Reefer container hire
Summer cold chain reinforcement, event storage, pharmaceutical support, agricultural production: reefer hire covers most temporary refrigeration or freezing needs. Prices 2026, uses, terms.
2026 Rates
| Format | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft reefer | £735 – £1,260 | £578 – £893 | £473 – £735 |
| 40 ft reefer | £998 – £1,680 | £788 – £1,155 | £683 – £998 |
| 40 ft HC reefer | £1,103 – £1,838 | £893 – £1,313 | £788 – £1,155 |
Excluding delivery £315 – £735, excluding electrical hookup £315 – £1,575, excluding consumption £210 – £578/month depending on usage.
Main uses
- Seasonal agro-food — harvests, festivals (Christmas, Easter) where storage spikes temporarily. One to four-month hire common.
- Event Management — festivals, caterers, trade shows: temporary need for 3 to 15 days, often with a generator set.
- Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry — temporary cold room support during production peaks or backup in case of main system failure.
- Catering Solutions — seasonal reinforcements for food truck events, beach restaurants, specific production campaigns.
- Laboratory — controlled temperature testing and sample storage over the project duration.
- Export — one-off shipment of refrigerated goods without investing in a reefer container.
Electrical supply : three-phase 415 V (BS 7671) or generator ?
A reefer consumes an average of 3 to 8 kW in operation, with peaks at 10-15 kW during startup or in extreme heat. It requires a mandatory three-phase 400-415 V (BS 7671) supply (CEE plug 32 A or 63 A depending on model). No single phase, no domestic socket : anticipate this before delivery to avoid having an installed reefer that cannot start.
Three-phase 415 V (BS 7671) power connection
The cheapest option if your site already has a three-phase panel within 50 m of the installation point. Connection cost 300 to £1,300 (reinforced cable + CEE plug + protection). Enedis lead time 2-6 weeks for dedicated meter installation. Consumption 200-£470/month at pro rates depending on set temperature and door opening frequency.
Autonomous generator
Indispensable in remote areas (festival, isolated construction site, distant agricultural operation). Generator rental from £70-150/day. Fuel consumption diesel 3-6 L/h, or £60-150/day for gasoil. Plan a fuel tank of 500-1 000 L and scheduled refuelling for rentals longer than 3 days. The most flexible solution.
Required power according to format and use
| Format / usage | Average Power | Start-up peak | Recommended generator | CEE socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 feet refrigeration (+2 to +8 °C) | 3-5 kW | 8-10 kW | 15 kVA | 32 A |
| 20 ft refrigerated container (-18 to -25 °C) | 5-7 kW | 10-12 kW | 20 kVA | 32 A |
| 40 ft refrigerated container | 4-7 kW | 10-12 kW | 20 kVA | 32 A |
| 40 ft HC refrigerated container | 6-8 kW | 12-15 kW | 25 kVA | 63 A |
| Parc 3-4 reefer | — | — | 50-80 kVA | dedicated dashboard |
Size the generator with +30 % margin to absorb start-up peaks and summer heat peaks (condenser load increased by 20-40 % above 30 °C external temperature).
Sector configurations
Each vertical has its specificities: temperature range, traceability requirements, contract duration, human presence on site. Three profiles cover the majority of reefer requests received on ContainerEU.
Agro-food & grape harvest
- Range : +2 to +8 °C (fruit, vegetables, grapes) or -18 °C for frozen goods.
- Duration: 6-10 weeks during season (September-October harvest, summer fruit).
- Reservation: Book 6-10 weeks in advance — demand peaks.
- Electricity: Available from power supply if three-phase 32 A is available, otherwise generator.
- Seasonal budget: £1,700 to £3,800 rental + electricity + delivery.
Pharma, laboratory, biotech
- Range : +2 to +8 °C (vaccines, temperature-sensitive medicines) or -20 °C.
- Critical : timestamped temperature log, threshold alarm, redundancy.
- Duration: 6-24 months — backup cold room or production support.
- Compliance : qualification IQ/OQ/PQ (GxP), auditable data ANSM.
- Monthly budget : £680-1,500 + £45-200 monitoring.
Event & festival
- Range : 0 to +8 °C (beverages, caterer), sometimes double -18 °C ice cream.
- Duration: 3 to 21 days, often without on-site power supply.
- Config: reefer pack + generator 15-25 kVA + 200-500 L initial fuel.
- Reservation: 4-8 weeks in advance (June-July fully booked).
- Weekend Budget: £680 to £1,200 all-inclusive depending on format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of renting a reefer?+
Long term (12+ months): £473 – £735 for a 20 ft, £683 – £998 for a 40 ft. Medium term: £578 – £893 (20') / £788 – £1,155 (40'). Short term (event-based 7-30 days): rates 30-50% higher, often charged as a flat fee. Excluding delivery (£315 – £735), excluding three-phase 415 V (BS 7671) electrical connection (£315 – £1,575), excluding fuel consumption.
What is the monthly electricity consumption?+
At 2-4 °C refrigeration: £170-350/month electricity at commercial rates. At -20 °C freezing: £340-550/month. Consumption varies greatly with external temperature (+30% in summer), door opening frequency, and load level (a full reefer works less than a half-empty one).
Can a reefer be rented without mains power connection?+
Yes, via a dedicated generator (15-25 kVA). Generator rental: £70-150/day + fuel (diesel). Common solution for events, festivals, remote areas with no grid access. Some suppliers offer all-inclusive packages reefer+generator+fuel, billed weekly.
What is the minimum duration for a reefer rental?+
On professional networks, typically a minimum of 7 days (for short events). For long-term agri-food or pharma use, contracts often run around 12 to 24 months, with early termination clauses requiring notice periods of 30 to 60 days. Some suppliers require a one-month minimum.
Is the reefer delivered with cargo on board?+
No — it arrives empty and at ambient temperature. You turn it on upon delivery, and it cools down in 2 to 4 hours depending on the set point. For loading, it is crucial that the cargo is already at the correct temperature: loading fresh goods at 20 °C into a reefer maintaining 4 °C takes time and may trigger alarms. Pre-cool pallets in dock refrigeration before loading.
What happens if the reefer breaks down during rental?+
Recent reefers (<10 years) are very reliable — failure rate around 2-3% per month. Professional suppliers contractually commit to intervene within 4 to 12 hours in case of critical alarm, with standard exchange if repair is impossible on site. Recommendation for critical loads (pharma, expensive goods): require a 4-hour SLA intervention + a spare reefer pre-positioned for loads > £42,500. Separate cargo insurance must be arranged — the supplier's liability is limited to providing conforming equipment, not replacing expired products.
Can temperature be monitored remotely (IoT, monitoring)?+
Yes. Two options. (1) Built-in manufacturer monitoring (Maersk Remote Container Management, CMA CGM Traxens): £45-150/month extra, logs temperature + location + email/SMS alarms. Often required in pharma/agri-food sectors. (2) Independent data logger placed inside the reefer (Elitech, Onset): £130-400 purchase cost, time-stamped auditable log for HACCP or GxP traceability. For vaccines and temperature-sensitive medicines, 24/7 monitoring with alarms is mandatory and often required by the National Agency of Medicines Safety (ANSM).