Fridge freezer space One of the most common questions we get asked is “how big a trailer do I need?” The answer depends on a few things: how many guests you’re feeding, what type of food and drink you’re storing, and how long the event runs. Get it wrong and you’re either cramming things in and risking food safety, or paying for space you don’t use.

Here’s a straightforward way to work it out.

Start with your guest count

As a rough guide, you need around 0.1 cubic metres of refrigerated space per 10 guests for a standard catered event — a wedding reception, birthday party, or corporate function where food and drinks are being served across a few hours.

That means:

• 50 guests → around 0.5 m³
• 100 guests → around 1.0 m³
• 150 guests → around 1.5 m³
• 200+ guests → around 2.0 m³ or more

Our 3-metre trailers offer approximately 10.3 cubic metres of internal capacity (3.0m x 1.75m x 1.97m high), so even for large events a single trailer will usually be more than enough. For smaller gatherings like garden parties or family celebrations, you’ll have plenty of room to spare — which is no bad thing, because you can organise everything properly with shelving rather than stacking trays on top of each other.

Factor in what you’re storing

Not all food and drink takes up the same amount of space, and some items need more careful handling than others.

• Drinks are the biggest space hog. Cases of beer, wine, soft drinks, and bottled water stack well but they’re heavy and bulky. If you’re running a bar for 100+ guests over a full day, drinks alone can fill half a trailer.
• Platters, trays, and buffet items need room to lie flat. You can’t stack a tray of canapés three deep without ruining them, so shelving is essential here. We can supply our trailers with shelving down one or both sides at no extra charge — it makes a huge difference to how much usable space you get.
• Raw ingredients for on-site cooking (hog roasts, BBQs, festival food stalls) tend to be more compact but need reliable temperature control. Our trailers can be set anywhere from chilled to frozen using the electronic temperature control, so you can store fresh meat, dairy, and desserts safely throughout the day.
• Ice and frozen items — if you need both chilled and frozen storage at the same event, you may need to think about two separate units, or plan your timings so frozen items go in first at a lower temperature before you switch to fridge mode for the rest. Give us a call and we can talk through the best setup for your situation.

Think about access and flow

It’s not just about total volume — it’s about how easily your caterers can get in and out during service. A trailer that’s technically big enough but packed to the ceiling is a nightmare when you need to grab a tray of starters mid-service.

A few practical tips:

• Leave space near the doors for items you’ll need first or most often.
• Use shelving to keep things organised by course or type — starters on one side, desserts on the other, drinks at the back.
• Don’t block the full width of the trailer. Keep a narrow aisle down the middle so someone can walk in and reach everything without unpacking half the trailer.

Our trailers have full-width double rear doors, an internal light, and a slip-resistant floor, so loading and unloading is straightforward even in the dark or the rain.

Consider the length of your event

A three-hour afternoon reception is very different from a two-day festival or a wedding that runs from noon until midnight. The longer the event, the more you need to think about:

• Restocking — will you need deliveries during the event that need to go straight into cold storage?
• Temperature recovery — every time the door opens, warm air gets in. Over a long event with frequent access, a larger trailer holds its temperature better than one that’s packed tight.
• Overnight storage — if the event spans two days, you’ll need the trailer running overnight. Our units simply plug into a standard 13amp or 16amp socket (or a generator for remote locations), so there’s no fuel cost or engine noise to worry about.

A quick sizing guide

Here’s a practical summary to help you get a rough idea before you call us:

Bear in mind these are estimates for food and drink combined. If you’re storing drinks separately (in a bar area with its own cooling, for example) you can scale down.

Still not sure? Just ask us

Every event is different, and we’d rather you called us for a quick chat than guessed and got it wrong. We’ve supplied trailers for everything from small family parties to large outdoor festivals across Cheshire, Manchester, North Wales and the wider North West — so we’ve seen most situations before and can give you honest advice on what you actually need.

We’ll deliver the trailer to your venue, set it up, and collect it when you’re done. No stress, no fuss.

Give us a call on [phone number] or [get in touch via our contact page] to chat through your event.

Read more: Powering a Refrigerated Trailer at Your Venue: Mains, Generators, and What You Need to Plan