Quick Answer
A 40ft High Cube refrigerated container (40HC reefer) is the workhorse of regional cold-chain operations. ISO 45R1 standard, 11.58 m internal length (38 feet), 2.29 m wide, 2.55 m tall (8 feet 4 inches interior), holds 67 cubic metres (2,366 cu ft), tare 4,575 kg, max payload 29,425 kg. Carrier or Thermo King refrigeration unit, 30-amp 240-volt continuous draw, temperature range -30 to +30 Celsius. We stock both Cargo Worthy and One-Trip 40HC reefers at our Brantford yards. Honest per-order CAD quotes, scoped to your cold-chain and your site power. Delivery in 1 to 3 business days across Ontario for in-stock units.
The 40HC reefer is roughly two and a half times the cargo volume of a 20ft reefer at twice the price. For operations where the use case actually fills 67 cubic metres, the 40HC is the economical choice on a per-cubic-foot basis. For operations that genuinely need less than 30 cubic metres of refrigerated space, the 20ft reefer is the smarter buy and the conversation we always have during the quote. First-time reefer owners usually have a second question about winter operation, and our notes on how the defrost cycle holds set-point through a cold snap answer most of it.
Buyers calling about 40HC reefers in our service area fall into five main categories: regional cold-storage operations serving multi-county distribution, federally licensed cannabis cultivators expanding flowering or post-harvest cure capacity, larger Holland Marsh growers staging full-truckload harvest overflow, food banks operating regional distribution hubs, and mid-sized food-service groups (multi-location restaurants, catering operations serving large-venue work). Each application has slightly different temperature, humidity, and access-control requirements, and the 40HC reefer’s larger envelope provides the working volume to handle them with proper airflow and stacking room.
40HC Reefer Specifications, ISO 45R1 Standard
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| External length | 40 ft 0 in | 12.192 m |
| External width | 8 ft 0 in | 2.438 m |
| External height (High Cube) | 9 ft 6 in | 2.895 m |
| Internal length (cargo zone) | 38 ft 0 in | 11.583 m |
| Internal width | 7 ft 6 in | 2.294 m |
| Internal height | 8 ft 4 in | 2.548 m |
| Door opening width | 7 ft 6 in | 2.294 m |
| Door opening height | 8 ft 3 in | 2.520 m |
| Internal volume | 2,366 cu ft | 67.0 m³ |
| Tare weight (with refrigeration unit) | 10,082 lb | 4,575 kg |
| Maximum payload | 64,857 lb | 29,425 kg |
| Maximum gross weight | 74,956 lb | 34,000 kg |
| Temperature range | -22°F to +86°F | -30°C to +30°C |
| Electrical (continuous) | 30 A @ 240 V single-phase, 3-pole 4-wire plug (NEMA L15-30) or 16 A @ 480 V three-phase commercial | |
| Insulation | 80-100 mm polyurethane foam, U-value below 0.4 W/m²K | |
| Floor | T-bar aluminium air-channel decking | |
| Interior lining | Stainless steel (food-grade) | |
| ISO 6346 size + type code | 45R1 (40ft, 9′6″ high-cube, refrigerated) | |
The code reading: 4 for 40-foot length, 5 for 9-foot-6-inch height (high cube), R for refrigerated with integral unit, 1 for closed-side door configuration. The R1 designation specifies an integrated refrigeration unit with its own monitoring and control electronics (versus an R2 which is a “porthole” style requiring external refrigeration plant). Every 45R1 we sell carries a CSC plate confirming ocean-shipping certification.
How a 40HC Reefer Differs from a 20ft Reefer
The 40HC reefer is the same envelope concept as the 20ft reefer (insulated steel box with integrated refrigeration unit at the front), scaled up to roughly 2.5 times the cargo volume. Three practical differences worth knowing:
1. Volume per dollar favours the 40HC. A 40HC reefer carries roughly two and a half times the cargo volume of a 20ft reefer, while the landed quote is nowhere near two and a half times higher, so volume per dollar strongly favours the bigger unit. If your application can fill the volume, the 40HC is 38 percent cheaper per cubic metre of refrigerated space.
2. Multi-zone cooling becomes practical. The 40HC’s longer cargo zone allows partition walls to create two or three independently controlled temperature zones inside one container. Most Ontario cannabis cultivators using 40HC reefers run a two-zone configuration (cure room at 15-18°C + dry-storage room at 4°C). The 20ft reefer is too short for practical multi-zone partitioning.
3. Power requirements are similar but cycle harder. The 40HC reefer pulls the same 30-amp 240-volt continuous draw as the 20ft, but the compressor runs at a higher duty cycle to maintain temperature across the larger cargo volume. Annual electricity cost runs roughly 1.4 to 1.7 times what a 20ft reefer consumes under equivalent ambient and set-point conditions (not double, because the larger thermal mass actually moderates short-cycle losses).
“The 40HC reefer is the size we sell to operations that are scaling, not starting. First-time cannabis cultivators or first-time brewery owners almost always do better with a 20-footer to validate the cold-chain requirements before they commit to the 40HC’s larger capital line. Scale-up customers who already know they need 60 cubic metres of refrigerated space, year-round, on a long-term basis, that’s when the 40HC math makes sense and we ship it without hesitation.”
Paul LeBlanc, owner, Van Blanc Ent. Inc.
40HC Reefer Grades We Stock
| Grade | What It Is | Best Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| One-Trip | Essentially new. Single voyage from Asia. Refrigeration unit under 5,000 hours. Factory-fresh insulation, gaskets, doors. | Cannabis cultivation facilities (multi-zone). Pharmaceutical cold-chain. Regional food-distribution hubs. Customer-visible commercial reefers where appearance and reliability both matter. |
| Cargo Worthy (CW) | Used 8 to 15 years. Refrigeration unit recently serviced. CSC re-certified. Surface rust on exterior steel acceptable. Refrigeration hours 30,000 to 60,000. | Holland Marsh harvest overflow. Brewery long-run cellars. Food bank distribution. Multi-location restaurant cold storage. The default 40HC reefer for working operations. |
| Wind and Water Tight (WWT) | Older unit (15+ years). Refrigeration may have had a recent compressor or condenser rebuild. Insulation intact. Heavier exterior rust. | Above-zero only operations (4-12°C) where the refrigeration unit does not have to work hard. Long-term seasonal storage where appearance does not matter. |
| As-Is | Refrigeration unit non-functional or removed. Insulation envelope intact. | Custom cooling system retrofits. Large insulated workshops or workshops needing thermal stability. Container homes wanting deep insulation envelope. |
The quote lands the unit at your site: reefer plus delivery priced by distance and access, stated together up front. Multi-bin orders get a per-box discount on delivery starting at three units. Electrical installation paid separately to a licensed Ontario electrician (typical range $1,800 to $4,500 for commercial 30-amp 240V or 480V three-phase service).
Six Common 40HC Reefer Use Cases in Ontario
1. Federally licensed cannabis cultivation expansion
Health Canada licensed cannabis facilities scaling beyond their initial vegetative or flowering room footprint use 40HC reefers as additional grow rooms (single or multi-zone), post-harvest cure rooms (15-18°C, 60-65% RH for 30-60 days), and finished-product cold storage. The 40HC’s longer envelope allows independent zone partitioning for cure-then-dry-then-trim workflow within one container. Multiple Ontario cannabis cultivators have built phased expansion strategies around modular 40HC reefer additions to their existing facility footprint.
2. Regional food distribution hubs
Multi-location restaurant groups, catering distribution operations, and small-scale specialty distributors (gourmet, ethnic, organic) use 40HC reefers as regional cold-chain hubs serving 8 to 15 outlets within a 200-kilometre radius. The 40HC’s 67 m³ volume holds roughly 24 to 28 standard reach-in’s worth of inventory at multi-temperature zones.
3. Holland Marsh full-truckload harvest staging
Larger Holland Marsh vegetable operations (carrots, onions, celery at scale) running full-truckload outbound shipments need cold-buffer capacity sized to a 53-foot truck-trailer load. A 40HC reefer holds approximately one truckload of palletised produce at 4°C, providing 24-72 hours of holding time between field harvest and outbound truck departure. Multi-bin orders of 2 to 5 40HC reefers are common at the larger Holland Marsh operations.
4. Brewery distribution and aged-beer warehousing
Mid-sized Ontario craft breweries (10,000+ hL annual production) and barrel-aging beer programs use 40HC reefers for fermented-beer warehousing at 0-4°C, sour-program barrel storage at 15-18°C, and chilled distribution loading docks. The 40HC’s larger envelope accommodates full pallet racks of 750ml bottles or 30-litre kegs at proper conditioning temperature.
5. Food bank regional distribution
Food Banks Canada member operations and regional food-rescue organizations (Second Harvest, smaller affiliates) use 40HC reefers as mobile cold-chain capacity expansion during peak donation cycles (post-harvest, holidays, disaster-response). The 40HC’s longer envelope holds roughly 20-25 pallets of mixed refrigerated and frozen donations at multi-zone temperature.
6. Pharmaceutical and specialty cold-chain
Smaller pharmaceutical distributors, specialty veterinary supply operations, and biotech cold-chain serving the GTA innovation corridor use 40HC reefers as either temporary expansion capacity during facility construction or as permanent cold-room replacements that move with operations. Temperature stability documentation and access control are critical; we provide unit specifications and refrigeration-service history matching standard pharmaceutical-grade quality assurance requirements.
Multi-Zone Cooling, Practical Notes
The 40HC reefer’s 38-foot interior cargo length supports two or three independently controlled temperature zones with a partition wall. Common configurations we deliver:
Two-zone cure-and-dry for cannabis: Front zone (closest to refrigeration unit) at 15-18°C / 60-65% RH for post-harvest cure (30-60 days). Rear zone at 4-8°C for finished-product cold storage. Partition wall is insulated and includes a small air-balance port to maintain zone integrity while the single refrigeration unit serves both zones via duct work.
Two-zone refrigeration-plus-freezer for food distribution: Front zone at 4°C for refrigerated produce and dairy. Rear zone at -18°C for frozen items. Some Daikin units support dual-temperature setpoints natively; others require a separate add-on freezer module retrofitted into the rear zone.
Three-zone specialty for high-margin operations: Front zone at 18°C (room temperature controlled), middle zone at 4°C, rear zone at -18°C. Used for operations needing transitional thermal control across multiple product categories. Requires custom HVAC retrofit; not a standard delivery configuration.
Partition walls are quoted per build; insulation thickness, door inclusion, and air-balance ducting set the scope. We do not install partitions ourselves; we deliver the bare 40HC reefer and refer the partition build to local refrigeration contractors or container modification specialists.
Real 2026 Pricing for a 40HC Reefer Landed in Ontario
Cold chain, quoted to your dock
Forty-foot reefers are working machines, and the right one depends on your product, your turnover, and your power. Send us the use case and the site, and the quote comes back with the unit, the delivery, and the runtime expectations in plain language.
Quotes hold 14 days. Honest 2026 numbers. The bare reefer is what we sell; electrical installation is paid to a licensed Ontario electrician separately. Multi-zone partition builds are a separate scope of work paid to a refrigeration contractor or container modification specialist.
The 1,000 Dollar Facebook Scam, 40HC Reefer Edition
40HC reefer Facebook Marketplace scams are less common than the 20ft variety because the price point ($25,000 to $50,000) is too high to plausibly half-discount, but they do happen on the lower end. Listings claim 40HC CW reefers at $4,500 or 40HC One-Trip reefers at $8,000, with the same Toronto/Vaughan/Hamilton seller claim and $1,000 deposit ask. The reefer does not exist.
Defence: come walk our Brantford yard. We hold 1 to 3 40HC reefers in stock at any given time and can show you the refrigeration unit running, the temperature display reading, the interior stainless-steel lining, gasket condition, T-bar floor structure, and refrigeration hours-of-use. No supplier in Ontario whose price is one-tenth of market is going to start the refrigeration unit for you to inspect, because there is no unit to start. Our policy is no deposit on phantom inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a 40HC reefer and a 20ft reefer?
The 40HC reefer is roughly 2.5 times the cargo volume of a 20ft reefer at about 1.6 times the price. Internal volume 67 m³ versus 27.7 m³. Same temperature range (-30 to +30°C), same Carrier/Thermo King/Daikin refrigeration unit families, same 30-amp 240-volt continuous draw (the 40HC’s compressor cycles harder due to larger cargo zone). The 40HC supports multi-zone partitioning and is the economical choice on a per-cubic-metre basis if your operation can fill the volume. The 20ft is the right call if you need under 30 cubic metres of refrigerated space.
How much does a 40HC reefer cost in Ontario in 2026?
From Van Blanc in Brantford, 40HC reefer pricing is quoted per order. Grade, machinery hours, and service history drive the number more than the box itself, which is why we quote with the condition report attached. Tell us your product, turnover, and site power and the all-in quote covers the unit, delivery to your dock or pad, and runtime expectations in plain language.
Can a 40HC reefer hold multiple temperature zones at once?
Yes, with a partition-wall installation. Two-zone configurations are most common (cannabis cure plus dry storage, refrigeration plus freezer, conditioning plus distribution). Three-zone is possible with custom HVAC retrofit. Partition walls are quoted per build, with insulation and ducting complexity setting the scope. We deliver the bare 40HC reefer; the partition build is paid separately to a refrigeration contractor or container modification specialist familiar with multi-zone cold-chain installations.
How much electricity does a 40HC reefer consume?
Continuous draw is the same 30 amps at 240 volts single-phase as a 20ft reefer, but the compressor cycles at a higher duty rate to maintain temperature across the larger 67 m³ cargo volume. Annual Ontario electricity cost runs approximately $2,500 to $5,000 for above-zero operations (most applications), $5,000 to $8,500 for below-zero (frozen storage). The actual cost depends heavily on ambient temperature, set-point, cargo thermal mass turnover, and door-open cycle frequency.
What refrigeration unit brand is on the 40HC reefer I’m buying?
We disclose the make, model, and approximate hours-of-use on every reefer during the quote conversation. Common brands are Carrier Transicold (PrimeLINE family), Thermo King (MAGNUM PLUS family), and Daikin (ZESTIA family). All three have parts and service networks in Ontario. The unit in your specific reefer depends on what we have in stock the week you order. For applications where brand-specific reliability matters (cannabis, pharmaceutical, regulated food-service), we recommend a pre-purchase inspection by a licensed refrigeration technician.
How long does delivery take from your Brantford yard?
One to three business days for in-stock units. We typically hold 1 to 3 40HC reefers on our Brantford yard at any time. If your specific grade and configuration is not in stock, we source-to-order with a 2 to 4 week lead time. The lower standing inventory for 40HC reefers (compared to 20ft reefers) is because the larger unit moves slower in the used market; we do not over-stock the inventory and tie up capital.
What foundation does a 40HC reefer need?
Same as a standard 40HC dry container for static placement, with attention to the heavier tare weight (10,082 pounds for the reefer versus 8,775 for the dry HC). For temporary placement under 18 months, packed gravel direct-on-grade. For long-term commercial or pharma placements, concrete piers below the frost line at the four corner castings, designed for the higher loaded weight (up to 34,000 kg fully loaded). The pad must accommodate the cable run from the reefer’s electrical plug to the site outlet.
How does Van Blanc compare to BigSteelBox for a 40HC reefer order?
BigSteelBox primarily sells dry containers; they may rent 40HC reefers but typically do not sell them outright in our service area. Other Ontario reefer suppliers (Storstac, regional refrigeration-specialty dealers, container resellers in the GTA) sell 40HC reefers, often at higher per-unit pricing with longer lead times. Van Blanc carries a standing 40HC reefer inventory at our Brantford yards with 1 to 3 day delivery on in-stock units, transparent refrigeration-unit hours-of-use disclosure, and walk-the-yard inspection before purchase. We are the local independent option for Ontario 40HC reefer buyers.
Can a 40HC reefer be used in a Health Canada licensed cannabis facility?
Yes. Our 40HC reefers meet the temperature-stability, humidity-control, and access-control requirements typical for Health Canada licensed cannabis cultivation, post-harvest cure rooms, finished-product storage, and multi-zone facility expansion. Documentation of unit specifications matching standard cannabis licence application requirements is available on request. We work with several Ontario licensed cannabis operators on phased facility-expansion using 40HC reefers as modular grow-zone additions.
Do you offer rent-to-own on 40HC reefers?
Yes. Rent-to-own structures the cost as monthly payments that build equity in the unit. After 24 to 36 months the reefer is yours. Particularly useful for cannabis cultivators spreading capital across a facility-expansion build phase, food banks managing donor-funding cycles, and seasonal food-service operations that want the 40HC for active months only with the option to keep it longer.
Sources
Placement requirements vary by municipality. A quick call to your local planning office before delivery is the easiest way to confirm what works for your property.
Reach Van Blanc in Brantford
Van Blanc Ent. Inc.
90 Morton Ave. East, Unit 1-B, Brantford, ON N3R 7J7
Cell: 519-754-6844
Toll-free: 1-888-509-6658
Family-owned and operated since 1995. Thirty years in Ontario shipping containers, four Brantford yards, 200-plus boxes in inventory including a standing inventory of refrigerated containers.