Walk-In Cooler Sizing Calculator
Determine the right walk-in cooler dimensions based on seating capacity, meal volume, delivery schedule, and menu complexity.
Inputs
Results
Recommended Floor Area (sq ft)
96
Width (ft)8
Depth (ft)12
Daily Meals Served200
Days Between Deliveries2.3
Est. Refrigeration (BTU/hr)28,800
Shelving (linear ft)111
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the restaurant seating capacity and average meal turns per seat per day.
- Set delivery frequency (deliveries per week) -- fewer deliveries require larger storage.
- Select menu complexity: 1 = simple, 2 = moderate, 3 = complex/diverse.
- Review the recommended floor area and suggested width and depth dimensions.
- Use the refrigeration BTU and shelving linear feet for equipment specification.
How the result changes with Restaurant Seats
| Restaurant Seats | Recommended Floor Area (sq ft) |
|---|---|
| 101 | 140 |
| 351 | 441 |
| 650 | 784 |
| 900 | 1,089 |
What each input means
- Restaurant Seats
- Total seating capacity of the restaurant.
- Meal Turns per Seat/Day
- Average number of times each seat is used per day (e.g., 2-3 for casual dining).
- Deliveries per Week
- Number of food deliveries per week. Fewer deliveries require more storage.
- Menu Complexity
- 1 = Simple/limited menu, 2 = Moderate variety, 3 = Complex/diverse menu with many fresh ingredients.
What each result means
- Recommended Floor Area (sq ft)
- Total walk-in cooler floor area including aisle space.
- Width (ft)
- Recommended standard walk-in width.
- Depth (ft)
- Recommended standard walk-in depth.
- Daily Meals Served
- Estimated meals per day driving storage needs.
- Days Between Deliveries
- Average days of product storage needed.
- Est. Refrigeration (BTU/hr)
- Approximate refrigeration capacity needed for a 35°F cooler.
- Shelving (linear ft)
- Estimated linear feet of shelving (3 levels on perimeter walls).
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersRestaurant Seats = 80, Meal Turns per Seat/Day = 2.5, Deliveries per Week = 3, Menu Complexity = 2 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Recommended Floor AreaRecommended Floor Area = recommendedWidth * recommendedDepth96 = 96
- Calculate WidthWidth = 68 = 8
- Calculate DepthDepth = 612 = 12
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