Quick Answer: Van Blanc has shipping containers for sale across Durham Region, Northumberland County and the Kawartha Lakes, trucked east from our 4 Brantford yards. Pickering is 138.2 km away, Kinmount 278.3 km. Sizes run 10ft to 53ft, new and used. Most orders arrive in 1 to 3 days, paid on delivery. 4.9 stars across 140+ Google reviews.
Durham to Kawarthas Sea Can Guide
Reading time: 13 minutes
Shipping Containers for Sale in Durham Region
Shipping containers for sale in Durham Region, Northumberland and the Kawarthas come out of Van Blanc’s 4 Brantford yards, the business Paul LeBlanc started in 1995. A shipping container is a welded steel box built to ISO dimensions, 8 feet wide, with locking cargo doors at one end. East of Toronto, buyers call the same box a sea can or a c-can about as often. Van Blanc sells new one-trip boxes for buyers east of the GTA and graded used units with their wear pointed out, always outright. The full list of sizes and grades in the rows today is one click away before you call.
This cluster runs from the eastern edge of the Greater Toronto Area out into farm country and lake country. The southern end is the Durham growth belt: Oshawa, Whitby, and the towns strung along Highway 401 and the eastern reach of the 407. New subdivisions, warehouses, and the trades that build them all keep multiplying there. Oshawa still builds trucks, which is one reason Oshawa’s own container page covers what plant suppliers order. GM Canada lists its Oshawa Assembly plant at 900 Park Road South, opened in 1953 and covering 5.1 million square feet, building both the heavy-duty and light-duty Chevrolet Silverado. Up at 2000 Simcoe Street North, Ontario Tech University’s ACE facility runs a climatic wind tunnel. It tests vehicles in winds of up to 280 km/h.
North and east of that, the map turns rural fast. Northumberland County spreads inland from the Lake Ontario shore at Port Hope and Cobourg into hill-and-hardwood farm country. Past Lindsay the land becomes the Kawartha Lakes, a chain of waterways threaded by the Trent-Severn, where a good share of the lakefront properties are seasonal cottages. Those owners close up each fall, and the ways Ontario owners store a boat over winter show what usually ends up in a box. We have delivered into all three of these worlds. The drive is longer than most of our map, because the truck has to get around or through the GTA before it heads north or east.
Freight From Brantford, East of Toronto
Durham, Northumberland and the Kawarthas sit east of Toronto, so every load runs Highway 403 and the QEW, then east on Highway 401. On the OSRM driving route from east Brantford, Pickering is 138.2 km away and Kinmount 278.3 km. That is roughly 1 hour 46 minutes to 3 hours 54 minutes of car time before traffic. Orders still land in 1 to 3 days, and the freight line on your quote is worked out from the road distance to your address. For a farm laneway or a lake road, read what a long rural approach asks of the truck before the day.
Durham and Kawartha Lakes Town Pages
We keep a dedicated page for each community in this cluster, written for that town’s real buyers. Here is how the area breaks down, and where to go next for local detail. Every one of those pages sits under Van Blanc’s Ontario delivery map as well.
Road Distances to Durham and Kawartha Towns
The table measures each town from our east Brantford yards on one public route planner. It shows which side of the cluster an address falls on. Check the drop spot against the stretch of open ground a truck needs to set the box down once you find your town.
| Town | Road distance | Car time | Main highways |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickering | 138.2 km | 106 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Ajax | 143.9 km | 110 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Whitby | 152.8 km | 115 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Oshawa | 159.4 km | 121 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Uxbridge | 168.5 km | 137 min | 403, QEW, 401, 404 |
| Bowmanville | 175.1 km | 130 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Newcastle | 180.3 km | 134 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Orono | 186.9 km | 139 min | 401, 35/115 |
North of the 401 the kilometres stretch out on two-lane roads. On a cottage lane low wires and overhanging branches along the last stretch decide the drop more than distance does. The Northumberland and Kawartha stops continue below.
| Town | Road distance | Car time | Main highways |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Hope | 205.1 km | 150 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Cobourg | 216.1 km | 157 min | 403, QEW, 401 |
| Lindsay | 230.7 km | 180 min | 401, 35 |
| Peterborough | 234.5 km | 176 min | 401, 35/115 |
| Fenelon Falls | 245.9 km | 202 min | 401, 404, 48 |
| Warsaw, Douro-Dummer | 258.1 km | 196 min | 401, 115, 7, 28 |
| Bobcaygeon | 261.1 km | 209 min | 401, 115, County Road 10 |
| Warkworth | 261.4 km | 198 min | 401, County Road 25 |
| Kinmount | 278.3 km | 234 min | 401, 404, 48, 35 |
A loaded tilt-deck runs slower than the car times shown, and your quote names the actual delivery day. Two drops on the same side of the cluster, say Lindsay and Fenelon Falls, can share a run when the dates line up. Mention any neighbour who is also buying, and send both addresses with one quote request.
Durham Region, Pickering to Clarington
This is the busiest container market in the cluster. Oshawa and Whitby buyers skew toward construction-site offices, secure tool storage on multi-site builds, and overflow inventory for the warehouses going up along the 401 and 407. At the region’s west end, Pickering, just past the Rouge River line, and Ajax, wedged between Pickering and Whitby on the 401, are the first stops past Toronto. Uxbridge on the Oak Ridges Moraine covers Durham’s rural north. East along the lake, Bowmanville and Newcastle sit in Clarington, home to the Darlington nuclear station. CBC News reported in February 2026 that the refurbishment of all four Darlington reactor units was complete, extending the station’s life to at least 2055. The same report says four small modular reactors are planned on the site. Work on that scale needs lock-up storage on site. Just inland, Orono is hobby-farm and acreage country where placement on a tidy property matters.
Peterborough and Douro-Dummer on the Trent
For shipping containers for sale in Peterborough, the city is the regional hub for everything north and east of Durham. It is a manufacturing and university city that anchors the Kawarthas, and its buyer mix runs from industrial yard storage to campus-adjacent renovation overflow. Parks Canada describes the Trent-Severn Waterway as a 386 km lock system, first opened in 1922, connecting Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. The Peterborough Lift Lock is one of its stations. The surrounding township of Douro-Dummer is farm-and-lake ground on the edge of cottage country. There a 40ft sea can earns its keep storing equipment that has to stay dry through a hard Kawartha winter.
Northumberland County: Port Hope, Cobourg, Warkworth
These are the lakeside and farm communities of Northumberland County. Port Hope and Cobourg are heritage harbour towns on Lake Ontario, a straightforward run off the 401. Demand there splits between in-town renovation storage and the working farms in the hills behind them. The same CBC report says the province is considering a new nuclear plant near Port Hope. Warkworth sits deeper into the county’s rolling agricultural ground. A Wind and Watertight 40ft against a fence line is the practical answer there to a year of feed, seed, and machinery.
Kawartha Lakes: Lindsay to Kinmount
This is the seasonal heart of the cluster, and the buyer here is often a cottager or a contractor working the lakes. For shipping containers for sale across Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay is the service town and the year-round base that supplies the cottage trade. Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon sit right on the Trent-Severn locks, where a 20ft bin stores boats, docks, and off-season gear that cannot live outside through the freeze. Further north, Kinmount marks the edge of the Canadian Shield, rocky country where a locked steel box keeps tools and a snowmobile out of the weather between visits. A sea container in Kawartha Lakes is the same ISO steel box as a sea can, sold and delivered the same way. Shipping container modification for Kawartha Lakes buyers, such as a man door, vents or insulation, is done in Brantford before the box ships.
Straight to the Stock List
Browse current stock and grade-by-grade detail on our containers for sale page, compare sizes on container options, or tell us about a custom build on custom features. If you are still deciding on a size, the table below gives the inside measurements.
Container Sizes for Durham and Kawartha Orders
Container sizes for Durham and Kawartha orders run from a 10ft box for a townhouse lot to a 53ft high cube for a farm or industrial yard. Van Blanc’s own spec pages supply every figure below. The inside measurements matter most, because they decide what goes through the doors and stands up inside.
| Size | Inside length x width x height | Capacity | A common job east of Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ft dry box for tight lots | 2.99 m (9’10”) long outside, 8 ft wide | about 16 m³ (560 cu ft) | Townhouse renovation storage in Whitby or Ajax |
| 20ft standard-height sea can | 5.898 m long, 2.352 m wide, 2.385 m high; 19’4″ by 7’8″, 7’10” high | 33.2 m³ (1,172 cu ft) | Boat, dock and patio storage at a Kawartha cottage |
| 40ft standard dry container | 12.040 m long, 2.337 m wide, 2.388 m high; 39’6″ by 7’8″, 7’10” high | 67.8 m³ (2,395 cu ft) | Machinery and feed on a Northumberland farm |
| 40ft high cube with the extra foot | 12.040 m long, 2.337 m wide, 2.692 m high; 39’6″ by 7’8″, 8’10” high | 76.1 m³ (2,689 cu ft) | Pallet racking for a Clarington contractor |
| 53ft domestic high cube | 15.951 m long, 2.489 m wide, 2.769 m high; 52’4″ by 8’2″, 9’1″ high | 110.5 m³ (3,901 cu ft) | Warehouse overflow beside the 401 |
Some lots are too tight even for a 20ft. A 12 ft box about 3,658 mm long sits between the 10 and the 20. The page for our shortest containers lists what else comes in under 20 feet. Small units come and go across the 4 Brantford yards, so call 519-754-6844 to hear what is on hand this week. Every size is priced by quote: the size, the grade, the distance in the table above and the steel market that month set the number.
Container Grades for Durham and Kawartha Buyers
Most buyers research the grades before they call, so we teach all four, and how many years each grade lasts on land in Ontario has its own guide. The right grade depends on whether the box needs to look sharp or simply work through the season.
| Grade | Condition | Best fit in this cluster |
|---|---|---|
| One-Trip | Essentially new, one ocean crossing, clean factory paint | Oshawa and Whitby jobsite offices, anything branded or visible from the road, a Cobourg backyard studio conversion |
| Cargo Worthy | Used, certified for shipping, surface rust and minor dents | Clarington industrial storage near Darlington, Peterborough yard use, high-density site storage |
| Wind and Watertight | Used, sealed and rodent-proof, cosmetic wear | Northumberland farm storage, Kawartha cottage off-season gear, feed and equipment shelter |
| As-Is | Older, structural questions, sold cheap | Donor units for modification or cladding, low-stakes storage. We rarely recommend it. |
For the full grade walkthrough, read our shipping container grades and types guide. Most Canadians call these boxes sea cans or c-cans, while logistics buyers say intermodal or ISO container. In a search bar it often becomes seacan. They all name the same 8-foot-wide steel box, and we deliver every type.
Age is printed on our spec pages too. A cargo worthy box there is used 8 to 15 years and a wind and watertight box 12 years or more. Used shipping containers in Durham Region come in those two grades, and you choose yours by its container number. A one-trip box has crossed the ocean once. It keeps its factory paint for a cottage where the box is in every photo. A cargo worthy unit carries a current shipping certificate for anyone who may load it again. Whatever the grade, how long it lasts on land comes down mostly to keeping water off the roof and out from under the floor. The step-by-step grade and price ladder lays out what each grade adds. For shipping container prices in Durham Region, Northumberland or the Kawarthas, the quote form takes your size and postal code and returns one delivered number.
Sea Can Jobs East of Toronto
A 20ft Corten box is one product that turns into a dozen different things depending on who buys it. In this cluster the pattern follows the geography, from the industrial south to the lakes up north.
Oshawa and Whitby Jobsite Offices
An Oshawa or Whitby builder takes a One-Trip 20ft and adds a personnel door, windows, and ESA-certified electrical. It runs as a lock-up site office across a multi-year subdivision or warehouse build. When the job ends, it rolls to the next site. See how we cut in doors, windows and vents, or start with a stock 20ft dry container.
Clarington and Peterborough Parts Storage
The construction and engineering work around Darlington, and the manufacturing yards in Peterborough, lean on Cargo Worthy 40ft containers for parts, tooling, and weatherproof buffer space. No premium paint, just sealed steel that locks and lasts. Christian has watched the same contractors come back for a second and third bin as a project scales up. Where shelving climbs high, a 40ft high cube gives 2.692 m of inside height, a foot more than the standard box. The high cube and standard 40 side by side shows where that foot pays off.
Kawartha Cottage Off-Season Storage
A Bobcaygeon or Fenelon Falls cottager takes a Wind and Watertight 20ft for the boat, the dock sections, the patio furniture, and the tools. It holds them through a winter that buries everything in snow. Sealed, rodent-proof, and locked is exactly what a property nobody visits from October to May needs. A sea can in Kawartha Lakes set up this way sits on a level gravel pad.
Paul LeBlanc, owner: “We have customers in the Kawarthas who drove down to the yard, walked the rows, and picked their exact bin before we hauled it back up past Toronto for them. That is the way to do it. You see the steel, you understand the haul, and there are no surprises when the truck shows up.”
How Long Does Delivery Take East of Toronto?
Delivery east of Toronto takes 1 to 3 days for most Durham, Northumberland and Kawartha addresses, the same window Van Blanc quotes across most of Ontario. Our own tilt-deck trucks, which slide the box down onto the spot you mark, leave from the 4 Brantford yards. The freight portion follows the road distance, so a Kinmount quote carries more freight than a Pickering one. You pay on delivery, the carrier is fully insured, and the quote gives container, delivery and placement as one number with a real lead time.
A container needs firm, level support under its four corner castings, and a poured foundation is optional. Compacted gravel, a slab you already have, or timbers under the corners all work. On soft shoreline ground in the Kawarthas or wet clay on a Northumberland farm, a gravel pad stops the box settling unevenly and keeps the doors square. Keep the truck’s path at least 12 ft wide with 14 ft of overhead clearance or more. Then compare timbers, blocks and a gravel bed for a cottage or farm pad before you build one. Placement permits are your municipality’s call, so ask its building or planning office before ordering.
Many people call us saying they found a bin for a thousand dollars less on Facebook Marketplace. Two weeks later they call back, scammed, with no container and no refund. A listing priced far under every Ontario yard is the scam pattern. To find the cheapest shipping container for a Durham or Kawartha address, compare delivered numbers, because a Van Blanc quote names the container, delivery and placement together. For the full breakdown of how to read a real supplier, see our honest Ontario buyer’s guide and our field guide to container scams.
Neighbouring Regional Pages
Bordering this cluster, Van Blanc runs hubs for the Greater Toronto Area to the west and Simcoe County, Muskoka and Georgian Bay to the northwest. Eastern Ontario runs on toward Kingston and the 1000 Islands. Same yards and the same all-in quotes.
Sold outright. Delivered in 1 to 3 days.
Van Blanc sells new and used shipping containers outright from our 4 Brantford yards, with delivery in 1 to 3 days and payment on delivery. We do not rent, lease or offer rent-to-own. Request a sale quote or call the yard at 519-754-6844.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 20 ft or 40 ft shipping container cost in Oshawa or Whitby?
Price depends on size and grade first. A used Wind and Watertight 20ft runs lower than a One-Trip 20ft, and a 40ft High Cube costs more than either. Oshawa and Whitby sit 150 to 160 km of road from our Brantford yards, so the delivery portion reflects that run. We quote one number for container, delivery and placement, and you pay on delivery. Call 519-754-6844 or see current stock on our containers for sale page.
How long does delivery take to Peterborough or the Kawarthas?
Most orders reach Peterborough and the Kawarthas in 1 to 3 days. Peterborough is 234.5 km from our Brantford yards on the OSRM route and Kinmount 278.3 km, with the truck routing around the GTA on Highway 401. You get a real lead time, not a hopeful one, and the quote names the delivery day before you commit. Same-day is not promised.
Do you deliver to cottages around Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls?
Yes. We deliver throughout the Kawartha Lakes on tilt-deck trucks built for laneway and lakeside access. A Wind and Watertight 20ft is the most common choice for storing boats, docks, and off-season gear that has to stay sealed and locked through the winter freeze.
What is the difference between a sea can and a shipping container?
Nothing. Sea can is the Canadian name for the same 8-foot-wide steel shipping container the rest of the world uses. Around here you will also hear c-can. They all describe the same ISO container, which we deliver in lengths from 10ft to 53ft.
Can I see a container before I buy it?
Yes, and plenty of buyers from this region do. You can drive to our Brantford yard at 90 Morton Avenue East, walk the rows with Paul or Christian, and pick the exact bin before you pay a dollar. For a longer-haul delivery east of Toronto, seeing the steel first is worth the drive.
Do you deliver to farms in Northumberland County?
Yes. We deliver across Northumberland, including Port Hope, Cobourg, Warkworth, and the rural roads in between. Farm placement is what tilt-deck trucks are built for, and a Wind and Watertight 40ft is the workhorse choice for feed, seed, and equipment storage on a working property.
Can I rent a shipping container in Durham Region or the Kawarthas instead of buying?
No. Van Blanc sells containers outright and does not rent, lease, or offer rent-to-own. Past a few months, buying a used wind-and-watertight box normally costs less than renting one, and you can sell it on or ask us about buyback when you are done.
Do you sell storage containers across Durham, Northumberland and the Kawarthas?
Yes. We sell storage containers across Durham, Northumberland, and the Kawarthas: secure, weather-tight steel for farms, contractors, cottages, and businesses, in every grade and size. Delivered on a tilt-deck truck wherever you need it.
Is there a portable storage or pod option in Durham or the Kawarthas, or a local alternative?
Pod fleets and national chains rent portable storage across Durham and the Kawarthas. Van Blanc is the local family-run alternative: a real steel container you buy outright and inspect at our Brantford yard first, instead of franchise monthly billing.
Get a Durham or Kawartha Delivered Price
Tell us the size and your postal code and we’ll send back an honest, all-in number, container, delivery, and placement, usually the same day. No pressure, no mystery fees.
Family-run in Brantford since 1995 · 200+ containers in stock · 4.9★ across 140+ Google reviews · every box graded by a person, walk it before it lands.
Sources
- General Motors Canada. GM Canada, Oshawa Assembly, checked October 2026.
- CBC News, February 2, 2026. CBC News, Nuclear refurbishment done and under budget at Ontario’s Darlington plant: minister, checked October 2026.
- Parks Canada. Parks Canada, Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site, checked October 2026.
- Ontario Tech University. Ontario Tech University, ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel, checked October 2026.
- Project OSRM and OpenStreetMap contributors. Project OSRM, Open Source Routing Machine (driving routes from east Brantford, 43.1525, -80.2370), checked October 2026.
See Your Container Before It Heads East
We have been supplying shipping containers across Ontario since 1995. Our public yard is at 90 Morton Avenue E in Brantford. Durham, Northumberland and the Kawarthas are a longer haul east of the GTA, and Van Blanc still delivers right across the region, with payment on delivery. No surprise fees, no chase-the-paperwork.
Van Blanc Ent. Inc., 90 Morton Ave E Unit 1B, Brantford, ON N3R 7J7. Call 519-754-6844. Yard visits need no appointment: Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Planning a delivery to Oshawa, Peterborough, or the Kawartha Lakes? Call us for a real quote and a real lead time.