What Should a Walk-In Cooler Quote Include?
A complete walk-in quote lists every box with its exact dimensions, doors and options; every refrigeration system by model number; freight to your ZIP code; and, in writing, what is not included. The exclusions usually cover installation, electrical, refrigeration piping, permits, and freight extras such as liftgate service. If two quotes look far apart, the difference is almost always hiding in one of those lines.
The checklist
The box
- Outside dimensions and height, and whether the sizes are nominal (outside) or inside.
- Inside dimensions, so you know what actually fits.
- Temperature for each room: typically 35°F for a cooler and -10°F for a freezer.
- Floor or floorless, and the floor's load rating if carts or kegs roll in.
- Panel thickness and finish, inside and out.
- Indoor or outdoor. Outdoor boxes need a rain roof, outdoor sealing and a door hood.
- Partition walls for combination or multi-room boxes, and which way the inner door swings.
The doors
- Size, type and count: a standard door is 36" x 78". Wider, sliding, glass or heavy-duty doors should be listed separately.
- Hinge side and swing direction for each door.
- What comes on the door: closer, latch with inside safety release, light and switch, thermometer, heated frame, and a pressure relief vent on freezers.
The refrigeration
- Type: self-contained or remote split.
- Manufacturer model numbers for the condensing unit and evaporator, not just "1 HP system."
- Capacity at your design conditions, meaning the room temperature and the temperature where the condensing unit will sit.
- Refrigerant type.
- Voltage and phase, matched to your building.
- Controls and accessories: thermostat, defrost control, and anything needed for outdoor or cold-weather use.
The paperwork and logistics
- A dimensioned drawing showing the plan, door locations and refrigeration placement, before you sign.
- Freight to your ZIP code, and whether liftgate or inside delivery is included.
- Exclusions in writing: installation, electrical, refrigeration piping, permits, site work.
- Every assumption in writing: anything the supplier guessed, such as height or door handing, so you can correct it before anything is built.
Why the drawing matters most
Most mistakes in walk-in projects are not about price. They are about fit: a door on the wrong side, a box that is 3 inches too tall for a sprinkler line, a condensing unit with nowhere to go. A dimensioned drawing catches those problems while they are still free to fix.
Ask for the drawing with the quote, not after the order. Every Qube quote comes with one.
Red flags
- "Refrigeration included" with no model number. You cannot compare it, and you cannot check that it fits the load.
- "Freight extra" with no number. It can add a significant amount to a small walk-in.
- No exclusions listed. Silence is not the same as included.
- A price far below every other quote. Check the refrigeration capacity, the floor, the doors and the freight first.
How to compare two quotes
Put them side by side, line by line, using the checklist above. Convert both to a delivered price: equipment plus freight to your ZIP code. Then add what each one excludes. The quote with the lower bottom line after that is the lower quote.
Have a quote already? Send it with your space. Qube sends back its own itemized quote and a dimensioned drawing, so you can compare line by line.
Questions people ask
What should be included in a walk-in cooler quote?
Exact dimensions, temperature, floor, finish, doors and options for each box; refrigeration model numbers, capacity, refrigerant and voltage; freight to your ZIP code; a drawing; and a written list of exclusions and assumptions.
Does a walk-in cooler quote include installation?
Usually not. Most equipment quotes exclude installation, electrical, refrigeration piping and permits. The quote should say so in writing.
Should a walk-in quote include a drawing?
Yes. A dimensioned drawing confirms the fit, door locations and refrigeration placement before anything is built. Every Qube quote includes one.
Why are walk-in quotes so different in price?
The difference is usually in refrigeration capacity, the floor, the doors, freight, or what is excluded. Compare line by line and on a delivered basis.
What information do I need to get a walk-in quote?
The size, temperature, floor or floorless, indoor or outdoor, where the refrigeration can go, your building's voltage, and your delivery ZIP code. A sketch or photo helps.