Insulation varies by construction. PU-foam insulated rolling carts typically advertise about 48 hours of cooling, while rotomolded hard coolers with freezer-style gaskets commonly list full ice retention of about 5–7 days.

Several rotomolded wheeled coolers are specified to support up to 220 lb when the lid is closed, making them usable as a small table or an extra seat.

Insulation varies by style: foam-insulated rolling chests typically use PU foam; soft cooler bags use multilayer constructions (e.g., Oxford cloth, thickened EPE foam, and an aluminum foil liner); and hard coolers use rotomolded shells with polyurethane insulation plus freezer-style gaskets.

Many models offer multiple wheels (caster or all-terrain), side-mounted or retractable/telescoping handles, adjustable handles, and options like lockable wheels or a detachable/foldable frame to simplify transport and storage.

Cart-style and serving coolers commonly use metal frames (often powder-coated steel) and may include wicker/rattan or tempered glass tabletops. Rotomolded hard coolers are typically molded from LLDPE with polyurethane insulation and use materials like nylon or rubber for handles and feet.

Helpful features include drain outlets or quick-drain plugs for meltwater, built-in bottle openers (some with cap catchers), integrated cup holders, fish rulers on certain hard coolers, and removable ice buckets on some serving-cart models.