A practical guide to what a container farm really costs—upfront (CapEx) and monthly (OpEx)—plus example budgets, revenue scenarios, and a plug-and-play payback formula.
WHAT DRIVES COSTS
• Size & spec: 20′ vs 40′, single-tier vs multi-tier, cooling/dehumidification capacity
• Lighting & density: PPFD targets, diode quality, hours/day
• Climate load: your outside temperature/humidity and desired setpoints
• Automation level: fertigation, sensing, remote control, data logging
• New vs used vs retrofit: turnkey unit vs converting a reefer container
• Power & labor rates in your city, and how you sell (retail vs wholesale)
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ONE-TIME COSTS (CAPEX) – TYPICAL RANGES
Pick the path that matches your plan. Ranges include common hardware and pro install where noted.
• Turnkey 40′ (new)
– $120,000 – $250,000 (racks, LEDs, HVAC/dehu, fertigation, sensors, controls)
– Shipping, crane, site prep, and electrical service: +$8,000 – $25,000
– Working capital (first seeds/media/nutrients/packaging): +$1,500 – $4,000
• Turnkey 40′ (used)
– $60,000 – $150,000 (condition, hours, upgrades)
– Move/install (transport + electrical + commissioning): +$5,000 – $15,000
– Refresh parts (filters, probes, hoses, pumps): +$500 – $2,000
• DIY Retrofit (insulated reefer + buildout)
– Used insulated 40′ reefer: $8,000 – $18,000
– Interior build (liner, racks, drains, benches): $5,000 – $15,000
– LEDs (bar fixtures/PPFD-ready): $8,000 – $20,000
– HVAC + dehumidification sized for load: $6,000 – $18,000
– Fertigation/plumbing (reservoirs, pumps, valves, sensors): $4,000 – $12,000
– Electrical (panel, breakers, wiring, outlets, GFCI): $3,000 – $8,000
– Controls & monitoring (hygrostats, PLC/IoT, alarms): $1,000 – $5,000
– Misc. (sealants, insulation fixes, tools, safety): $2,000 – $6,000
– Total DIY envelope: ~$45,000 – $100,000+ (skill and spec dependent)
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MONTHLY COSTS (OPEX) – QUICK REFERENCE
Use your local rates to refine these.
• Electricity (lights + HVAC/dehu + pumps + fans)
– Typical 40′ leafy-greens farm: 5,000 – 15,000 kWh/month
– At $0.10–$0.20/kWh → $500 – $3,000/month
• Water: $20 – $100/month (closed-loop hydro is efficient)
• Nutrients & additives: $200 – $600/month
• Growing media/consumables (plugs, coco, rockwool, net pots, filters): $150 – $500
• Seeds/spawn: $150 – $500
• Packaging/labels: $80 – $300
• Sanitation/IPM: $50 – $200
• Internet/monitoring: $30 – $100
• Maintenance parts set-aside: $50 – $300
• Insurance: $50 – $200
• Rent/space (if not on your site): highly variable
• Labor (example): 20 hrs/week × $18/hr ≈ $1,440/month (scale to your plan)
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SAMPLE BUDGETS (ALL-IN START POINTS)
• A) Used Turnkey 40′ (Leafy Greens)
– Purchase (used, decent condition): $95,000
– Transport + install + electrical: $9,500
– Initial supplies (seeds/media/nutrients/packaging): $2,000
– Contingency (3%): $3,200
– Total CapEx: $109,700
– Expected OpEx/month: $2,200 – $4,000 (incl. labor)
• B) New Turnkey 40′ (High Spec)
– Purchase (new): $185,000
– Shipping/crane/site prep/power upgrade: $15,000
– Initial supplies: $3,000
– Contingency (3%): $6,000
– Total CapEx: $209,000
– Expected OpEx/month: $2,500 – $4,500
• C) DIY Retrofit 40′ (Value Build)
– Reefer + buildout (racks/LEDs/HVAC/fertigation/electrical): $72,000
– Tools/safety/misc.: $3,000
– Initial supplies: $1,800
– Contingency (5%): $3,800
– Total CapEx: $80,600
– Expected OpEx/month: $1,800 – $3,500
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REVENUE SCENARIOS (FILL-IN TEMPLATES)
• Leafy Greens (salad mix/lettuce/basil)
– Lbs per week × Price per lb × 4.3 = Monthly revenue
– Example (retail heavy): 250 lbs/week × $6.00 × 4.3 ≈ $6,450/month
– Example (wholesale heavy): 250 lbs/week × $3.50 × 4.3 ≈ $3,760/month
• Microgreens Focus (inside a container)
– Trays/week × Average $/tray × 4.3 = Monthly revenue
– Example: 80 trays/week × $18 × 4.3 ≈ $6,192/month
• Mixed Program (greens + herbs + microgreens)
– Greens: 160 lbs/week × $5.50 × 4.3 = $3,784
– Herbs: 60 lbs/week × $8.00 × 4.3 = $2,064
– Microgreens: 40 trays/week × $18 × 4.3 = $3,096
– Monthly revenue (mixed): ≈ $8,944
Note: Your numbers depend on crop selection, density, loss rates, and channels. Start conservative; grow into higher output.
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BREAK-EVEN & PAYBACK (COPY THESE FORMULAS)
• Gross Margin/month = Monthly Revenue − (Electricity + Seeds/Media/Nutrients + Packaging + Sanitation + Maintenance + Labor + Rent/Insurance)
• Payback (months) = CapEx ÷ Gross Margin/month
Example A (used 40′):
– Revenue $6,450 − OpEx $3,100 = $3,350 margin/month
– Payback = $109,700 ÷ $3,350 ≈ 33 months (~2.75 years)
Example B (DIY value build):
– Revenue $5,000 − OpEx $2,300 = $2,700 margin/month
– Payback = $80,600 ÷ $2,700 ≈ 30 months (2.5 years)
(These are illustrations—use your actual quotes and rates.)
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ELECTRICITY COST ESTIMATOR (PLUG IN YOUR NUMBERS)
• Monthly kWh = (Total Watts running × Hours/day × 30) ÷ 1,000
• Monthly $ = Monthly kWh × Your $/kWh rate
Example: (10,000 W total × 16 h/day × 30) ÷ 1,000 = 4,800 kWh
At $0.15/kWh → $720/month (lights only; add HVAC/dehu & other loads)
Tip: If your main breaker trips, you’re under-estimating real draw or inrush—recheck device nameplates and diversity factors.
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CHECKLIST TO LOWER COSTS
• Buy used for big items (container, racks, dehumidifier, LEDs) and replace wear parts.
• Target crops with repeat weekly buyers (restaurants/CSAs) for predictable cash flow.
• Dial lights to PPFD/DLI—not always 100%—to cut kWh without hurting yield.
• Right-size dehumidification (don’t oversize; run efficiently with proper airflow).
• Batch tasks to reduce labor hours; design an efficient wash/pack flow.
• Negotiate power rates or shift loads off peak (where tariffs support it).
• Track everything weekly (lbs, prices, kWh) and drop low-margin items fast.
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FINANCING & GRANTS
• Grants: city/county food-access, state specialty crop, USDA urban agriculture (U.S.), provincial cost-share (Canada)
• CSA prepayments/subscriptions to fund inputs
• Leases or microloans for equipment; confirm maintenance and resale terms
• Utility rebates for high-efficiency LEDs/HVAC where available
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FAQs
Q: Is a 20′ cheaper to run than a 40′?
A: Usually yes (fewer fixtures and smaller HVAC), but $/lb can be higher if you lose economies of scale.
Q: What’s the biggest hidden cost?
A: Electricity (lights + HVAC/dehu) and labor. Good canopy PPFD/VPD control can lower both.
Q: How do retail vs wholesale affect payback?
A: Retail brings higher $/lb but more marketing and packaging. Wholesale is steadier but thinner margins. Many farms run both.
Q: Can I add mushrooms or microgreens to improve margins?
A: Yes—stacking a fast-turn product often stabilizes cash flow while greens mature.
Q: Do I need 3-phase power?
A: Many 40′ builds prefer 208–240 V 3-phase for smoother loads, but single-phase can work with the right design. Check with your electrician.
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DISCLAIMER
All figures are planning ranges and examples—actual costs vary by design, location, and vendors. Always verify electrical/mechanical sizing, code compliance, and food-safety requirements for your site. © 2025 Container Farming Cost Guide.