FedEx Refrigerated Shipping (Can You Ship, Price, Steps + More)
FedEx’s refrigerated shipping service can come in handy if you’ve baked some special treats and want to send them to friends across the country or need an urgent shipment of medicine.
FedEx ensures your perishable shipments arrive in optimal condition via cold packs, refrigerated trucks and overnight shipping. If you want to see how these services work, check out this article!
FedEx Refrigerated Shipping in 2022
FedEx offers several refrigerated shipping options to keep items between 35°F and 46°F for 48 hours or more in 2022. In addition to special cold packs, the company also offers refrigerated vans, trucks and tractor trailers. FedEx recommends using an overnight shipping service such as Priority Overnight when shipping refrigerated items.
There’s a lot more to know about shipping refrigerated items with FedEx, so be sure to keep reading!
Does FedEx ship refrigerated items?
FedEx offers reliable refrigerated shipping for perishables, breast milk, and pharmaceuticals.
Additionally, these items are maintained at controlled temperatures using a variety of tools, including cold bags, coolers, and other specialized containers.
That said, the packaging keeps the temperature stable and helps keep the product looking its best. What’s more, it complies with cold shipping regulations.
What temperature should FedEx refrigerated items be stored?
Keep your items between 35° and 46°F (Fahrenheit) when using FedEx’s refrigerated shipping service.
What types of refrigerated packaging does FedEx offer?
FedEx offers a variety of refrigerated packaging options, depending on what you’re shipping, what temperature the item needs to be kept, and how long the item needs to be refrigerated.
So, let’s take a closer look at the products available:
cold shipment
This shipping option is a separate box that will hold temperature-sensitive cargo between 35°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C) for 48 to 96 hours without the need for dry ice or gel packs.
Additionally, these packages are available in small, medium and large lasting 48 hours or medium and large lasting 96 hours.
Va-Q-Tainer
These freight containers come in a variety of sizes, allowing customers to ship large quantities of clinical and pharmaceutical products.
Additionally, they are reusable, helping to reduce costs while keeping the product in a safe environment.
PharmaTherm by Intelsius
These boxes are specially developed for the transport of pharmaceuticals and can keep cold for up to 120 hours.
Softbox
This is a single-tray passive packaging solution that allows customers to maintain a temperature range of 35°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) or 59°F to 77°F (15°C to 25°C) C) up to 120 hours between.
How should I package refrigerated items for shipping via FedEx?
In addition to using FedEx’s specially designed refrigerated packaging, you can also pack your own container for refrigerated shipping. That said, here are the steps to follow:
- Use a refrigerant such as a gel bag to keep the product within the temperature range (usually 34ºF to 50ºF).
- Choose insulating foam containers with a wall thickness of at least 1.5 inches. If your items will thaw or thaw, use a waterproof plastic liner on the inside of the container.
- Double bags of perishable products that can be thawed or thawed in a waterproof plastic bag.
- Put the insulating foam container in a sturdy outer container, such as a corrugated box.
- Attach your shipping label to the top of the box to increase the chances of your shipment staying in your preferred direction.
- Provide the sender’s and recipient’s addresses and 24-hour phone numbers on the shipping label. Mark your package as “perishable”.
Does FedEx have refrigerated trucks?
FedEx has a variety of refrigerated vehicles, including vans, trucks, and tractor-trailers, that can accommodate loads of all sizes.
Additionally, these vehicles are exclusively used for refrigerated transport and are driven by specially trained agents.
That said, this provides customers with regulatory compliance support for temperature-sensitive goods.
Additionally, they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Additionally, they can withstand a wide temperature range from -4ºF to 70ºF.
Which FedEx service should I use when shipping refrigerated items?
Time is of the essence when shipping perishable or potentially melting items. Therefore, when shipping refrigerated items, it is best to use FedEx Express’s overnight shipping service.
In addition, FedEx overnight service includes:
- 1st Overnight: Delivered to most locations by 9:30am the next business day.
- Overnight Priority: Next business day by 10:30am for businesses in the state, residential by noon, and some rural areas by 4:30pm.
- Standard Overnight: US businesses by 4:30pm and residential by 8:00pm.
How much does FedEx refrigerated shipping cost?
FedEx overnight shipping times are determined by a number of factors, including shipping service selected, distance to destination, and package type/weight.
Let’s take a closer look at the factors that affect refrigerated shipping costs.
delivery service
Prices vary widely between FedEx’s overnight shipping services. Therefore, when you choose a service with a later delivery time, the shipping fee will be lower.
For example, shipping a package weighing up to 5 pounds through FedEx First Overnight typically costs between $145 and $155.
However, it usually costs $85 to $95 to ship the same weight package with FedEx Standard Overnight.
distance to destination
In most cases, the farther the package travels, the more shipping costs. That said, FedEx determines pricing based on the area surrounding the original address, like a bullseye.
Packaging Type and Weight
Generally, the heavier your shipment, the higher the shipping cost. This is especially true when it comes to refrigerated transport.
Also, this is because FedEx reefers are inherently expensive, but they are heavy, which increases shipping costs.
Let’s take a look at the pricing of some of FedEx’s refrigerated shipping boxes and how much they weigh.
| Box | weight | price |
| 48 hour locket | 3.8 lbs | $46 |
| Medium 48 Hours Box | 7.5 lbs | $94 |
| 48 Hours Big Box | 12.1 lbs | $133 |
| Medium 96 Hours Box | 9.4 lbs | $117 |
| 96 Hours Big Box | 16.8 lbs | $155 |
To learn more, you can also read our posts on FedEx shipping restrictions, FedEx shipping surfboards, and whether FedEx ships to Puerto Rico.
in conclusion
From special refrigerated packages to insulated trucks, FedEx turns refrigerated shipping into a science.
So whether you need to send some homemade food or some essential medicine, you can count on FedEx’s refrigerated shipping service.
