How to Choose the Right Cold Room Size for Your Business in Adelaide

Absolute Cooling Services
Aug 12
5 min read

If your Adelaide business relies on refrigeration—whether you run a busy restaurant, café, florist, supermarket, or food processing facility—choosing the right cold room size is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

Too small, and you risk overcrowding, inconsistent temperatures, and food spoilage. Too large, and you’ll waste energy (and money) cooling empty space.

At Absolute Cooling Services, we’ve seen how the right cold room installation can save Adelaide businesses thousands of dollars each year.

In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to consider so you can select the perfect cold room size for your needs.

1. Understand the Purpose of Your Cold Room

The first step in choosing the right size is knowing exactly what you’ll be storing and for how long.

Restaurants & Cafés: You may need more short-term storage for fresh produce, dairy, and meats with high stock turnover.
Butchers & Fishmongers: Larger storage areas are often needed for bulk meat or seafood purchases, often requiring hanging rails or specific shelving configurations.
Florists: Require tall spaces for buckets of flowers, often prioritising vertical over horizontal storage.
Supermarkets & Wholesalers: Need separate sections for fresh, chilled, and frozen goods.

Tip: Make a list of the products you store most often, their storage temperature, and how much stock you usually keep at peak times.

2. Factor in Your Stock Turnover Rate

Adelaide businesses can have seasonal fluctuations—think summer ice cream sales or Christmas seafood demand.

If you’re regularly turning over stock quickly, you might not need an oversized cold room. However, if you bulk buy when suppliers offer discounts, or if certain times of the year cause storage demand spikes, you’ll want extra capacity.

Example:

A restaurant that receives daily deliveries may get by with a 6m³ cool room.
A catering company preparing for a large event might temporarily need 12m³ or more.

3. Measure Your Available Space

Even if you’d like a large cold room, your available footprint may be limited—especially in inner-city Adelaide kitchens or retail spaces where space is limited.

When measuring:

Check ceiling height—you can gain extra capacity by going taller rather than wider.
Ensure there’s enough clearance for installation—cold room panels need to be manoeuvred into place.
Leave room for safe access—staff should be able to enter, move around, and load/unload without injury risk.

Pro tip: A custom-designed cold room can maximise every millimetre of available space, which is something we specialise in at Absolute Cooling Services.

4. Consider the Climate in Adelaide

Adelaide’s climate can be extreme—hot, dry summers with days that can put extra load on your cold room's refrigeration system.

If your cold room is exposed to direct sunlight or located near heat sources (like ovens or fryers), your refrigeration unit will work harder. In these cases:

A slightly larger refrigeration capacity may be needed.
Extra insulation (thicker panels) can help maintain efficiency.
Positioning your cold room away from heat sources can reduce operating costs.

Our cold room designer will ensure we take into account location and adjacent heat sources.

5. Account for Shelving and Layout

The internal layout of your cold room can dramatically affect the amount of usable storage space you will have.

Adjustable shelving: Allows flexibility for different product sizes.
Open floor space: Needed for bulk items or pallet storage.
Air circulation gaps: Essential to prevent hot spots and maintain even cooling.

Remember—installing too much shelving can limit airflow, making your refrigeration unit work harder and potentially compromising temperature control.

6. Think About Future Growth

A mistake we often see is businesses installing a cold room that meets their current needs but doesn’t account for future growth.

Ask yourself:

Am I planning to expand my menu or product range?
Will my customer base grow in the next 2–5 years?
Could seasonal demand increase more than it does now?

Investing in a slightly larger cold room now can be far cheaper than replacing or extending it later.

7. Energy Efficiency Matters

Bigger isn’t always better—especially when it comes to running costs.

Oversized cold rooms waste energy if underfilled.
Undersized rooms make the compressor work harder, increasing wear and tear.
The right size ensures optimal load and heat gain calculations, which is something our technicians carefully assess before every installation.

With South Australia’s high electricity costs, getting the size right can make a huge difference to your bottom line.

8. Compliance and Food Safety

If your business handles food, you must meet Australian food safety standards—including correct storage temperatures and hygiene controls.

Choosing the correct cold room size helps you:

Avoid overloading (which can block airflow and cause unsafe temperature rises).
Maintain consistent temperatures for different product types.
Keep stock organised for easy cleaning and rotation.

At Absolute Cooling Services, we design and install cold rooms that not only meet but exceed regulatory requirements, helping Adelaide businesses stay compliant.

9. Get Expert Advice Before You Buy

Every business is different, and cold room sizing isn’t something you should guess. A professional installer will:

Measure your available space.
Assess your product range and storage needs.
Calculate the correct refrigeration load for Adelaide’s climate.
Recommend the most energy-efficient and durable solution.

With over 20 years of experience in cold room installation across Adelaide, Absolute Cooling Services can guide you from planning to installation—and provide ongoing maintenance to keep your system running perfectly.

10. The Absolute Cooling Services Approach

When you contact us for a cold room installation in Adelaide, here’s what you can expect:

Initial Consultation – We visit your site, assess your needs, and take precise measurements.
Custom Design – We design your cold room to fit your space, product requirements, and future growth plans.
Load & Heat Gain Calculations – We ensure your refrigeration system is perfectly matched to your room size and local climate.
Professional Installation – Our experienced team assembles your cold room with airtight seals, quality materials, and industry-best practices.
Maintenance & Support – We offer ongoing servicing to keep your cold room performing at its best for years to come.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right cold room size for your Adelaide business is about more than just picking dimensions—it’s about balancing storage needs, energy efficiency, and future growth. Get it right, and you’ll enjoy reliable refrigeration, lower running costs, and peace of mind knowing your stock is stored safely.

If you’re ready to install or upgrade your cold room, Absolute Cooling Services is here to help.

Steve or Joe can recommend the perfect size, design it to suit your business, and install it to the highest standards. Click below to contact us to discuss your cool or freezer room requirements