate. Favor a brand your local techs can service and get parts for.
- Running hours. Think of these like engine hours on a used machine. Fewer hours generally means more life left, so always ask for the reading.
- Refrigerant type. Older units often run R-134a or R-404A, newer units use lower impact refrigerants. Confirm it holds a charge and is not leaking.
- PTI (pre-trip inspection). The unit's own automated self test. A recent, clean PTI is a strong sign the machinery is healthy.
- Genset option. Need it mobile or off grid? A clip-on or standalone genset lets the reefer run without a grid connection.
- Pull-down test. Ask to see it reach temperature and hold it. A unit that struggles to pull down is a red flag, whatever the hour reading says.
Before you buy
Used reefer inspection checklist
If you are buying a used working reefer, walk through this before you commit. It is the quickest way to separate a solid unit from an expensive headache.
- Machine make and model, and whether parts and service are available near you.
- Running hours, ask for the current reading, lower is generally better.
- Pull-down demo, see it reach a set temperature and hold it steady.
- Recent PTI result, or ask the seller to run one.
- Refrigerant and charge, type, and no sign of leaks.
- Door gaskets and seals, cracked or flattened seals kill efficiency.
- Interior lining, stainless or aluminum intact, no rust through, drains clear.
- T-bar floor, bars straight and unclogged so air can circulate.
- Insulation, no soft, sagging, or water logged panels, and no musty smell.
- Power match, the unit's voltage and phase match what you can supply.
- Structure, corner castings, CSC plate, and no dents that stop doors sealing.
- Delivery and access, reefers are heavy, so confirm the site can take the truck.
What it costs
What drives the price of a refrigerated container
Reefers cost noticeably more than a standard container the same size, because you are paying for the machinery and not just the steel. Prices move with the market, so the real number comes from a local quote. These are the levers that push it up or down.
- Working vs NOR. A running unit costs well more than a non-operating one sold as insulated storage.
- Size. A 40ft high cube unit costs more than a 20ft, more box and more machine capacity.
- Machine age and hours. Newer machinery with fewer running hours commands a premium.
- Condition grade. One-trip and near new sit at the top, cargo worthy used and NOR below.
- Delivery and site access. Reefers are heavier than dry boxes, so distance and a tight site raise freight.
- Power setup. Budget for a three-phase hookup, a phase converter, or a genset on top of the container.
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