What does a blast freezer cost for your tonnage?
Estimate freezing duty in kW, equipment CAPEX range and annual energy cost for blast tunnels, cells, spirals and plate freezers — then send the same numbers to suppliers as an RFQ.
Send these figures to qualified blast freezing suppliers, or check financing options for the CAPEX.
ColdMatch Group is a supplier-neutral procurement platform — not a manufacturer, contractor or lender.
Estimates Only: This calculator is provided for general informational purposes only. Results are approximate and may contain errors, omissions, or outdated information. They do not constitute legal, financial, engineering, tax, technical, or professional advice. Users are solely responsible for independently verifying all calculations, specifications, prices, regulations, and requirements with qualified professionals before making any decisions. By using this calculator, you acknowledge that the website owners, operators, and affiliates accept no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, or decisions resulting from its use.
Blast freezer cost is driven by freezing duty, not room size. A tunnel freezing 20 t/day of fish to −18 °C needs roughly 200–260 kW of refrigeration at −35 °C evaporating, and equipment CAPEX typically lands at USD 2,200–2,600 per kW of duty for air-blast tunnels and cells, USD 3,000–3,300 for plate freezers and USD 4,000–4,500 for spiral freezers, excluding civil works. Energy use is usually 70–140 kWh per tonne frozen.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a blast freezer cost?
Indicatively USD 2,200–2,600 per kW of freezing duty for air-blast tunnels and cells, USD 3,000–3,300 for plate freezers and USD 4,000–4,500 for spiral lines, supplied and commissioned but excluding building works.
How is blast freezing capacity calculated?
Multiply tonnage by product enthalpy change (roughly 210–300 kJ/kg from chilled to −18 °C), divide by the freezing cycle time in seconds, then add about 20% for fans, defrost and margin.
What evaporating temperature do blast freezers need?
About −35 °C for a −18 °C core, −40 °C for −25 °C, and −45 °C or lower for deep-freeze tuna applications.
Blast freezer costing: buyer questions
- How much does a blast freezer cost?
- Indicative CAPEX is driven by daily freezing tonnage, entry and target core temperature and freezing time, not by room volume alone. Most industrial blast freezers land between USD 120,000 and USD 900,000 installed. The calculator applies typical duty and cost factors so the figure you send to suppliers is realistic.
- What refrigeration duty does a blast freezer need?
- Blast duty is calculated from the mass to be frozen per batch, the enthalpy difference between entry and core temperature, and the freezing window. A tunnel freezing 10 t/day from +10 °C to −18 °C typically needs several hundred kW of refrigeration — far more than a static freezer room of the same size.
- Blast freezer or IQF tunnel?
- Blast cells and trolleys suit boxed, carton or carcass product with longer freezing windows. IQF spiral or fluidised-bed tunnels suit free-flowing pieces such as shrimp, berries, fries and diced vegetables where individual quick freezing and continuous throughput matter.
- What does ColdMatch do with my numbers?
- Your sizing becomes a structured RFQ — tonnage, temperatures, freezing time, refrigerant policy, power and site country — routed to several relevant manufacturers so quotes come back on the same scope. ColdMatch does not manufacture equipment.
Indicative planning figures only — final sizing belongs to the supplier's detailed design. Request comparable supplier quotes · all cold chain tools
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