Choosing between a chiller van and a freezer van comes down to what you carry, how long it’s in the van, and what you might carry in future. Here’s how they differ, with real prices from our stock.
The short answer
- Chiller van: for fresh food and anything that must stay cold but not frozen, such as meat, fish, dairy, fruit and veg, sandwiches, flowers and drinks.
- Freezer van: for frozen food and ice cream.
- Both? A dual-temperature van has a bulkhead between a chilled and a frozen compartment, so one van can do both.
Temperatures, and what the law says
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, chilled food must by law be kept at 8°C or below, and the Food Standards Agency recommends 5°C or below to allow for the temperature going up and down. Quick-frozen food must be kept at -18°C or colder; during local deliveries it may rise briefly, but no warmer than -15°C.
Our refrigerated vans can work anywhere from +21°C down to -25°C, depending on the fridge unit we fit. A freezer unit can usually be set to run at chilled temperatures too, so a freezer van can do either job (one at a time). A chiller van can’t go below freezing.
Insulation, load space and payload
We line a chiller van with 50mm insulation and a freezer van with 75mm. The thicker freezer lining takes up a little more of the load space and adds weight, which comes off the payload. If you carry heavy loads, we check the payload left after conversion against what you carry before you buy.
What the difference costs
On the vans we have in stock as both a chiller and a freezer (October 2026), the freezer version costs £1,000 more on small and medium vans and £2,500 more on large vans. On a van we find and build to order, the freezer is £2,500 more whatever the size. For example:
| Van | Chiller | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Transit Custom L1H1 Limited | £35,495 +VAT | £36,495 +VAT |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Vito 114 CDI L2 PRO | £39,995 +VAT | £40,995 +VAT |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315 CDI L2H2 PRO | £49,995 +VAT | £52,495 +VAT |
| 2026 Ford Transit 350 Trend L3H2 | £41,995 +VAT | £44,495 +VAT |
Prices change as stock comes and goes; see the latest on our fridge vans and freezer vans pages.
Worth deciding at the start
- Overnight standby lets the fridge run from the mains with the engine off, so you can load the night before. It has to be specified from the start: it can’t be added after the conversion is finished.
- Curtains across the doorway keep the cold in on multi-drop rounds.
- A partition or moveable bulkhead splits the load space, for chilled and frozen, or chilled and ambient.
- Every fridge unit we fit comes with at least a 12-month warranty: 12 months on GAH and Hubbard units, 24 months on Thermo King and Zanotti.
Which trades usually choose which
Butchers, fishmongers, caterers, bakeries, florists and drinks suppliers mostly run chiller vans; frozen food and ice cream need a freezer. See our pages for butchers, fish and seafood, catering, ice cream and every other trade.
Not sure which suits you? Call us on 01444 245555 and tell us what you carry, how far and how often, and we’ll tell you honestly.
