Reefer shipping cost: what refrigerated freight costs
Real quotes from the GetShippingRates platform on 16 US lanes for 1, 4 and 8 pallets of chilled and frozen food, plus reefer truckload prices on 600 lanes. Use them to budget; the form prices your shipment live.
Short answer: One pallet of chilled food by reefer LTL cost a median of $530 on short and regional lanes ($300 to $780), 4 pallets $1,095 and 8 pallets $1,580, all-in, in quotes on November 3, 2026. A full reefer truckload ran a median $4.00 per mile all-in, against $3.52 for a dry van. Past about 8 to 10 pallets, price a reefer truckload too.
Updated November 3, 2026 · By the GetShippingRates team at Armstrong Transport Group
Refrigerated LTL prices by shipment size
| Shipment | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pallet, 1,000 lb, chilled | $530 | $300 | $780 |
| 4 pallets, 4,000 lb, chilled | $1,095 | $765 | $1,955 |
| 8 pallets, 9,000 lb, chilled | $1,580 | $980 | $2,580 |
| 4 pallets, 4,000 lb, frozen | $1,160 | $765 | $2,175 |
Live quotes on November 3, 2026, rounded to $5. The cheapest refrigerated LTL carrier on each of 16 lanes, pickup 2026-11-06, food-grade packaged foodstuffs, non-stackable, no accessorials. All-in price including fuel.
Quotes by lane
| Lane | 1 pallet | 4 pallets | 8 pallets | 4 frozen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA → Charlotte, NC | $507 | $799 | $982 | $1,008 |
| Atlanta, GA → Orlando, FL | $559 | $1,751 | $2,582 | $1,900 |
| Chicago, IL → Detroit, MI | $528 | $980 | $1,245 | $980 |
| Chicago, IL → Minneapolis, MN | $456 | $766 | $1,186 | $766 |
| Dallas, TX → Houston, TX | $625 | $1,168 | $1,658 | $1,419 |
| Los Angeles, CA → Phoenix, AZ | $298 | $971 | $1,500 | $971 |
| Los Angeles, CA → San Francisco, CA | $382 | $854 | $1,009 | $854 |
| New York, NY → Boston, MA | $528 | $1,178 | $2,098 | $1,178 |
| Philadelphia, PA → Baltimore, MD | $471 | $851 | $1,452 | $851 |
| Miami, FL → Atlanta, GA | $546 | $1,058 | $1,381 | $1,571 |
| Chicago, IL → Atlanta, GA | $605 | $1,531 | $2,274 | $1,531 |
| Dallas, TX → Atlanta, GA | $781 | $1,957 | $2,582 | $2,174 |
| Los Angeles, CA → Dallas, TX | $666 | $1,133 | $2,071 | $1,412 |
| New York, NY → Chicago, IL | $585 | $1,365 | $2,523 | $1,365 |
| Seattle, WA → Portland, OR | $439 | $1,027 | $1,319 | $1,027 |
| Denver, CO → Salt Lake City, UT | $485 | $1,140 | $1,786 | $1,140 |
Full reefer truckload prices
Median all-in reefer truckload price per mile across 600 lanes priced November 3, 2026, fuel included. Every truckload lane page shows the reefer price for that lane.
Under 500 miles
$5.92per mile, reefer, all-in
500–1,000 miles
$4.15per mile, reefer, all-in
1,000–1,800 miles
$3.47per mile, reefer, all-in
Over 1,800 miles
$3.16per mile, reefer, all-in
Sample reefer truckload lanes
Why refrigerated freight costs more
- Equipment and fuel. The reefer unit burns its own fuel and the trailer costs more to own and maintain.
- Fewer carriers. Far fewer carriers run refrigerated LTL than dry LTL, so some lanes have only one or two options.
- Season. Produce season (spring and summer) pulls reefer trucks to growing regions and raises prices elsewhere.
- Temperature. Frozen and tight-range loads limit which carriers can take them.
- Appointments and lumpers. Grocery and cold-storage warehouses run tight appointments and often charge to unload.
Shipping food? See how to ship produce, frozen food and reefer LTL quotes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship one pallet refrigerated?
A median of $530 all-in for one chilled pallet of about 1,000 lb across 16 lanes quoted on November 3, 2026, from $300 on the shortest lanes to $780. Distance, temperature, weight and accessorials change it.
Is frozen freight more expensive than chilled?
Sometimes. In our quotes 4 frozen pallets had a median of $1,160 against $1,095 chilled; on many lanes the same carriers priced them the same, and on others fewer carriers ran frozen service, which raised the price.
How much more does a reefer truck cost than a dry van?
Across 600 truckload lanes the median reefer price was $4.00 per mile against $3.52 for a dry van, about 14% more. The gap widens in produce season.
When should I switch from reefer LTL to a reefer truckload?
Compare both from about 8 pallets or 10,000 lb. A dedicated reefer also makes sense for product that can't share a trailer or needs a set point other than standard chilled or frozen.
More shipping cost guides
Price your refrigerated shipment
Choose Reefer LTL for a few pallets or Truckload with reefer equipment for a full load. Rates from refrigerated carriers come back in seconds.
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