What Does Cold Storage Cost in Brisbane? A 2026 Pricing Guide
Matt StewartMANAGING DIRECTOR · QLD
PUBLISHED
- Most Brisbane cold storage is charged as a weekly rate per pallet space, plus handling in and out.
- Frozen space costs more than chilled; both vary with pallet height, weight and turn rate.
- The quoted pallet rate is rarely the full cost — ask about handling, minimums and re-dating fees.
- Below roughly 200–300 pallets, outsourcing almost always beats running your own coolroom.
"How much is a pallet of cold storage?" is the first question we get asked, and the honest answer is: it depends on how the facility charges, not just the number on the rate card. This guide explains the pricing models you'll encounter in Brisbane, what drives the differences, and the questions that reveal the real cost before you commit.
The four ways cold storage is priced
Almost every refrigerated 3PL in Australia uses some combination of these four charging models:
| Model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Per pallet, per week | A weekly rate for each pallet space occupied, billed on a nominated day. | Stable, palletised stock |
| Per carton | Storage and picks charged per carton — no need to fill a whole pallet. | Small and DTC brands |
| Dedicated space | A fixed bay or room leased at a flat rate regardless of occupancy. | High, steady volumes |
| Throughput bundle | Storage, handling and delivery bundled into a per-unit or per-order rate. | Full 3PL fulfilment |
What actually drives the price
Temperature band. Frozen space (−18°C and below) costs more to run than chilled (1–5°C), so frozen pallet rates always sit higher at the same facility. Ambient racking, where offered, is the cheapest.
Pallet profile. Standard-height CHEP pallets fit standard racking. Oversize, overweight or unstable pallets take up double slots or floor space, and you'll pay accordingly.
Turn rate. Stock that moves weekly earns its keep in handling revenue, so fast-turning accounts often get sharper storage rates than pallets that sit for months.
Contract shape. Committed volumes over 12 months price better than casual overflow storage — but a commitment you can't fill costs more than a flexible rate. If your volumes swing with the seasons, flexibility is worth paying for.
The charges that don't appear on the rate card
When you compare quotes, the pallet rate is the headline — these are the lines that decide the real monthly bill. Ask every provider for their full schedule of:
- Handling in / handling out — a fee per pallet each way. On fast-turning stock this can exceed the storage charge itself.
- Minimum billing — many larger 3PLs won't open an account under 20–50 pallets. (We take clients from a single pallet — it's how most of our long-term customers started.)
- Pick fees — per-carton or per-unit charges when orders are picked from your pallets rather than moved whole.
- Shrink wrap, re-stack and re-date — labour charges for fixing damaged or non-conforming pallets on arrival.
- After-hours receival — surcharges for deliveries outside standard warehouse hours.
3PL vs running your own coolroom
A small commercial coolroom carries fixed costs that don't care whether it's full: power (the single biggest line — refrigeration runs 24/7 through a Brisbane summer), rent on the whole footprint, maintenance, compliance audits and the staff to receive and dispatch. A 3PL spreads those costs across many clients, so you pay only for the space you occupy that week. As a rule of thumb, until you're consistently holding a few hundred pallets, outsourced storage is cheaper than owning the problem — and it scales down in your quiet season instead of sitting empty.
Frequently asked questions
How is cold storage usually charged in Australia?
Most refrigerated 3PLs charge a weekly rate per pallet space, plus handling fees for pallets in and out. Carton storage, pick fees and delivery are quoted separately depending on how you use the service.
Is frozen storage more expensive than chilled?
Usually, yes. Freezer rooms cost more to run than chillers, so frozen pallet rates typically sit above chilled rates at the same facility.
Is there a minimum number of pallets?
Many large 3PLs set minimums of 20 or more pallets. Deliver and Store takes clients from a single pallet upward, which suits seasonal and growing food brands.