How much does a food trailer cost by size?
Short answer
Priced in our 3D studio, a 16 ft taco trailer with a full hot line comes to about $90,400 before tax, a 16 ft coffee trailer about $83,700 and a 16 ft BBQ trailer with a smoker and rear porch about $104,100. Each extra 2 ft of length adds roughly $4,000; the menu changes the price more than the length, because equipment, the hood and fire suppression are the big lines.
Last reviewed by the Trailer3D editorial team · How we source prices
| Length | Coffee trailer | Taco trailer | BBQ trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 ft | $73,400 | $82,200 | $94,200 |
| 14 ft | $78,100 | $85,800 | $97,900 |
| 16 ft (8.5 × 16) | $83,700 | $90,400 | $104,100 |
| 18 ft | $87,100 | $95,500 | $107,900 |
| 20 ft (8.5 × 20) | $90,400 | $99,100 | $111,700 |
| 24 ft | $97,000 | $106,300 | $119,200 |
What each build includes
Coffee trailer: 2-group espresso, grinder, brewer, under-counter fridges, FRP walls, logo decals, 30 A power, no hood.
Taco trailer: Griddle, fryer, prep table, holding cabinet, Type I hood + suppression, stainless walls, partial wrap, 50 A power.
BBQ trailer: Smoker, charbroiler, fryer, 2-door fridge, hood + suppression, oak accent wall, full wrap, rear porch.
Where the money goes
In a 16 ft taco trailer the shell, frame and axles are 42% of the price, systems (water, power, propane, hood and suppression) 13%, and the cooking equipment 15%. Length mostly moves the shell and finish lines; the menu moves equipment and systems.
The cheapest ways to cut the price without hurting the kitchen: a shorter trailer with the same line, FRP walls instead of stainless outside the cook zone, a partial wrap instead of a full one, and used equipment where your health department allows it.
How these prices are made
Every number comes from the same pricing engine as our free 3D studio: a shell priced per foot plus options, interior finishes by area, systems, and each appliance at a typical new price. Equipment is placed by the studio's automatic layout for that menu at each length (12 to 24 ft). Prices exclude sales tax, delivery and permits, and are estimates for planning, not quotes.
Change anything in the studio and the price updates line by line; then send the exact design to up to 4 builders for real quotes.
| Item | Qty | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 16 ft enclosed food trailer shell | 16 ft | $32,900 |
| Width 8.5 ft | 1 | $1,200 |
| Interior height 7 ft 6 in | 1 | $850 |
| Tandem 5.2k lb axles, electric brakes | 2 | $3,250 |
| Serving window 1, 8 ft, gas-strut awning door | 1 | $2,770 |
| Side entry door, 32 in | 1 | $850 |
| Retractable awning, solid | 10 ft | $3,120 |
| Roof vents ×2 | 1 | $380 |
| LED exterior lights | 1 | $540 |
| Menu board | 1 | $420 |
| String lights | 1 | $260 |
| Folding steps | 1 | $310 |
| Propane rack, 2 × 100 lb | 1 | $690 |
| Paint: matte | 1 | $1,800 |
| Partial wrap, printed + laminated | 16 ft | $1,932 |
| Designer-finished print file + proof | 1 | $450 |
| Walls + ceiling: Stainless 304, 20 ga | 16 ft | $2,560 |
| Floor: Coin vinyl 120 mil | 125 sq ft | $625 |
| Counters: Stainless 16 ga | 9 ft | $855 |
| Lighting: LED strip, 4000K, dimmable | 32 ft | $2,720 |
| Mini-split A/C 18k BTU, mobile-rated | 1 | $3,100 |
| Storage: Overhead cabinets | 8 ft | $2,080 |
| Insulation: Rigid foam, walls + ceiling | 16 ft | $992 |
| Fresh 30 gal / waste 35 gal tanks, water heater, pump | 1 | $2,100 |
| Electrical: 50 A shore / 12 kW gen | 1 | $2,100 |
| Propane: 2 × 40 lb, regulator + manifold | 1 | $1,170 |
| Type I hood, 6 ft, with make-up air | 1 | $3,800 |
| UL 300 wet-chemical fire suppression | 1 | $2,950 |
| Reach-in fridge, 1 door | 1 | $2,350 |
| Sandwich prep table 48 in | 1 | $2,600 |
| 36 in griddle | 1 | $2,450 |
| 40 lb gas fryer | 1 | $1,890 |
| Handwash sink | 1 | $420 |
| POS service counter | 1 | $1,350 |
| Heated holding cabinet | 1 | $2,300 |
| Class K extinguisher | 1 | $240 |
| Total before tax | $90,374 |
Questions
How much does an 8.5 × 20 concession trailer cost?
A bare 8.5 × 20 ft concession shell from a dealer costs far less than a finished kitchen. Fully built out, our studio prices a 20 ft taco trailer at about $99,100 and a 20 ft coffee trailer at about $90,400 before tax, equipment included.
Is a used food trailer cheaper?
Usually, but check the hood and suppression certification, the propane system, the axles and whether the layout passes your county's plan review. Rebuilding a kitchen that does not pass can cost more than the savings.
Why is a coffee trailer not much cheaper than a taco trailer?
Espresso machines and grinders are expensive and electric, so a coffee build skips the hood but spends the money on the bar and a bigger electrical system.
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