Whether you’re running a restaurant, a grocery store, a catering business, or a commercial kitchen, investing in the right commercial freezer is essential. These powerful refrigeration units are designed to handle large volumes of perishable goods, ensuring food safety, inventory longevity, and operational efficiency. But when it comes to buying one, a common question arises: What is the size of a commercial freezer?
The answer varies based on business needs, industry requirements, available space, and budget. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the different commercial freezer sizes, configurations, and factors that help determine the ideal unit for your establishment.
Understanding Commercial Freezer Types
Before we explore dimensions, it’s important to understand the types of commercial freezers available on the market, as their size will largely depend on their style and purpose:
- Reach-In Freezers: Typically found in restaurant kitchens, they resemble residential refrigerators but are taller and more powerful. These units come with one to three doors and are designed for easy access to frequently used items.
- Walk-In Freezers: Much larger, often used in large-scale operations like warehouses, catering facilities, and butcher shops. These are built as rooms that people can walk into and are customized according to the space available.
- Undercounter Freezers: Compact and designed to fit under countertops, these are ideal for smaller kitchens or for keeping ingredients close to prep stations.
- Chest Freezers: Wider and lower to the ground, chest freezers offer deep storage and are often used for storing large volumes of bulk items.
- Display Freezers: Found in grocery stores and delis, these units have glass doors and are used for customer-facing product displays.
Typical Sizes of Commercial Freezers
The dimensions of commercial freezers vary by type and brand, but here’s a general breakdown:
1. Reach-In Freezers
Reach-in freezers are among the most common, and they come in three basic sizes:
- Single Door (One Section)
- Capacity: 19 to 23 cubic feet
- Dimensions: Approximately 27″ wide × 30″ deep × 78″ high
- Best for: Small restaurants, cafés, or bakeries
- Capacity: 19 to 23 cubic feet
- Double Door (Two Sections)
- Capacity: 45 to 49 cubic feet
- Dimensions: Approximately 54″ wide × 30″ deep × 78″ high
- Best for: Medium-sized kitchens or businesses with more storage needs
- Capacity: 45 to 49 cubic feet
- Triple Door (Three Sections)
- Capacity: 70 to 75 cubic feet
- Dimensions: Approximately 81″ wide × 30″ deep × 78″ high
- Best for: High-volume kitchens, catering services, and institutional facilities
- Capacity: 70 to 75 cubic feet
For more specifications and reach-in freezer options, visit: https://habcomfg.com/product-category/reach-in-freezers/
2. Walk-In Freezers
These are customized units, so sizes can vary greatly. However, standard models generally start at:
- Small Units
- Size: 6′ × 6′ × 7′
- Capacity: Roughly 150 to 200 cubic feet
- Size: 6′ × 6′ × 7′
- Medium Units
- Size: 8′ × 10′ × 7′
- Capacity: Up to 500 cubic feet
- Size: 8′ × 10′ × 7′
- Large Units
- Size: 10′ × 20′ × 8′ or more
- Capacity: 1,000+ cubic feet
- Size: 10′ × 20′ × 8′ or more
Walk-in freezers can be made even larger with modular construction, depending on business requirements.
3. Undercounter Freezers
Ideal for tight spaces, typical undercounter freezer dimensions are:
- Width: 27″ to 72″
- Depth: 24″ to 30″
- Height: 33″ to 36″
- Capacity: 6 to 21 cubic feet
These are great for quick-access storage in prep areas or behind service counters.
4. Chest Freezers
Designed for bulk storage, commercial chest freezers range in size:
- Small: 30″ wide – around 7 to 9 cubic feet
- Medium: 50″ wide – around 14 to 18 cubic feet
- Large: 70″ wide – 20+ cubic feet
These freezers often have sliding or lift-top lids and are used in environments where food doesn’t need to be accessed frequently.
Choosing the Right Size Freezer for Your Business
While dimensions give a general idea, selecting the correct size depends on several key factors:
1. Storage Needs
Start by evaluating your daily inventory volume. Do you need to store bulk meat, frozen vegetables, desserts, or pre-cooked meals? Estimate how much product you need to store daily, weekly, or monthly.
As a rule of thumb:
- 1 cubic foot = 28 pounds of food
- For every 50 meals served per day, you’ll need about 1.5 cubic feet of freezer space
2. Available Space
Your kitchen layout or back-of-house space will dictate the size you can install. Be sure to measure:
- Doorways and hallways (for delivery and installation)
- Height clearance (some units may not fit under low ceilings)
- Clearance for ventilation (side, top, or rear depending on the model)
3. Usage Frequency
If employees need to access the freezer frequently during service hours, a reach-in or undercounter model is ideal. Walk-ins are better for long-term or backup storage.
4. Energy Efficiency
Larger units consume more energy. Investing in an energy-efficient model with proper insulation, LED lighting, and digital temperature control can reduce operating costs over time.
Look for ENERGY STAR® certified models for better performance and lower energy bills.
The Importance of Proper Sizing
Selecting the wrong size freezer can lead to operational inefficiencies and financial loss. A freezer that’s too small can result in overcrowding, blocked airflow, and food spoilage.
Conversely, an oversized unit consumes more electricity and occupies valuable kitchen space.
Also, consider future growth. If your business is expanding, it may be more cost-effective to invest in a slightly larger unit now rather than upgrading later.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the different sizes of commercial freezers is essential for any business dealing with perishable goods. From compact undercounter models to massive walk-in units, there’s a wide range of options tailored to every commercial need.
When deciding on a freezer, don’t just consider the physical dimensions—factor in your storage requirements, kitchen layout, staff usage, and energy efficiency. The right freezer not only keeps your food fresh but also contributes to the overall productivity and profitability of your operation.
Whether you’re outfitting a new kitchen or upgrading an existing one, investing time in choosing the right size freezer will pay off in long-term efficiency and food safety.