Refrigerated Shipping Containers: When Are Reefers A Good Cold Storage Solution?

Refrigerated containers—commonly called reefers—have become an essential part of modern logistics and storage. Designed to transport and store perishable items in temperature-controlled environments, these containers are widely used across industries, including food service, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.

Whether you’re shipping fresh produce across the country or storing sensitive medical supplies on-site, refrigerated containers offer a flexible, scalable solution. But with so many types and configurations available, it’s important to understand what’s on the market and what best suits your needs.

What Types Of Refrigerated Containers Are Commonly Available?

If your business needs a refrigerated container, most suppliers should be able to offer you a combination of certified shipping-worthy used containers, refurbished containers and new containers that are priced to suit different budgets.

While various sizes do exist, the most common are 10, 20 or 40-foot options.

The great thing about refrigerated shipping containers is that, while they are versatile, they’re not designed to be a one-size-fits-all solution either. What this means is that there are lots of different types available for you to choose from.

Fridge Vs Freezer Containers

Even in fridges alone, you can choose from medium and low temperature refrigerated containers, which collectively should offer you a diverse temperature range that could sit around -40°F up to +70°F.

There are also extensive freezer container options on the market today. This includes both blast freezers, which are designed for flash freezing needs—especially recommended for foods and produce—and ultra-low temperature super freezers, which can go as low as -94°F and are recommended to clients in the biotech and pharmaceuticals space.

What Are They Good For?

If you opt for a high-quality, temperature-controlled fridge or freezer container, you can be sure that you will be able to safely preserve perishable goods during transport. Plus, they can also be highly useful for expanding cold storage capacity on-site.

This versatility means they have broad applications across industries, including in food service, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Industry leaders say that whether for short-term storage during peak seasons, long-term supply chain solutions, or highly sensitive temperature-controlled environments, refrigerated containers offer a reliable and scalable solution.

What To Check For?

However, to be sure you are getting what you need, there are a few important things to check for.

As a spokesperson for Conexwest, a nationwide container fabricator, explained, “A good refrigeration container should adhere to the most stringent industry standards, ensuring they are safe, reliable, and compliant across various sectors.”

They added, “Look for units that are ISO-certified for quality management, BIC-certified for intermodal transport compliance, and AWS-certified for superior welding quality. Plus, they should also meet FDA standards for food safety and NSF approval for sanitation, ensuring they are fit for food and pharmaceutical use.”

Other Factors To Consider

While refrigerated containers are a dependable option for many businesses, they aren’t the only choice for temperature-controlled storage. Alternatives like walk-in coolers, permanent cold rooms, or warehouse refrigeration systems may be more suitable for businesses with fixed locations or larger-scale operations.

Ultimately, your decision will come down to your specific storage volume, temperature requirements, and whether mobility is a key factor.

However, in many cases, reefers remain a highly practical choice for businesses that need flexible, reliable cold storage or transport.