BACKGROUND Cool storage is a valuable means of manipulating insect development time. The Queensland fruit fly (Q‐fly) is Australia's most economically significant pest of fruit crops. The present study investigates cool storage of Q‐fly pupae for increasing production flexibility for sterile insect technique programs. Development time, survival and fly quality were assessed following continuous storage of 1‐day‐old pupae at temperatures ranging from 13 to 25 °C. RESULTS Survival was reduced almost to zero by pupal storage at 13 and 15 °C, was greatly reduced by storage at 17 °C, and was modestly reduced by storage at 19 °C. Pupal development time was extended by 16 days at 17 °C and by 9 days at 19 °C. Cool storage negatively affected flight ability and depleted lipid reserves. Cool storage at 19 °C enhanced the ability of 3‐day‐old adults to recover from chill‐coma compared to control flies, indicating cold acclimation. CONCLUSION There is potential for use of cool storage in Q‐fly mass rearing, especially to improve alignment between production and field releases. For the purpose of delaying the development time of Q‐fly pupae with minimal quality reduction, storage at 23 °C is recommended for 1‐day‐old pupae. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry