How much freezer space does a half cow need?

Plan on about 8 to 10 cubic feet for a half beef share in mixed cuts, depending on packaging and how much ground beef you take. Quarters need roughly half that space.

Do these space numbers come from seller listings?

Freezer space ranges are general planning guidance. Share sizes and weights on seller pages are copied verbatim in the comparison table when posted.

Freezer space by share size

Before you reserve a half cow, measure usable space in your freezer. These ranges are general planning facts, not seller quotes:

Quarter beef share: about 4 to 5 cubic feet
Half beef share: about 8 to 10 cubic feet
Whole beef share: about 16 to 20 cubic feet

In our Austin data, 12 sellers advertise whole, half, or quarter beef shares. Posted weights on their sites appear verbatim in the comparison table when available.

Find beef shares

Comparison from listings

Seller	Posted price	Normalized	Checked
Shipps Lake Ranch	$9.00/lb hanging weight, about $11.25/lb finished at the seller-stated 20% cut loss (80% yield), processing included	Est. about $11.25/lb finished	Oct 29, 2026 source
Blessing Falls Family Farm (Sold out)	$8.45/lb hanging weight, about $13.43-$13.79/lb finished at the seller-stated 70% yield, plus processing $0.95-$1.20/lb hanging (included in estimate)	Est. about $13.43-$13.79/lb finished	Oct 29, 2026 source
1915 Farm (Sold out)	$2,499 total for about 175 lb finished, about $14.28/lb finished, processing included	Est. about $14.28/lb finished	Oct 30, 2026 source
Elkins Cattle Co	$3,317.61 total for about 230 lb finished, about $14.42/lb finished, processing included	Est. about $14.42/lb finished	Oct 29, 2026 source
Long Road Ranch	$3,250 total for about 180-220 lb finished, about $14.77-$18.06/lb finished, processing included	Est. about $14.77-$18.06/lb finished	Oct 29, 2026 source
Bastrop Cattle Co	$10.75/lb hanging weight, about $15.36-$17.92/lb finished at a typical 60-70% yield, processing included	Est. about $15.36-$17.92/lb finished	Oct 29, 2026 source
Mother Acres	$3,375 total for about 200 lb finished, about $16.88/lb finished, processing not stated	Est. about $16.88/lb finished	Oct 29, 2026 source
Brangus Best	$1,995 total for about 175-200 lb finished, about $9.98-$11.40/lb finished, plus processing (amount not posted)	Not compared: processing extra, amount not posted	Oct 29, 2026 source
Copper Creek Ranch	Price not posted	Price not posted	Oct 29, 2026 source
Meckel Family Beef Co	Price not posted	Price not posted	Oct 29, 2026 source
Shirttail Creek Farm	$3,055.48 total for about 182 lb finished, about $16.79/lb finished, processing not stated	Not compared: fixed-weight box of cuts, not a share of one animal	Oct 29, 2026 source

Search matching sellers

Matching sellers

BeefChickenEggsPorkFarm

Shirttail Creek Farm

Brenham · 81 mi Based in Brazos Valley, sells at markets in this area

Share sizes: Beef: 50 lb box, 182 lb box, 92 lb box, 25 lb box, 360 lb box. Pork: 72 lb box, 124 lb box

Pickup / delivery: Pickup

Availability: Packages listed as available

Shop online

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefRanch shares

Elkins Cattle Co

Lampasas · 69 mi

From $12.00 per lb, as posted

Share sizes: Beef: half (about 230 lb take-home), quarter (about 115 lb take-home), whole (about 450 lb take-home)

Pickup / delivery: Delivery, Pickup, Shipping

Availability: Shares listed as available; boxes ship weekly

Shop online

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefEggsRanch shares

Brangus Best

Mason · 93 mi Based in Hill Country, serves this area

From $13.00 est. per lb from posted item price and weight

Share sizes: Beef: 40 lb box, half (about 175 to 200 lb take-home), 80 lb box, 18 lb box, whole (about 350 to 400 lb take-home)

Pickup / delivery: Delivery

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefRanch shares

Bastrop Cattle Co

Bastrop · 26 mi

From $12.19 est. per lb from posted item price and weight

Share sizes: Beef: half (200 to 230 lb hanging), 75 lb box, whole (360 to 440 lb hanging)

Pickup / delivery: Delivery, Pickup

Availability: Turnaround posted as ~6 weeks for halves/wholes and 4-5 weeks for bundles

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefChickenEggsRanch shares

Mother Acres

Lincoln (pickup Cedar Park)

From $10.99 est. per lb from posted item price and weight

Share sizes: Beef: half (about 200 lb take-home), quarter (about 100 lb take-home), whole (about 400 lb take-home)

Pickup / delivery: Delivery, Pickup

Shop online

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefPorkRanch shares

Blessing Falls Family Farm

Thrall / Hutto pickup · 22 mi

From $13.43 est. per finished lb, half beef share, from the seller's posted price

Share sizes: Beef: half (170 to 200 lb hanging, sold out). Pork: half (70 to 105 lb hanging, sold out), whole (sold out)

Pickup / delivery: Pickup

Availability: The online store lists both 2026 half calf beef deposits as sold out ("SOLD OUT Half Calf Beef Deposit" for Summer 2026 and Fall 2026), and the Fall 2026 half and whole hog deposits as sold out too (checked Oct 29, 2026). Beef is processed in June or October.

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefChickenPorkFarm

1915 Farm

Serves this area

From $10.99 est. per finished lb, half pork share, from the seller's posted price

Share sizes: Beef: eighth (sold out), half (about 175 lb take-home, sold out), whole (about 350 lb take-home). Pork: half (about 70 lb take-home), whole

Pickup / delivery: Shipping

Availability: Half beef deposit sold out; whole beef, half and whole pork deposits open; 1/8 beef box sold out

Shop online

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefOnline market

Shipps Lake Ranch

Smithville · 40 mi

From $16.00 est. per lb from posted item price and weight

Share sizes: Beef: 80 lb box, half, quarter (not offered now)

Pickup / delivery: Delivery, Pickup

Availability: Site says: "We have a 1/2 steer ready now, and two more at the ranch ready for future sales. We are selling 1/2 steers only at this time."

Checked Oct 29, 2026

BeefRanch shares

Copper Creek Ranch

SW Austin pickup Serves this area

Price not posted on check date

Share sizes: Beef: half

Pickup / delivery: Pickup

Availability: Supply varies through the year; wait list for cuts, half and whole steers

Checked Oct 28, 2026

BeefRanch shares

Long Road Ranch

Georgetown · 26 mi

From $13.64 est. per finished lb, whole beef share, from the seller's posted price

Share sizes: Beef: eighth (about 45 to 55 lb take-home), half (about 180 to 220 lb take-home), quarter (about 90 to 110 lb take-home), whole (about 360 to 440 lb take-home)

Pickup / delivery: Delivery, Pickup

Availability: Each steer is listed with its harvest date; drop list for the next steer

Checked Oct 28, 2026

BeefRanch shares

Meckel Family Beef Co

22 mi Serves this area

Price not posted on check date

Share sizes: Beef: half

Checked Oct 28, 2026