How Much Does a Custom Concession Trailer Cost?

A custom concession trailer costs $20,000 to $120,000 or more, depending on size, equipment, and how custom the build really is. Entry-level 8- to 14-foot units start near $15,000, most first-time operators land between $30,000 and $60,000, and fully custom builds pass $120,000.

The spread is wide because "concession trailer" describes an 8-foot coffee cart and a 24-foot commercial kitchen equally well. Sizing your budget starts with picking which one you are actually buying.

TierTypical priceWhat you get
Entry-level$15,000–$30,0008–14 ft, single cook station, basic refrigeration and sinks. Coffee, shaved ice, or a tight menu.
Semi-custom$30,000–$60,00016–20 ft, fuller kitchen, commercial ventilation hood. Where most first-time operators land.
Fully custom$60,000–$120,000+Complete NSF-compliant kitchen, custom layout, upgraded power, exterior built around your brand.

Specialty builds run higher. A custom pizza trailer from Eastcoast Concessions typically ranges from the mid-$30,000s for a compact Mighty Mite pizza build to $90,000+ for a fully-equipped Premium Box Series build — the oven you choose and the reinforced structure underneath it drive the number.

Two things move the number more than the tier you pick. The first is what you plan to cook: a menu with a fryer or a flat top requires a hood and fire suppression, and that single requirement is most of the gap between a $25,000 trailer and a $45,000 one. The second is how long you intend to run it. A build sized for the menu you want in two years costs more now and less overall than one you replace after a season.

Build & Price Your Trailer

Base prices by model (September 2026)

ModelSizeBase priceLead time
Mighty Mite8' × 7'$15,9902–14 weeks
Steel Box12' × 7'$20,3002–14 weeks
Premium Box12' × 8.5'$25,9002–14 weeks
Arabica14' × 7'$31,9002–14 weeks
Ironline16' × 7'$32,4002–14 weeks

Base build before equipment packages. Current figures are always on the food trailers for sale page.

What drives the price most

Five things account for most of the variance between a $25,000 trailer and an $80,000 one. Everything else is rounding.

New vs. used: when used actually wins

Used trailers at $6,000 to $16,000 are genuinely tempting, and sometimes correct. They win when the unit is recent, the equipment matches the menu you actually plan to run, and it already carries a current hood and fire suppression certification.

They stop winning when any of those are missing. Aging equipment, a layout built for someone else's menu, and retrofitting to pass today's health code routinely add more than the discount was worth — and unlike a truck, a trailer's value is almost entirely in the kitchen, so a dated kitchen means a dated trailer.

The same arithmetic applies on the vehicle side of the decision, which we covered in food trucks for sale: new, used, or custom-built.

The costs buyers forget

The trailer is one number on a longer list. Budget for these before you commit to a build price:

Financing a build is common, and terms depend on the lender and your credit rather than on the trailer. Eastcoast Concessions works with third-party financing partners; ask them for current terms rather than budgeting from a number you read online.

What to spec first when the budget is tight

If the number comes back higher than expected, the instinct is to shrink the trailer. That is usually the wrong cut, because length is the one thing you cannot add later.

Order of priority when something has to give:

  1. Keep the length. A 16-foot trailer you grow into beats a 12-foot one you outgrow in a season.
  2. Keep the hood and suppression sized for the menu you want in two years, not the one you are launching with. Resizing a hood later means reopening the roof.
  3. Keep the electrical capacity. Upgrading a panel and wiring after the walls are closed is disproportionately expensive.
  4. Then cut equipment. A fryer or a second refrigerator can be added in year two through any restaurant supplier. This is the cheapest thing to defer and the one people cut last.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a concession trailer cost?

Most functional concession trailers cost $20,000 to $120,000. Basic units run $15,000 to $30,000, semi-custom $30,000 to $60,000, and fully custom builds $60,000 and up.

How much does a pizza trailer cost?

A custom pizza trailer from Eastcoast Concessions typically ranges from the mid-$30,000s for a compact Mighty Mite pizza build to $90,000+ for a fully-equipped Premium Box Series pizza trailer. Final pricing depends on length, oven choice (wood-fired, gas, or deck), prep equipment, and refrigeration. The oven itself is sourced separately.

What does it cost to get started with a custom build?

An Eastcoast Concessions build starts with a $495 Virtual Blueprint design fee, credited toward a 25% deposit due at order. The design fee covers the drawings for your specific layout before anything is cut.

How long does a custom trailer take to build?

Builds run 2–14 weeks from drawing approval, depending on equipment lead times and finish complexity. Ask for a current build window when you request pricing.

Is it cheaper to buy a trailer or a food truck?

A well-equipped trailer is typically about half the cost of a comparable food truck, because you are not also buying an engine, transmission, and drivetrain to maintain.