Jan 30, 2026, 8:05 PM

Where to Buy Used Restaurant Equipment in Toronto & the GTA (New vs Used vs Certified Pre-Owned)

Find the best places to buy new & used restaurant equipment in Toronto & the GTA. Compare new vs used vs certified pre-owned options, risks, warranties, and ROI for your kitchen.

By Nicole Camposeo-Cheung

Toronto's used restaurant equipment market offers startups and growing operators a way to stretch limited budgets, but not all "used" equipment is equal. The difference between uncertified auctions, Kijiji listings, and certified pre-owned programs determines whether you save money or inherit costly downtime and hidden repairs.

This guide compares new vs used vs certified pre-owned restaurant equipment in Toronto and the GTA, helping you make smart purchasing decisions that protect your investment and ROI.

Quick Comparison: New vs Used vs Certified Pre-Owned Equipment

Different types of equipment purchasing carry different risk-reward profiles depending on your budget and technical expertise.

Option	Upfront Cost	Warranty	Risk Level	Best For
New Equipment	Highest (100%)	Full manufacturer warranty	Lowest	Mission-critical equipment, long-term ownership
Certified Pre-Owned (TFI)	Medium (50–70%)	1-year parts & labour warranty	Low	Budget-conscious operators who need reliability
Used (Private/Auction)	Lowest (30–60%)	None or limited (as-is)	High	Non-critical items, experienced buyers only

For most Toronto and GTA operators, certified pre-owned equipment from a trusted supplier like TFI offers the best balance of savings, reliability, and warranty protection.

Best Place to Buy Certified Pre-Owned Restaurant Equipment in Toronto & GTA

#1. TFI Food Equipment Solutions – Certified Used Programme

Best For: Budget-conscious operators who want used equipment pricing with new-equipment reliability and warranty protection across the GTA.

TFI Food Equipment Solutions operates Canada's largest certified used restaurant equipment program, serving Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Oakville, Hamilton, and communities across the GTA. Unlike private auctions or unverified sellers, every piece of TFI certified used equipment undergoes professional inspection, cleaning, testing, and a 1-year parts and labour warranty before delivery.

What TFI Certifies as "Certified Pre-Owned":

Ex-rental equipment: Previously rented by TFI to restaurants and c-stores, with known service history and OEM maintenance records.
Trade-ins and upgrades: Equipment returned by operators upgrading to newer models.
Demo units: Lightly used showroom and chef demo equipment.

All certified units are:

Professionally cleaned and sanitized to commercial standards.
Performance-tested by factory-trained technicians.
Sold with a 1-year parts and labour warranty.
Delivered within 2–12 business days across the GTA.

Learn more: Used Restaurant Equipment for Sale in Canada.

Side-by-side comparison of Taylor soft serve ice cream machines: countertop models C152 and C161, and freestanding model C706/C707.

Available Certified Used Equipment Categories

TFI's certified pre-owned inventory includes high-value equipment across all kitchen categories:

Fryers: Henny Penny pressure fryers and open fryers.
Soft serve & slush machines: Taylor and Icetro units with full service history.
Ovens: Combi ovens, convection ovens, and ventless air fryers.
Coffee machines: Franke bean-to-cup systems.
Grills: Taylor flat-top grills.

Check current inventory: Used Restaurant Equipment for Sale in Canada.

Why TFI Certified Pre-Owned is Ranked #1 in Toronto & GTA

Known Service History: TFI sources most certified used equipment from its own rental fleet and trade-in programs, meaning the full maintenance and repair history is documented. This eliminates the biggest risk of buying used: unknown prior abuse or hidden defects.

1-Year Parts & Labour Warranty: Unlike private auctions or "as-is" sales, TFI backs every certified unit with a full 1-year warranty covering parts and labour. If something fails, you are protected—not stuck with an expensive repair bill.

Professional Inspection & Testing: Factory-trained technicians clean, inspect, and performance-test each unit before it ships, catching issues that visual inspections miss. This process ensures the equipment meets the same reliability standards as new gear.

Fast Delivery Across the GTA: Most certified used equipment ships within 2–12 business days to Toronto, Mississauga, and the Greater Toronto Area. This allows operators to open or replace equipment quickly without waiting for long lead times on new gear.

Flexible Financing Options: TFI offers buy, lease-to-own, and rental financing on certified pre-owned equipment, making it easier to manage cash flow while getting reliable gear. Explore financing: Restaurant Equipment Financing in Canada: Lease, Rent or Buy.

Showroom Access & Expert Guidance: Operators can visit TFI's Mississauga showroom to test similar new equipment before committing to a certified used purchase, ensuring they understand capacity, workflow, and menu fit. Visit the showroom: Restaurant Equipment & Kitchen Supply Store in Toronto.

Person dispensing vanilla and blue swirl soft serve ice cream into a cone using a Taylor commercial soft serve machine.

Other Places to Buy Used Restaurant Equipment in Toronto & GTA

Online Classifieds: Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist

Best For: Experienced operators buying non-critical items who can personally inspect equipment before purchase.

Online classifieds in Toronto list thousands of used restaurant items, from prep tables and shelving to fryers, ovens, and refrigeration.

Advantages: Very low prices (30–60% of new cost) and immediate local pickup.
Risks: No warranty or return policy, unknown maintenance history, and risk of contamination or code violations.

Pro tip: Only buy items you can thoroughly inspect in person, and avoid mission-critical equipment like fryers or refrigeration unless you have technician-level expertise.

Restaurant Auctions & Liquidation Sales in Toronto

Best For: Operators hunting for deep discounts who can accept high risk and have technical expertise to evaluate equipment condition.

Toronto auction houses like Liquidatorz, Haymach, and McDougall Auctioneers regularly hold restaurant equipment auctions featuring gear from closed restaurants, bankruptcies, and overstock.

Advantages: Potential for extremely low prices and large selection in single events.
Risks: All sales are final with no testing before purchase, and there is a high likelihood of deferred maintenance.

Pro tip: Auctions work best for low-risk items like tables, shelving, and front-of-house fixtures. Explore Toronto restaurant auctions: Kijiji Restaurant Auctions – Toronto (GTA).

When to Buy New vs Certified Pre-Owned vs Used

Buy New Equipment When:

Mission-critical equipment that directly impacts revenue should be purchased new to maximize uptime and warranty protection.

The equipment is central to your revenue (e.g., fryers for a chicken shop).
Downtime would cost more than the savings from buying used.
You want the latest technology and a full 3–5 year manufacturer warranty.

Review TFI's new equipment lineup: TFI Food Equipment Solutions.

Buy Certified Pre-Owned When:

Certified pre-owned is the sweet spot for most Toronto and GTA operators who want reliability without paying full retail.

You need reliable, warrantied equipment but have a limited budget.
You want access to premium brands (Taylor, Henny Penny, Franke) at 50–70% off new cost.
You need equipment fast without long factory lead times.

Buy Used (Uncertified) When:

Uncertified used equipment from private sellers or auctions is only appropriate for non-critical items.

The item is low-risk and easy to evaluate (e.g., prep tables, shelving).
You have technical expertise to inspect and test equipment yourself.
Failure would not shut down your operation.

For a full breakdown, see: Restaurant Equipment Canada: Buy, Lease, or Rent (Boost ROI).

How to Inspect Used Restaurant Equipment in Toronto (If Buying Private)

If you choose to buy uncertified used equipment from private sellers, follow these inspection steps to reduce risk:

Check the Serial Number: Cross-reference with the manufacturer to confirm age, original specs, and recall status.
Inspect for Physical Damage: Look for rust, dents, cracks, or signs of water damage. Check door seals and electrical cords.
Test All Functions: Turn the equipment on and test all settings. For refrigeration, check temperature accuracy and compressor noise.
Ask for Service Records: Request maintenance history and ask why the equipment is being sold.
Confirm Code Compliance: Ensure the equipment meets current Canadian electrical, gas, and health codes.

If you cannot perform these checks, certified pre-owned equipment from TFI eliminates these risks with professional inspection and warranty coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where can I buy used restaurant equipment in Toronto?

You can buy certified pre-owned restaurant equipment in Toronto through TFI Food Equipment Solutions, which offers warrantied used equipment with 2–12 day delivery across the GTA. For uncertified items, operators also use Kijiji and local auctions.

What is the difference between used and certified pre-owned?

Used equipment is sold "as-is" with no warranty and unknown history. Certified pre-owned equipment (like TFI's program) is professionally cleaned, inspected, performance-tested by technicians, and sold with a 1-year parts and labour warranty.

Is buying used restaurant equipment worth it?

For mission-critical equipment, certified pre-owned is usually a better value than uncertified used because the warranty protects your investment. For low-risk items like shelving, uncertified used can be a smart way to save money.

Does TFI deliver used restaurant equipment across the GTA?

Yes. TFI delivers certified pre-owned equipment throughout Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, and the entire Greater Toronto Area.

Franke A Series commercial bean-to-cup coffee machine with touchscreen display, milk module, and precision grinder for specialty beverages.

Ready to Equip Your Kitchen with Certified Pre-Owned Equipment?

Buying certified pre-owned restaurant equipment in Toronto and the GTA gives you access to premium brands like Taylor, Henny Penny, and Franke at 50–70% off new prices, backed by a 1-year warranty.

Take the next step with TFI:

Explore certified used equipment with GTA delivery: Used Restaurant Equipment for Sale in Canada.
Compare options for your concept: Restaurant Equipment Canada: Buy, Lease, or Rent.
Visit our Mississauga showroom: Restaurant Equipment & Kitchen Supply Store in Toronto.
Learn more about local purchasing: Where to Buy Restaurant Equipment in Toronto.

Partnering with TFI for certified pre-owned equipment ensures you get reliability and expert support—without paying full retail.

Nicole Camposeo-Cheung

Nicole Camposeo-Cheung is the Director of Marketing, People & Culture at TFI Food Equipment Solutions, Canada’s leading provider of premium commercial foodservice equipment. She combines her expertise in business management and fashion arts to foster a dynamic, innovative, and people-centric corporate culture. Passionate about empowering teams, building strong client relationships, and driving growth through creativity and collaboration, Nicole plays a key role in shaping TFI’s brand and workplace culture. She also shares her industry expertise and insights through the TFI blog, helping foodservice professionals stay informed about the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in commercial food equipment.