How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Mobile Kitchen Trailer in California?
A straight answer on monthly rates, what is included, and what changes the final quote — so you can budget a renovation, emergency, or event with no surprises.
The short answer
At California Mobile Kitchens (CMK), a 20-foot kitchen trailer rents for $6,000 per month and a 32-foot kitchen trailer rents for $8,000 per month. That is the rental rate for the trailer itself. Your final total also depends on delivery, setup, rental length, and any add-on equipment your site needs — and all of that pricing is spelled out in your lease agreement before you sign.
That transparency matters. A temporary kitchen is usually rented in the middle of something stressful — a renovation, a repair, a facility closure, or an emergency. The last thing you need is a low headline price that grows once the trailer is on its way.
| Kitchen trailer | Monthly rental rate | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| 20-ft kitchen trailer | $6,000 / month | Smaller kitchens, tighter sites, shorter menus |
| 32-ft kitchen trailer | $8,000 / month | Higher volume, larger crews, full-service operations |
Rates above are CMK's general rental pricing, confirmed October 2026. Delivery, setup, and add-on equipment are priced in the lease agreement for your specific site and dates.
What drives your total cost
- Trailer size. Size, volume, and how much cooking you need to keep doing every day.
- Rental length. Monthly pricing rewards longer projects; short, urgent deployments carry proportionally more delivery and setup weight.
- Delivery and setup. Distance to your site, site access for the truck, leveling, anchoring, and utility connections all factor in.
- Utilities. Most sites need 208–220V single-phase 50-amp power, a ¾-inch fresh-water connection, and a 1½-inch wastewater connection, plus propane where required. If your site cannot provide one of those, the solution becomes part of the quote.
- Add-ons. Dishwashing, refrigeration, storage, access, and power equipment beyond the kitchen trailer itself — see the add-ons below.
- Permits. CMK supplies the documentation you need, and your organisation obtains its local health permits. Build that timeline into your plan.
What is included — and what is not
Knowing the boundary up front prevents the two most common surprises on a temporary kitchen rental.
Included in the conversation from the start: delivery, setup, and removal planning; documentation to support your local health permit; and a lease agreement that carries all pricing, including delivery and setup, before the rental is confirmed.
- A rental is confirmed only after the lease is signed, payment is satisfied, and a certificate of insurance (COI) is received.
- Kitchen trailers do not include a dishwasher. If you need dishwashing capacity, CMK offers a separate 24-ft dishwashing trailer.
- A generator is not included by default. If your site needs one, ask for it in the quote.
- If there is no sewer connection, a 250-gallon wastewater holding tank can be included in the plan.
If you are unsure whether your site is ready, ask before delivery day. A short site conversation now is far cheaper than a second trip later.
Add-ons that can change the quote
Every site is different, so these items are priced by quote rather than listed at a flat rate. Tell us which ones you need when you request pricing, and they will appear as clear line items in your lease agreement.
| Add-on | When you need it |
|---|---|
| 24-ft dishwashing trailer | Full dish and pot-washing capacity alongside the kitchen trailer |
| Refrigeration / freezer trailer | Cold storage beyond what the kitchen trailer holds |
| Climate-controlled storage | Dry or temperature-sensitive storage on site |
| ADA ramps and decking | Safe, accessible entry — supplied via Quick-Deck |
| Generator | No suitable site power, or backup power is required |
| Waste holding tank (250 gal) | No sewer connection available at the site |
| Fresh-water / wastewater systems | Utility connections need support beyond the building tie-in |
Example budgets — rental rate only
These simple examples use only the confirmed monthly rates, to help you estimate before you request a quote. They do not include delivery, setup, add-ons, or taxes, which are priced for your site in the lease agreement.
| Example project | Trailer | Rental rate only |
|---|---|---|
| School kitchen renovation — 3 months | 20-ft | 3 × $6,000 = $18,000 |
| Hospital kitchen renovation — 7 months | 32-ft | 7 × $8,000 = $56,000 |
| Care facility project — 5 months | 20-ft | 5 × $6,000 = $30,000 |
CMK regularly supports schools, hospitals and healthcare facilities, government and military sites, construction projects, hospitality, entertainment, and emergency response across California. Recent references include Kern Medical, Turlock Unified, Selma Unified, Cypress Ridge Care Center, and Merrill Gardens. CMK is a California Certified Small Business (SB Micro #1436200), DIR registered, and HCD certified.
How to get an exact price for your site
Start with a quote request on our website. Give us your location, your dates, how many meals a day you need to serve, and what utilities are available at the site. From there, CMK prepares a lease agreement that carries all pricing — rental, delivery, setup, and any add-ons — so you can approve a complete number, not an estimate that changes later.
Need to talk it through first? Call (805) 459-1254 or email tommy@californiamobilekitchens.com.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a mobile kitchen trailer in California? At CMK, $6,000 per month for a 20-ft kitchen trailer and $8,000 per month for a 32-ft kitchen trailer. Delivery, setup, and add-ons are priced in your lease agreement.
What utilities does a kitchen trailer need? Typically 208–220V single-phase 50-amp power, a ¾-inch fresh-water connection, and a 1½-inch wastewater connection, with propane where required.
Is a dishwasher or generator included? No. Dishwashing is available as a separate 24-ft trailer, and a generator can be added to your quote if your site needs one.
Who handles health permits? Your organisation obtains its local health permits. CMK supplies the documentation you need to support the application.
When is my rental confirmed? Once the lease is signed, payment is satisfied, and your COI is received. Until then, dates and availability are not confirmed.
What happens at pickup? Before pickup, disconnect utilities, clean the trailer, drain oil and grease, remove trash, secure the trailer, and keep clear access for the truck.
Keep Your Kitchen Cooking — Get your quote at www.californiamobilekitchens.com • (805) 459-1254