Ice Machine Sizing Calculator

Commercial refrigeration guides for Bay Area businesses

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Updated October 14, 2026

Quick answer

Pick your business type and enter customers, seats, rooms or beds. The calculator estimates daily ice use and adds margin, because real output drops below the nameplate rating in hot rooms and with warm incoming water.

About the numbers

The per-unit figures (1.5 lb per restaurant customer, 3 lb per bar seat, 5 lb per hotel room, 10 lb per hospital bed) are common industry rules of thumb. Your own usage beats any rule: if you buy bagged ice on busy days, add that amount. Ice machine ratings are measured at mild test conditions, so a machine in a hot kitchen makes noticeably less.

Type of business How many (customers per day, seats, rooms or beds) Pounds of ice per unit (change it if you know your own usage) Is the machine in a hot kitchen or fed warm water?

When to call a technician

If a cooler, freezer or ice machine still is not right after the safe checks, a C-38 refrigeration technician can find the cause.

Open 7 days, 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM. CA Lic. #776244.

Call 1-800-266-5243 Request service online

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy a bigger machine or a bigger bin?

If you run short only at peak times, a larger bin often solves it more cheaply than a larger machine.

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Published by Cool Aid Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, a family business serving the Bay Area since 1966. Owner Jim McKinny holds California C-20 and C-38 contractor licenses and EPA Universal certification. Repairs we complete carry our 1-year parts & labor warranty.

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