Use Our Ice Calculator to Choose the Right Ice Machine
Want the Right Amount of Ice Every Day? Use Our Ice Calculator.
If you’re wondering what size ice machine you need, you’re not alone. The amount of ice each business needs varies by industry and customer volume, so the Iceologists at Easy Ice created an ice calculator with a list of typical ice needs for specific industries.
Our ice calculator helps you determine how much ice per person you’ll need per day. By following this list, you can get a good estimate of how much ice your customers will consume daily, which will help you pick the right ice machine.
Keep in mind our calculator shows midrange ice consumption rates, and your specific ice needs may vary.
Want to Talk to an Ice Machine Expert?
Our team knows ice machines. If you want to make sure you choose the best ice machine model to meet your daily ice needs, get in touch with us. We'll confirm how many pounds of ice you should have for your particular business.
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Daily Ice Rate for the Healthcare Industry
Hospitals and healthcare clinics typically need the most ice per person. You can measure your ice needs by taking the amount of ice a patient needs daily (10 lbs. per patient) and multiply it by the number of beds you have on your floor. When using our ice calculator, don’t forget to account for your visitors and staff.
Daily Ice Rate for Restaurants and Bars
To the right you’ll find the general amount of ice you need per customer, but it’s also important to consider how much ice you use outside of drinks. Your business might use ice to prep food or shock vegetables. If you know your kitchen uses ice, factor that in when using our ice calculator. What about beer tubs during game days? Again, ice is used in a lot of areas when it comes to restaurants and bars. Don’t short yourself.
Daily Ice Rate for Convenience Stores
Convenience stores need to think about their volume of fountain drinks sold per day when using our ice calculator. Running out of ice can end up hurting your establishment. Easy Ice is available to help you calculate the amount you need for your specific location, so you can find the best ice makers to install on top of your soda dispensers.
Once you calculate what size ice machine you need, there are several other things to take into consideration as well. We’ve developed this handy commercial ice machine guide to answer all of your questions!
Approximate Daily Use
| Hotel | 5 lbs. Per guest |
| Hospital | 10 lbs. Per patient |
| Restaurant | 1.5 lbs. Per customer |
| Bar/Cocktail | 3 lbs. Per customer |
| Cafeteria | 1 lb. Per customer |
| Quick Serve Restaurant |
5 oz. Per 7-10 oz. drink 8 oz. Per 12-16 oz. drink 12 oz. Per 18-24 oz. drink |
| Seafood/Deli Counter and Display |
30 lbs. of ice per cubic foot |
| Convenience Store | 6 oz. Per 12 oz. drink 10 oz. Per 20 oz. drink 16 oz. Per 32 oz. drink |