Custom food trailer, designed by you, quoted by builders near you
Pick the length, lay out the kitchen, wrap it in your brand and see the price of every line. When it looks right, we send the exact design to up to 4 verified builders who serve your area. No brief to write, no ten phone calls.
Illustrative AI-generated image- Typical price
- $60,000 to $150,000+
- Build time
- 10 to 16 weeks after the design is signed
- Sizes
- 12 to 34 ft
- Design in 3D
- Yes, with live pricing
Typical new custom builds with a full hot line. Coffee and dessert trailers often come in lower; long BBQ rigs higher. Ranges are what builders commonly quote in the US, not offers.
Short answer
A new custom food trailer typically costs $60,000 to $150,000 or more in the US. Length, the hood and fire-suppression system, the generator and the equipment list decide where in that range a build lands, and most builders quote 10 to 16 weeks from a signed design to pickup.
Last reviewed by the Trailer3D editorial team · How we source prices
Popular food trailer builds
BBQ & smoker trailers
Smoker on a rear porch, hood over the cook line, extra propane.
Coffee & espresso
Two-group espresso, grinder, under-counter fridges, a short 12 to 16 ft box.
Pizza
Deck or wood-fired oven, prep fridge, a heat-rated wall and roof vents.
Tacos, burgers & fry
Griddle, fryers, Type I hood and UL 300 suppression.
What moves the price of a food trailer
| Factor | Lower end | Higher end |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 12 to 16 ft, single axle | 24 ft+, tandem axle, rear porch |
| Cooking | No grease: coffee, desserts | Fryers and griddles: Type I hood + UL 300 suppression |
| Power | Shore power only | Onboard generator + 50 A service |
| Equipment | Customer-supplied or used | New commercial line, refrigeration, smoker |
| Finish & wrap | Paint, partial wrap | Full wrap, wood interior, stainless walls |
How getting quotes works
Design the build in 3D, or skip straight to the questions. We share your request with up to 4 verified builders who build food trailers and serve your ZIP code. They contact you with quotes; you choose, with no obligation.
- 01
Design or describe
A full 3D layout with an itemised estimate, or a 2-minute questionnaire.
- 02
Matched, not broadcast
Only builders for this vehicle type in your area, never more than 4.
- 03
Compare like for like
Everyone quotes the same plan, so price and timeline are comparable.
Food trailer questions
How much does a custom food trailer cost?
Most new custom food trailers with a full hot line are quoted between about $60,000 and $150,000. Length, the hood and fire suppression, the generator and the equipment list move the price most. The 3D studio prices every option as you add it, so you see your number before any builder does.
How long does a food trailer build take?
Most builders quote 10 to 16 weeks from a signed design to pickup. Health-department plan review and the equipment lead time are the usual delays, so sending a dimensioned plan early helps.
Do I need a hood and fire suppression?
If you cook with grease (fryers, griddles, charbroilers) most US jurisdictions require a Type I hood and a UL 300 wet-chemical system. The studio flags this live; your local health department and fire marshal have the final say.
Is it free to get quotes?
Yes. Designing in 3D and requesting quotes is free for buyers. Builders pay to receive matched requests, and we share yours with no more than 4 of them.
Plan the food trailer before you get quotes
Food truck generator size calculator
Pick your food truck or trailer equipment and get the generator size in kW, running and starting watts, and whether 30 A or 50 A shore power is enough.
Food truck propane calculator
How much propane a food truck uses per day and how many hours a 20, 30, 40 or 100 lb tank lasts, from your actual griddle, fryer and range BTU ratings.
Food trailer weight & towing calculator
Estimate a food trailer's loaded weight from length, equipment, water and propane, check the axle rating, and see the tongue weight and tow rating you need.
Food truck water tank size
How big your food truck grey (waste) water tank must be for your fresh water tank: 15%, 25% or 50% larger, with typical tank sizes and weights.
Food truck hood size & CFM calculator
Size a food truck hood from your cook line: length with 6 in overhang, exhaust CFM by duty (IMC 507), make-up air, and hood and suppression cost.
Food trailer cost by size
Coffee, taco and BBQ builds priced line by line at 12 to 24 ft.
Design in 3D
