Reefer Cargo Container Temperature Guide
Recommended carriage temperatures for 69 common commodities shipped in refrigerated (reefer) containers — search, filter by category, and switch between °C and °F. Everything runs in your browser.
69 of 69 commodities
Frozen (<0°C)
Chilled (0–8°C)
Cool (8–15°C)
Ambient (≥15°C)
Reefer Container Operating Notes
Pre-Cool, Don't Cool During Transit
Bring the container to its setpoint before stuffing. A reefer unit is built to hold temperature, not to rapidly pull down a warm load once it's sealed and moving.
Standard Setpoint Range
Most reefer containers can be set anywhere from roughly −30°C to +30°C, so the same unit type can carry deep-frozen goods on one voyage and ambient-sensitive cargo like chocolate on the next.
Keep the Airflow Path Clear
Don't block the T-bar floor channels or the ceiling air ducts when stuffing. Blocked airflow creates hot and cold spots instead of an even temperature throughout the load.
Ventilation for Ethylene-Sensitive Cargo
Bananas and several other commodities need active fresh-air ventilation to vent built-up ethylene and CO2 — check the recommended vent setting with your carrier, not just the temperature.
Verify Pulp/Core Temperature at Stuffing
Confirm the cargo's own core temperature — not just the container's return-air display — matches the target range before the doors are sealed, and log the PTI (pre-trip inspection) result for the shipment file.
These are general industry reference ranges for guidance only — optimal carriage conditions can vary by variety, ripeness stage and voyage length. Always confirm the exact set-point, humidity and ventilation settings with the commodity's own specification sheet, your carrier, or a reefer logistics specialist before shipping. Need container dimensions or stuffing plans? See the Container Standards Library or the 3D Container Stuffing Calculator.