Illustrative image New · one-trip Refrigerated Standard height
20ft Refrigerated Container (Reefer) — New (One-Trip)
from $27,000
Used 20ft Refrigerated Container (Reefer)
A used 20ft refrigerated container is a 20-foot reefer retired from ocean service and resold either with machinery that still runs (working) or as a non-working insulated box. This week it starts at $8,950 working and $6,750 non-working, before delivery and sales tax.
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More choice. Less legwork.
One free request goes to up to 5 sellers serving your address, each checked for licensing and insurance, and you compare their quotes or accept none. How it works
A used reefer is only as good as its refrigeration unit, so compare quotes for the same condition, working or non-working, and ask for the unit’s make and year.
$450Average gap between the highest
and lowest quote on the same request
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compare prices.
Working or non-working 20ft reefer?
| Grade | From | What it is | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working (cargo worthy) | $8,950 | The unit runs and holds a set temperature; cargo worthy box | You need chilled or frozen storage on site |
| Non-working (wind & watertight) | $6,750 | Same insulated box, sealed against wind and rain; the unit doesn’t run | You want insulated storage for dry goods or tools, with no power hookup |
This week working machinery adds $2,200: pay for it only if you need cold storage. If all you need is a dry, secure box, a used 20ft dry container starts at $1,400.
Either way, it’s a box that spent years at sea: expect dents, scuffs and old shipping-line markings. What matters is that the doors seal and, on a working unit, that the machinery cools.
Good for: chilled or frozen storage of food, produce or other temperature-sensitive goods on your site (working); insulated dry storage (non-working).
Checking a used reefer
Before you sign for a working unit, let it run: it has to cool, and the seller’s quote should say you can refuse it if it doesn’t. Carrier machinery has a built-in pre-trip inspection (PTI) that tests the unit, so ask whether one was run before your container left the depot. The make and model of the unit vary from box to box; ask each seller to name yours in its quote.
Plan on three-phase power at the site, typically 460 V in the US; a household outlet won’t run it. How cold a used unit holds depends on its make, age and condition, so give the temperature you need in your request, and ask each seller whether the unit can hold it. Power and temperature ranges.
Specs in feet and metric
| Measurement | Feet, inches, pounds | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Outside (L × W × H) | 19′10½″ × 8′ × 8′6″ | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.59 m |
| Inside (L × W × H) | about 17′10″ × 7′6″ × 7′1″–7′5″ | about 5.45 × 2.28–2.29 × 2.16–2.27 m |
| Door opening (W × H) | about 7′6″ × 7′5″ | about 2.29 × 2.26 m |
| Inside volume | about 990–1,010 cu ft | about 28.1–28.6 m³ |
| Empty weight (tare) | about 6,300–6,640 lb | about 2,860–3,010 kg |
| Max. payload | about 60,560–64,240 lb | about 27,470–29,140 kg |
| Max. gross weight | 67,200–70,550 lb | 30,480–32,000 kg |
| Tilt-bed truck access | 60–80 ft (18–24 m) of straight approach, 10–14 ft (3–4.3 m) wide; 14–16 ft (4.3–4.9 m) of overhead clearance, about 20 ft (6 m) where the container tilts off; ground that’s firm, dry and level (5° slope at most) | |
Sources: ISO 668 (20ft, type 1CC); fleet specs for the 20ft reefer (ISO 22R1) from two ocean carriers. Your container’s exact weights are marked on its doors.
Delivery
Reefers ship from the depot of the seller you choose; ask it which truck it sends and how much space it needs. In your request, say which way the doors should face and where your three-phase power supply is, so the seller can place the container with its refrigeration unit close to the power.
Delivery cost and site checklist · container foundation options
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 20ft reefer container?
Used, $8,950 with working machinery and $6,750 non-working this week, before delivery and sales tax; new (one-trip), $27,000. All refrigerated containers.
Working or non-working: which do I need?
Working, if anything has to stay chilled or frozen. Non-working, if you only want an insulated box for dry goods or tools: it won’t cool on its own and needs no power. Working vs non-working reefers.
What is the capacity of a 20ft reefer container?
About 990–1,010 cu ft (28.1–28.6 m³) of cargo space, with a payload of about 60,560–64,240 lb (27,470–29,140 kg). The insulated walls, roof and floor, and the unit at one end, leave less room than in a dry 20ft.
How much does a 20ft reefer container weigh?
Empty, about 6,300–6,640 lb (2,860–3,010 kg), depending on the manufacturer; loaded, up to 67,200–70,550 lb (30,480–32,000 kg) in all.
Where can I find a 20 foot reefer container for sale?
On this page: request quotes for a used 20ft reefer from sellers that stock them, for any address in the 48 contiguous states. For a new unit, see the new 20ft reefer.
from $6,750 Best price
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