Refrigerated Containers: Your Questions Answered
We get a lot of questions about refrigerated containers at C4S, from people who’ve never used one before right through to businesses that have had
Article Written By: Joe Packham
Date: 15/07/2026
We get a lot of questions about refrigerated containers at C4S, from people who’ve never used one before right through to businesses that have had them on site for years. Here are the ones that come up the most.
They hold your goods at a set temperature. You set the temperature using digital controls on the refrigeration unit and the system maintains it. They’re not designed to blast freeze or rapidly cool items. They’re built to keep things at a consistent temperature once they’re loaded, so your products should ideally be at or near the target temperature before they go in.
For a more detailed look at the mechanics, check out our guide on how refrigerated containers work
It depends on what you’re storing. Here’s a quick guide to the most common items we see going into reefer containers.
Fresh meat like beef, pork, and lamb does best between -1°C and 2°C. This range slows bacterial growth while keeping the meat fresh. Fresh fish and seafood needs to be slightly colder, between -2°C and 0°C.
Dairy products like milk, cheese, and butter sit best between 2°C and 4°C. Most fresh fruit and veg is similar, between 1°C and 4°C, although tropical fruits like bananas need it warmer, around 10°C to 15°C, or they’ll go off quickly.
Fresh flowers are usually stored between 2°C and 5°C. Pharmaceuticals and vaccines need to stay between 2°C and 8°C, which is a tightly regulated range with very little room for error. Chocolate and confectionery is at the warmer end, around 12°C to 18°C, just enough to stop it melting.
If you’re storing chemicals or sensitive materials, always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines as requirements vary widely.
Two reasons. First, white reflects sunlight much better than darker colours, which means the container absorbs less heat and the refrigeration unit doesn’t have to work as hard. To put that in perspective, a dark coloured container sitting in 32°C heat can reach 60 to 70°C inside. A white one stays significantly cooler.
Second, it makes them easy to identify. At a busy port with thousands of containers stacked together, the white ones stand out immediately. Port workers know they need to be connected to power first and handled as a priority.
A 3-phase 380/440 volt supply. Most commercial and industrial sites already have this, but domestic properties usually don’t. If you’re using one at an event or a remote location without mains power, a diesel generator is the standard solution. We’ll always confirm your power requirements before delivery so there are no surprises.
You can, but the power supply is the main hurdle. Most homes run on single-phase electricity, and reefer containers need 3-phase. You’d either need to get your supply upgraded by an electrician or run the container off a generator. It’s doable but worth factoring in before you commit.
You’ll also need enough space for the container itself plus clearance behind it for the refrigeration unit to vent. A container site survey can help you work out whether your site is suitable.
If you need it short-term or seasonally, hire is usually the way to go. All of our hired reefers come with 24/7 emergency breakdown support from our own engineers as standard.
If cold storage is a permanent part of your operation, buying works out cheaper over time. No ongoing fees and you own the unit outright.
We supply refrigerated containers in 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft. The 20ft is the most popular and handles most business needs. For exact measurements, have a look at our guide to shipping container dimensions or browse by size .
Running costs depend on the size of the container, the temperature you’re holding it at, the ambient temperature outside, and how often the doors are opened. A reefer working harder in hot weather or set to a very low temperature will use more electricity than one holding a moderate chill in cooler conditions.
As a general rule, a 20ft reefer container uses roughly the same electricity as a large domestic appliance. It’s not as expensive to run as most people expect, but it’s worth factoring in when comparing your options.
If you’re hiring from us, you’re covered. We provide 24/7 emergency breakdown support on all hired refrigerated containers, with our own engineers based across the UK. You won’t be put through to a third-party call centre. If something goes wrong at 2am with a container full of stock, you’ll speak to someone from our team who can get an engineer to you.
A non-op container is a refrigerated container where the cooling unit no longer works. The insulation is still intact though, so the inside holds a more stable temperature than a standard steel container and is less prone to condensation . They’re a popular choice for dry storage when you don’t need active cooling but want something better insulated than a regular container. They’re cheaper too.
Have a look at our FAQs page or give us a call. We also offer 24/7 technical support for all of our customers. Get in touch for a same-day quotation and we’ll help you find the right unit.
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