Cold Room Panel Thickness Guide: 60mm, 75mm, 80mm, 100mm, 120mm & 150mm Explained

How to Choose the Correct Cold Room Panel Thickness for Maximum Performance and Energy Savings

Selecting the right panel thickness for a commercial cold room isn’t a minor detail — it directly determines temperature stability, running costs, and the long-term reliability of your refrigeration system. Thicker PIR panels deliver superior insulation, meaning your cold room stays at the correct temperature with far less effort from the cooling equipment. But not every application requires the same specification.

This guide breaks down exactly which panel thickness you should choose for chill rooms, freezer rooms, food storage, pharmaceuticals, floristry, wine, logistics and more — so you can protect your stock and avoid unnecessary energy bills.

Why Panel Thickness Matters in Cold Room Performance

The insulated panel is the protective barrier that prevents heat from penetrating the cold room. The thicker the panel, the lower the thermal transfer. The result:

• Stronger insulation and more stable temperatures

• Lower energy usage, especially during high ambient temperatures

• Longer equipment life, because compressors don’t need to overwork

• Reduced temperature fluctuation, protecting sensitive stock

• Lower frost build-up in freezer rooms

Choosing the wrong thickness leads to increased running costs, inconsistent temperatures, and shorter equipment lifespan.

Panel Thickness Options: 60mm, 75mm, 80mm, 100mm, 120mm and 150mm

60mm, 75mm and 80mm Panels — Best for Chilled Storage (+0°C to +10°C)

These three thicknesses cover the majority of UK chill room installations. Here’s how they differ:

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60mm Panels

Best for:

• Mild or controlled ambient temperatures

• Small chill rooms

• Florists

• Light-duty short-term storage

Use 60mm only where conditions are stable. In hotter sites or busy environments, insulation will struggle.

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75mm Panels

The perfect mid-range option, widely used across the UK. It offers stronger insulation than 60mm without the full cost jump to 80mm.

Best for:

• General food storage (fresh meat, dairy, fruit, deli, catering)

• Retail cold rooms

• Pharmaceutical chill rooms

• Sites with fluctuating UK ambient temperatures

• Businesses needing reliable, everyday performance

75mm delivers excellent cost-to-performance value, making it the most practical choice for most commercial chill rooms.

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80mm Panels

Choose 80mm when insulation quality and temperature precision are critical.

Best for:

• High-humidity or warm ambient locations

• Long-term fresh-food storage

• Medical, vaccine and biologics rooms

• Busy commercial kitchens

• Businesses wanting to reduce electrical consumption

If in doubt, 80mm provides the best overall protection for positive-temperature rooms.

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When You Need 100mm, 120mm or 150mm Panels (Freezer Rooms)

Once temperatures drop below 0°C, insulation becomes non-negotiable.

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100mm Panels

Ideal for:

• Small freezer rooms

• Mixed food storage sites

• Freezers located in moderate ambient conditions

100mm protects against heat gain and maintains stable frozen storage with reasonable energy use.

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120mm Panels

Industry standard for:

• Commercial freezer rooms

• Ice cream and frozen dessert storage

• Bakery frozen storage

• Installations exposed to high ambient heat

• Businesses aiming for maximum energy efficiency

120mm greatly reduces defrost cycles, compressor run time, and frost build-up.

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150mm Panels

Recommended for:

• Large cold stores and distribution centres

• High-volume frozen logistics

• Rooms in extreme heat

• Sites with long-running hours where energy savings matter

150mm panels offer outstanding thermal resistance and the best long-term operating cost reduction.

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Sector-by-Sector Thickness Recommendations

Food & Hospitality

• Chill: 75mm or 80mm

• Frozen: 100–120mm

• Large walk-in freezers: 120–150mm

Pharmaceutical / Medical

• Chill: 75mm–80mm

• Freezer (vaccines, biologics): 100–120mm

Florist Cold Rooms

• Mild climate: 60mm

• Warm areas / longer storage: 75mm–80mm

Wine Storage

• Mild climates: 60mm

• UK conditions: 75mm–80mm

Perishable Logistics / Distribution

• Chill: 100mm

• Frozen: 120–150mm

Ice Cream / Bakery

• Chill confectionery: 75mm–80mm

• Frozen bakery: 100mm

• Ice cream: 120–150mm

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How Panel Thickness Affects Energy Consumption

Insulation has a direct impact on energy bills.
A cold room fitted with 120mm PIR panels instead of thinner options can cut electricity usage by up to 20%, especially in warm environments.

Thicker panels:

• Reduce compressor cycling

• Lower heat gain

• Reduce defrost cycles

• Keep temperatures stable even in summer

Over 10+ years, the energy savings easily outweigh the difference in panel cost.

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Conclusion

Choosing the correct panel thickness is one of the simplest ways to improve cold room performance, extend equipment life and cut long-term costs.

General rule:

• Chill rooms: 75mm–80mm

• Freezers: 100–120mm

• Large or high-temperature sites: 120–150mm

If you choose the wrong thickness, you pay for it every single day on your electric bill. Choose correctly, and you get stable temperatures, lower running costs and a long-lasting cold room.

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by Natasha