12 ft Refrigerated Trailer
Starting from $1,895 / month
The smallest trailer in the lineup. It fits tight lots and loading areas when a small walk-in cooler or freezer goes down.
Delaware Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Delaware. When a walk-in cooler or freezer fails, our refrigerated trailer and container rentals put cold storage on your site, along with mobile kitchens and dishwashing trailers if the kitchen is down too. We list pages for Wilmington, Dover, Newark, and Middletown and 16 more Delaware cities and towns, and service is nationwide, so a site anywhere in the state is covered. Hospitals, schools, restaurants, grocers, and distributors rent from us, short term or long term. Call 24/7 or request availability and a quote.
Delaware cities and towns
20 pages: the 5 largest cities, then 15 smaller towns under 10,000 people. Each page has local delivery planning, emergency support, requirements, and routes.
Cities
Largest cities
- Wilmington refrigeration rentals 71,675 people, New Castle County
- Dover refrigeration rentals 39,894 people, Kent County
- Newark refrigeration rentals 30,169 people, New Castle County
- Middletown refrigeration rentals 25,022 people, New Castle County
- Milford refrigeration rentals 13,289 people, Kent County
Smaller cities and towns
- Selbyville 3,184
- Seaford 8,735
- Lewes 3,604
- Georgetown 7,873
- Millsboro 7,637
- Clayton 4,399
- Harrington 3,860
- Delmar 2,216
- Delaware City 1,905
- Greenwood 1,089
- Bethany Beach 1,059
- Elsmere 6,157
- New Castle 5,549
- Laurel 4,275
- Camden 4,188
What drives cold-storage demand in Delaware
Delaware has a humid subtropical climate moderated by the Atlantic and Delaware Bay, with long, hot, humid summers that often bring brief late-day thunderstorms. Winters are cool to cold in the north and cool to mild in the south, with snowfall averaging about 20 inches in Wilmington and about 10 inches in Lewes.
The hottest stretch runs june to August. The coldest runs december to February. Both extremes strain commercial refrigeration, and both bring calls for emergency cold storage.
Hospitals, universities, grocers, and restaurants here often need a trailer that fits a narrow service lane or a shared loading dock.
Weather and hazards
- Flood (Year-round, peaking with tropical systems and nor'easters (late summer to winter)): Delaware has the lowest mean elevation of any state, and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency describes flooding as the most common weather hazard; southern coastal areas face erosion and flooding during large storms. Coastal and tidal flooding can interrupt power and access, which can spoil stock and often creates a need for temporary cold storage or a replacement kitchen. Source
- Other (October to April (nor'easters)): On October 12, 2025, DEMA activated the Delaware National Guard ahead of a nor'easter with moderate to major coastal flooding and damaging winds; DNREC closed Delaware Seashore and Cape Henlopen state park beaches. Coastal storms can close beach-town restaurants and disrupt power and deliveries, which can leave perishable food at risk. Source
- Hurricane (June to November (peak August to October)): Bethany Beach's worst storm was the 1962 Ash Wednesday Storm, and Hurricane Gloria in 1985 badly damaged its boardwalk; Dover was hit by an EF2 tornado spawned by Hurricane Isaias on August 4, 2020. Tropical storms can bring flooding and multi-day outages that often affect resort and farm-area food businesses. Source
- Winter storm (December to March): A blizzard on February 23, 2026 left about a third of Sussex County customers of Delmarva Power and the Delaware Electric Cooperative without power; the February 2010 blizzard left a record 28 inches of snow depth near Greenwood. Heavy snow and wind can cause outages that last long enough to threaten walk-in coolers and freezers. Source
Power outages
- During the February 23, 2026 blizzard, 14,223 of Delmarva Power's 84,812 Sussex customers and 55,110 of the Delaware Electric Cooperative's 121,906 customers were reported without power at midday. Storms can leave rural and coastal food operations without power for a day or more. Source
- Delaware's emergency agency warned of possible power outages when it activated the National Guard for coastal flooding and high winds on October 12-13, 2025. Even short coastal-storm outages can spoil refrigerated food for businesses near the beaches. Source
Food and hospitality
- Delmarva's chicken industry raised about 613 million chickens and generated roughly $4.8 billion in sales in 2024; nearly three-fourths of Delaware's cash farm income has come from chickens. Poultry processing and distribution run on continuous refrigeration, so equipment failures or surges can create urgent cold storage needs. Source
- Rehoboth Beach swells to over 25,000 people in summer, and its restaurants and boardwalk draw visitors from Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Seasonal beach demand can push restaurants and caterers past their permanent cold storage and dishwashing capacity. Source
- Bethany Beach grows from about 954 year-round residents to roughly 15,000 more vacationers in summer. Small resort towns can see large seasonal spikes in food service load. Source
- Kraft Foods (Jell-O) and Procter & Gamble (Pampers wipes) have plants in Dover, and Dover Air Force Base is a major employer. Food manufacturing and large institutional employers depend on temperature-controlled storage. Source
- Perdue Farms has a large processing plant in Georgetown and Mountaire Farms has a poultry plant in Selbyville. Poultry plants and their suppliers generate steady demand for refrigerated capacity. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Delaware
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Delaware, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Food Protection / Environmental Health Field Services. For emergency information, see Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA).
- Temporary food establishment permits are issued by Environmental Health Field Services in the Division of Public Health; applications are due at least 10 days before the event and permits cover up to 14 days per year. Short-term kitchens at events and fairs should be permitted ahead of time. Source
- County field offices handle temporary permits: New Castle (302-283-7110), Kent (302-744-1220) and Sussex (302-933-3440). Event organizers renting a mobile kitchen should contact the county office covering the site. Source
- Delaware's Office of Food Protection requires plans and fees to be submitted before a food establishment opens, including mobile, temporary, stationary or permanent operations. A mobile kitchen or dishwashing trailer used as part of a food operation may be subject to plan review. Source
- Delaware's food regulation adopts the U.S. Public Health Service 2017 Food Code, which defines the temporary food establishment permit. Food Code temperature and warewashing rules apply to temporary kitchens and cold storage. Source
Main roads
- I-95: Runs through Wilmington and the Newark area in New Castle County, with I-495 also inside Wilmington city limits.
- I-295 / US-40: The Delaware Memorial Bridge, a few miles south of Wilmington, carries I-295 and US-40 to New Jersey.
- DE-1: The main toll route from Wilmington to Dover and the Delaware beaches; also called the Coastal Highway near Bethany Beach.
- US-13: The main north-south commercial corridor (Dupont Highway) through Dover, Harrington, Greenwood, Seaford, Laurel and Delmar.
- US-113: North-south route through Milford, Georgetown, Millsboro and Selbyville toward Maryland.
- US-301: Toll road west and north of Middletown that serves the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
- DE-404: Runs through Georgetown with a truck bypass; connects the Bay Bridge corridor to the beaches.
Events that raise demand
- Delaware State Fair (Late July): A ten-day fair in Harrington on grounds of more than 300 acres; it marked its centennial in 2019 and was scheduled for July 23 to August 1 in 2026. A ten-day fair with large crowds drives demand for temporary kitchens and cold storage.
- Olde Tyme Peach Festival (August): Held each August in Middletown, it draws tens of thousands and closes Main Street for a parade and food vendors. Street festivals depend on temporary food service and dishwashing.
- Return Day (November, every two years after Election Day): Georgetown hosts a parade and festival two days after Election Day every two years. A one-day crowd in a small town can exceed permanent food service capacity.
- NASCAR race weekend at Dover Motor Speedway (Spring): Dover Motor Speedway hosts a NASCAR race weekend in spring, and has hosted the Firefly Music Festival since 2012. Large racing and music events can create demand for temporary kitchens and cold storage.
- Rehoboth Beach summer season and festivals (Memorial Day to Labor Day; fall festivals): Rehoboth hosts events such as the Sea Witch Festival, the Independent Film Festival and an Autumn Jazz Festival, on top of a summer population above 25,000. Seasonal crowds raise demand for catering and temporary refrigeration.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Delaware
Each card shows the lowest printed price. Open a unit for the full price row.
Equipment
20 ft Refrigerated Trailer
Starting from $1,895 / month
The workhorse. A 20 ft trailer comes as a 32°F cooler or as a low-temperature freezer configuration, so you can match what failed.
20 ft Refrigerated Container
Starting from $2,995 / month
A stationary cold storage box for bulk product, built for longer projects, seasonal peaks, and renovations.
40 ft Refrigerated Container
Starting from $3,995 / month
The largest cold storage option. It takes pallets and bulk product for food distribution, disaster response, and large facilities.
Delaware in the Northeast
Service is available across the whole region. See the Northeast page, or go to a neighboring state:
- Connecticut refrigeration rentals
- Maine refrigeration rentals
- Maryland refrigeration rentals
- Massachusetts refrigeration rentals
- New Hampshire refrigeration rentals
- New Jersey refrigeration rentals
- New York refrigeration rentals
- Pennsylvania refrigeration rentals
- Rhode Island refrigeration rentals
- Vermont refrigeration rentals
- All 50 states
Rental terms at a glance
Rentals run by the week or by the month, with short-term and long-term options, and we answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Setup on site takes about 1 hour for a refrigeration unit and about 5 hours for a kitchen or dishwashing trailer; a ramp adds 4 to 6 hours and stairs add 5 to 15 minutes. GPS tracking is possible on request. Delivery, setup, servicing, and minimum terms are confirmed in your quote, and an inquiry does not reserve equipment.
Cold storage down? Call now.
Emergency refrigeration rentals in Delaware.
If a walk-in cooler or freezer has stopped holding temperature, call now. Tell us your city and state, what failed, how much product is at risk, and what power is on site. Keep doors closed to hold the cold while we work out the right trailer or container for you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I rent a refrigerated trailer in Delaware?
Call (888) 385-5513 or send the quote form with the address, what failed, the temperature you need, and the power at your site. We confirm the unit, availability, delivery, and terms in your quote. An inquiry does not reserve equipment.
Which Delaware cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Delaware. We list pages for Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Middletown, Milford, and Selbyville and 14 more cities and towns. If your site is elsewhere in the state, call and we will confirm.
Can I rent a refrigerated container in Delaware for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Delaware. Rent short term or lease for months, and see the full price rows on each unit page.
Do you rent mobile kitchens and dishwashing trailers in Delaware?
Yes. When a Delaware kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Delaware?
Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Food Protection / Environmental Health Field Services (https://firststeps.delaware.gov/food_temporary/) is the state agency to start with. Local health departments may add their own rules, so check before placing temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen.
What to send for a fast quote
- The city and state where the unit will sit
- What failed and how much product is at risk
- Cooler (32°F) or freezer temperature needed
- Power available at the site: voltage, phase, and amps
- Access: gate or door width, surface, and where the unit will be placed
- How long you expect to need it
Prefer to talk? Call (888) 385-5513 any time.