Businesses currently paying a refrigerated trailer rental every month will want the trailer-versus-container cold storage math before the next invoice lands.
Last updated: May 25, 2026
Quick answer. Per CFIA Cold Chain. Refrigerated containers in food service must comply with the UNECE ATP Agreement on perishable transport standards. A reefer is a refrigerated shipping container with built-in mechanical refrigeration. Canadian reefers come in 20ft and 40ft High Cube. Operating typically -30 to +30 Celsius. Power: 3-phase shore power (most common) or single-phase with a step-up. What a reefer costs in Ontario depends on size, grade, compressor hours, and your freight zone, with a 20ft Cargo Worthy used unit sitting well below a new 40ft HC. Pricing varies by grade, size, and freight zone, so call Christian or Paul for a same-day quote. Family-run since 1995, 4.9 stars across 124+ verified Google reviews. Delivery in 1-3 days from our 4 Brantford yards.
How are reefer containers different from standard containers?
A reefer (refrigerated container) is a shipping container with an integrated refrigeration unit on one end. The refrigeration machinery is part of the box – you do not install it after delivery. The compressor, condenser, evaporator, and control system are factory-fitted inside a recessed bulkhead. The interior is insulated with closed-cell foam and lined with stainless steel or aluminum panels suitable for food contact (when documented).
This makes reefers a different buyer conversation from dry containers. The reefer market is smaller, the inventory is shallower (we typically hold 8-14 reefers at the Brantford yard at any time across 20ft and 40ft HC sizes), and the buyer needs to understand more upfront – operating temperature, power requirements, food-grade documentation, refurb cycle, and the difference between a working reefer and an insulated dry container.
If you need cold storage but do not need active refrigeration, you may want an insulated dry container instead – significantly cheaper, no power requirements, suitable for applications above 0 Celsius where ambient cooling plus insulation is enough.
What size, temperature range, and capacity does a reefer container offer?
20ft Reefer
External: 20ft long x 8ft wide x 8ft 6in tall (most 20ft reefers are Standard height, not High Cube). Internal usable: roughly 17ft 8in long x 7ft 6in wide x 7ft 5in tall (smaller than a dry container of the same external size because of the reefer bulkhead at one end and the insulation thickness). Cubic capacity 1,000 cu ft. Operating range -30 to +30 Celsius typically. The right size for small-scale cold chain applications: pre-cool buffer at a greenhouse pack line, restaurant overflow walk-in, mobile food-truck cold storage, small floral operation.
40ft High Cube Reefer
External: 40ft long x 8ft wide x 9ft 6in tall. Internal usable: roughly 37ft 10in long x 7ft 6in wide x 8ft 5in tall. Cubic capacity 2,400 cu ft. Operating range -30 to +30 Celsius typically. The right size for industrial cold storage: greenhouse harvest buffer, processed food storage, frozen distribution, large produce operation. The 40ft HC is by far the most common reefer size in commercial use.
What power does a working reefer container need on site?
Reefers need substantial electrical power. The standard configuration:
3-phase 460V/480V shore power. The factory-standard for commercial reefers. Requires a 60-amp 3-phase service. Most industrial sites have it; most residential and small-commercial sites do not.
Single-phase configuration. Some reefers can be configured for 240V single-phase operation, typically with a step-up transformer or a phase converter. Lower power draw, slightly less efficient cooling, but works on standard residential or light-commercial electrical service.
Generator power. Reefers can run on portable generators (typically 15-30 kW for a 40ft HC reefer under load) for off-grid or temporary applications. Diesel reefers (genset-equipped) exist for over-the-road and remote operations where shore power is not available.
The honest power conversation: most residential or small-commercial buyers underestimate the electrical service required for a reefer. Before buying, talk to your electrician about whether your current service can support the reefer’s draw. The retrofit cost to add 3-phase service to a property where it does not exist can exceed the cost of the reefer itself.
Reefer condition, refurb, and the used market reality
The Canadian used reefer market is small and shallow. There are not hundreds of clean used reefers floating around – there are dozens at any moment. When a used reefer comes on the market, the condition variables that matter:
Compressor hours. Like an engine, the refrigeration compressor has a service life. Documented compressor hours are the first question to ask a reefer seller. Under 20,000 hours is healthy. Over 40,000 hours is approaching mid-life. Over 60,000 hours, expect refurb costs in the near term.
Last service interval. When was the unit last professionally serviced? Reefers need annual maintenance to stay in spec. A unit that has been sitting in a yard for two years without service may need a commissioning before it operates reliably.
Gasket integrity. The door seals and bulkhead seals degrade over time. Compromised seals cause runaway energy consumption and inconsistent temperatures. Visual inspection at the yard is part of the buyer process.
Floor condition. Reefer floors are aluminum T-bar profile (allows air circulation under cargo). Damage from forklift impacts or chemical exposure happens. Visible damage means an upcoming repair.
Food-grade documentation. For produce, dairy, or other food contact applications, the interior food-grade certification matters. One-Trip and select Cargo-Worthy reefers come with documentation. Used Wind-and-Watertight reefers typically do not.
Reefer pricing in Ontario 2026
Honest 2026 pricing delivered to Ontario from our Brantford yard. Every quote includes round-trip delivery, lift-off-and-place, and HST. Reefer prices have stayed relatively stable in 2025-2026 after volatile movement in 2022-2024. What moves your number is straightforward: size, grade, compressor hours, last service interval, and how far the truck has to run.
20ft Reefer: a Cargo Worthy used unit is the value entry point, while a One-Trip (essentially new) unit carries a premium for its low compressor hours and like-new interior.
40ft High Cube Reefer: the most common commercial size, again with Cargo Worthy used at the lower end of the range and One-Trip (essentially new) at the top.
The price spread within each grade reflects compressor hours, last service interval, and cosmetic condition. We document each specific unit and provide the data before purchase. The cheapest reefer listings you see on Canadian Facebook Marketplace for a 40ft are almost always fraud listings, untested units with broken refrigeration, or out-of-province deals that fall apart on shipping.
Who supplies refrigerated containers in Canada?
Refrigerated containers in Canada come from four kinds of suppliers: shipping lines and leasing companies retiring fleet units, container brokers who list units they have never seen, US-based sellers who ship north, and regional yards that hold physical reefer inventory. Van Blanc is the fourth kind, a family-run Brantford yard holding 8 to 14 working reefers you can inspect in person before you commit.
Fleet retirements. Most used reefers on the Canadian market started life with an ocean carrier or leasing pool and were retired when compressor hours climbed past sea-service economics. Those retirements feed the wholesale layer that supplies yards like ours, which is why documented compressor hours are the first thing to ask any seller.
Brokers without a yard. A large share of the online listings are brokered: the seller has never run the unit, cannot tell you the compressor hours, and ships it sight-unseen from a port depot. Some brokered deals work out. The failures are expensive, because refrigeration faults do not show up in photos.
US sellers shipping north. Cross-border listings can look cheaper until the exchange rate, freight, and border paperwork land on the invoice, and warranty support from across the border is hard to use when a compressor acts up in January.
Regional yards with physical inventory. The smallest group, and the buying process we would use ourselves: walk the yard, hear the unit run a pull-down test, read the compressor data, and buy a specific unit by serial number. That is how reefers are sold at Van Blanc.
Can you rent a reefer container instead of buying?
Yes. Van Blanc rents working reefer containers across Ontario, delivered in 1 to 3 days from our Brantford yards. A reefer’s monthly rate sits above every dry-container grade because the refrigeration machinery comes with the box, so the rental conversation is worth having whenever the cold-chain need has an end date.
The honest split: rent when the need is seasonal or short, a harvest pack-out, a bridge while a walk-in cooler gets repaired, an event, a facility renovation. Buy when refrigeration is part of how the business runs year-round; we will walk both numbers with you on one call. Browse reefer rentals across Ontario or describe the application over the phone: 519-754-6844.
Featured deep-dives in the refrigerated family
Refrigerated Shipping Containers (Reefers) in Canada: Cost, Uses & Power Requirements
The complete Canadian reefer guide. Sizes, temperature ranges, power requirements, food-grade documentation, used market reality, and the buyer-decision tree from a yard that has been selling reefers for 30 years.
our notes on refrigerated container options
The Ontario-specific pricing reality for 2026. Current 20ft and 40ft HC reefer ranges across One-Trip and Cargo Worthy grades, delivered cost including HST, and the price-comparison reality versus Facebook Marketplace listings that almost always turn out to be fraud.
Insulated Shipping Container Canada: Factory vs Foam
For buyers who need cold storage above 0 Celsius but do not need active refrigeration. The insulated dry container alternative to a reefer – significantly cheaper, no power requirements, suitable for short-term hold storage and ambient-cool applications. Includes the decision tree for when an insulated container suffices versus when you genuinely need a reefer.
Insulated Container Cold Storage Conversion (Above 0 Celsius) for Ontario Buyers
For buyers converting a standard container into a passively-cooled cold storage space. Covers the insulation specs, vapor barrier requirements, dew-point math, and the ambient temperature thresholds where this approach works versus where active refrigeration becomes necessary.
Container Cold Storage for Niagara Wineries: Reefer Cellar Buffer + Bottling Cycle
The Niagara wine industry application: reefer containers as harvest buffer during crush, bottling cycle storage, and finished-wine inventory. Real numbers from operations we have supplied. Useful template for any Ontario produce or beverage operation needing cold-chain buffer.
The full refrigerated spoke index
Reefer guides and pricing
Insulated container alternatives
- Insulated Container: Factory vs Foam
- Insulated Containers Ontario Cost Guide
- Cold Storage Conversion (Above 0)
Reefer use-case applications
Related conversion + insulation
What customers actually say
“We looked at probably 5 sea container lots before coming across Van Blanc. When dealing with the people there we were confident this was the place to buy. We definitely made the right choice. The shipping container you pick out is the one you get.”
– Steve H., May 2020, Google review
The “the container you pick out is the one you get” pattern matters more for reefers than for any other container category. Reefer condition varies dramatically unit-to-unit based on compressor hours and service history. The Van Blanc practice of letting you walk the yard, read the compressor data, and commit to a specific unit by serial number is how you avoid buying a reefer that needs significant refurb work two months after delivery.
Frequently asked questions about reefer containers in Canada
What is a reefer container?
A reefer is a refrigerated shipping container with built-in mechanical refrigeration. The compressor, condenser, evaporator, and control system are factory-fitted in a recessed bulkhead at one end of the container. Interior is insulated with closed-cell foam and food-grade lined. Operating range typically -30 to +30 Celsius. Used in cold-chain logistics and now commonly for stationary cold storage applications.
How much does a reefer container cost in Canada?
Reefer pricing follows four levers: size (20ft versus 40ft HC), grade (Cargo Worthy used at the value end, One-Trip near-new at the top), compressor hours and service history, and your delivery distance from our Brantford yard. As a rule of thumb, refrigerated containers cost roughly 3-5x what an equivalent dry container costs because of the refrigeration machinery, the insulation, and the food-grade interior. Tell us your size and postal code and we will give you an honest, all-in delivered number for a specific unit.
What sizes do reefer containers come in?
Two standard sizes in the Canadian market: 20ft Standard reefer and 40ft High Cube reefer. The 40ft High Cube is by far the more common commercial size. 10ft and 45ft reefers exist but are rare in Canadian inventory.
What power does a reefer container need?
Standard configuration is 3-phase 460V/480V shore power at 60 amps. Most industrial sites have it; most residential and small-commercial sites do not. Single-phase configurations exist with a step-up transformer (240V residential). Generator power is also viable (15-30 kW for a 40ft HC under load). Talk to your electrician about your existing service before buying a reefer.
What temperature range does a reefer container hold?
Most commercial reefers operate -30 to +30 Celsius. For greenhouse vegetable buffer storage the practical operating range is +2 to +8 Celsius. For frozen storage -18 to -25 Celsius. For deep-frozen applications below -25 Celsius, expect a fuller diagnostic on the specific unit before commitment.
Can I use a reefer container for non-food storage?
Yes. The refrigeration unit does not care what is inside. Common non-food reefer uses include flower and floral storage, pharmaceutical cold chain, ice storage, climate-controlled archive storage, and any application needing -30 to +30 Celsius. Food-grade interior documentation is only required for direct food contact.
How long do reefer containers last?
The container itself: 25+ years like any other shipping container. The refrigeration unit: typically 15-25 years with annual maintenance. Compressor service life is measured in hours rather than years (20,000-60,000 hours typical). Used reefers we sell are at various points in that service life – we document compressor hours and last service interval per unit so buyers know what they are getting.
Do reefer containers need maintenance?
Yes. Annual professional service on the refrigeration unit is the standard recommendation – gas top-up if needed, compressor oil check, gasket inspection, control system check. Budget for one maintenance visit per unit per year in Ontario, with the exact cost driven by the unit’s age, compressor condition, and whether any parts need replacing. Skipping maintenance shortens refrigeration unit life significantly.
What is the difference between a reefer and an insulated container?
A reefer has active mechanical refrigeration – it can actively cool to below ambient temperature. An insulated container has no refrigeration – it just holds whatever temperature the contents come in at, slowing heat transfer. Insulated containers cost a fraction of reefer prices and are right for applications above 0 Celsius where ambient cooling plus insulation suffices. Reefers are right for any application needing active sub-ambient cold.
Where do used reefer containers come from?
Retired from ocean cargo service. After 8-15 years of international shipping, ocean lines retire reefers from their fleet (the compressor or insulation is no longer cost-effective to maintain at sea standards). The units enter the resale market for stationary land-based use, where the requirements are less demanding and the unit can serve another decade or two of useful life.
Can I rent a refrigerated container in Ontario?
Yes. Van Blanc rents working reefer containers across Ontario, delivered in 1 to 3 days from the Brantford yards. Reefer rental rates sit above dry-container rates because the refrigeration machinery comes with the box. Renting suits seasonal and short-term cold storage; buying wins for year-round use.
Who are the main suppliers of reefer containers in Canada?
Canadian reefer supply comes from shipping-line fleet retirements, online brokers, US-based sellers shipping north, and regional yards holding physical inventory. Van Blanc is a family-run Brantford yard holding 8 to 14 working reefers at a time; every unit is sold by serial number with documented compressor hours.
Ready to discuss a reefer purchase? See current inventory
Reefer purchases benefit more than any other container type from a yard visit. Reading the compressor data, listening to the unit run during a pull-down test, and inspecting the floor and gaskets in person produces a much better-informed purchase than buying remotely. Browse our current inventory or jump to the reefer product pages: 20ft Refrigerated Container or 40ft High Cube Refrigerated Container.
Or call to discuss your refrigeration use case before committing: 519-754-6844 or 1-888-509-6658. We typically hold 8-14 reefers at the Brantford yard and can match the unit to your specific application.
Where Van Blanc delivers across Ontario
Reefers serve Ontario greenhouse belt and food producers. We deliver from our four Brantford yards to communities right across the province, including Leamington, Essex, Norfolk County, Tillsonburg, Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines. See the full Ontario service-area map to find your town.
Ready to price your container?
Tell us the size and your postal code and we’ll send back an honest, all-in number, container, delivery, and placement, usually within 1-3 days. No pressure, no mystery fees.
Family-run in Brantford since 1995 · 200+ containers in stock · 4.9★ across 124+ Google reviews · every box graded by a person, walk it before it lands.
Who Actually Buys Reefers in Ontario
Six buyer groups account for most of the reefer units that leave our yard: craft breweries holding fermentation overflow, cannabis operations curing and storing at tight set-points, restaurants and caterers bridging walk-in capacity, greenhouses and farm gates holding harvest before market, food banks and event operators running seasonal cold chains, and the occasional pharma or lab buyer with documentation requirements. Power is the divider between them: a working reefer wants dedicated three-phase or a properly sized single-phase circuit, and an off-grid site means a genset conversation. Expect meaningful daily energy use when the compressor cycles, the exact draw depends on set-point and ambient, which is why the power walk-through is part of every reefer quote rather than an afterthought.
Cheesemakers want the opposite of a reefer default: an aging cave calms the airflow down and adds humidity.
Beekeepers run the same sealed cold room for a very different tenant; wintering honey bee colonies in a reefer is the most surprising use we have written up.
Hunt camps and seasonal processors run the same machine for a different harvest; the walk-in deer cooler that arrives on a truck walks through the setpoints and the season.
Deeper in the Reefer Field Guide
The hub above covers the decisions; these field guides go deeper on the specifics.
Buying and Inspection
- Freezer Container Canada: Industrial Reefer Buyer Guide
- Reefer Pre-Purchase Inspection: What to Check Before You Buy
- Non-Operating Reefers: Insulated Shells Without the Machinery
Power and Operation
- Reefer Power Supply: 3-Phase Requirements in Ontario
- Defrost Cycles and Temperature Control
- Reefer Temperature Range and the Cold Chain
Insulation Deep-Dives
Sources & References
Authoritative external sources cited or referenced in this guide:
- UNECE ATP Agreement, Perishable Foodstuffs Transport
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Food Safety
- ASHRAE Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings (HVAC)
- Carrier Transicold, Reefer Container Technical Documentation