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Cold Store Racking Finance

Spread the cost of cold store racking from £10,000 to £400,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a cold store racking?

Yes, cold store rackings are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £10,000 to £400,000, and most deals are written over 12–72 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–72 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
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Typical Cost

£10k – £400k

Approval Speed

24–72 hours

Same-day for < £50k

Rates From

4.9% APR

What would a cold store racking cost per month?

£70,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical cold store racking price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
12–72 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Distribution operators wanting to own the racking outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.9% APR
Term
12–72 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.5% APR
Term
36–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Third-party logistics operators on shorter site contracts

Representative example

On a purchase price of £70,000: a 10% deposit of £7,000, then 48 monthly payments of £1,477 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £77,896, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Panel & racking package, small cold store (specification class) £15,000 – £50,000 Panel & Racking Package (small cold store)
Pallet racking, -25C blast freezer store (specification class) £30,000 – £120,000 Cold-Rated Pallet Racking
Drive-in racking, frozen bulk storage (specification class) £40,000 – £150,000 Drive-In Cold Store Racking
Mobile racking, chilled distribution centre (specification class) £80,000 – £300,000 Mobile (Mechanised) Cold Store Racking

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Tax benefits

Cold store racking generally qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance, so the cost can typically be set against taxable profits in the year of purchase. Racking is bolted-together storage equipment rather than part of the building's cooling system, so it is usually treated as moveable plant for capital allowances even where it sits inside a purpose-built cold store, unlike the insulated panels and refrigeration plant around it.

Market context

Cold store racking is bought by frozen and chilled food distributors, third-party logistics operators and food manufacturers building or extending pallet storage in a cold environment. Because racking is one part of a wider cold store build alongside insulated panels and refrigeration plant, it is often financed as a distinct equipment line even when installed as part of a single construction project. Mobile and drive-in systems cost more per pallet position than static racking but increase how much stock a fixed cold store footprint can hold, which is why the choice between racking types is usually driven by the building's floor area rather than budget alone. Replacement or expansion is generally driven by a change in throughput or pallet volume rather than the racking wearing out, since well-specified racking has a long working life, and a modest used market exists for standard static racking removed from closed sites.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Is cold store racking financed separately from the insulated building it sits in?
It can be financed either way. Some operators finance the racking as a standalone asset once the cold store shell is built, particularly when racking is being added to an existing store. Others finance racking as part of a combined package with the panels and refrigeration plant when building a new store from scratch, which can simplify the paperwork for a single project.
Can I finance a used or reconditioned racking system?
Yes. A reasonable used market exists for standard static pallet racking removed from closed distribution sites, and this is generally more available than used mobile or drive-in systems, which are less commonly decommissioned. Lenders will usually want confirmation the racking has been inspected and meets current safety inspection standards before agreeing terms. A clear paper trail matters more than age alone, so gather whatever records the previous owner can provide before applying.
Why does mobile racking cost more than static racking?
Mobile racking runs on motorised bases that eliminate the fixed aisles a static system needs, so it fits more pallet positions into the same cold store footprint. That extra capacity comes from the mechanised base units and control system, which is why mobile racking costs considerably more per pallet position than static or drive-in alternatives. Whether the extra cost is worthwhile depends on how much the existing footprint is currently constraining throughput.
What deposit do I need for cold store racking finance?
Hire purchase typically asks for a 10-20% deposit, while finance leases are often available with no deposit. Larger mobile racking installations, being a bigger ticket item, sometimes see lenders ask for a larger deposit or a personal guarantee alongside the standard terms. Repeat customers financing a second or subsequent piece of equipment with the same lender often find deposit requirements ease over time as a trading relationship builds.

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