If you are struggling to determine how many BTUs your refrigerator needs, you can quickly refer to this page and use our Refrigeration BTU calculator, which will do the math for you in seconds!
Our calculator will help you estimate the number of BTUs your refrigerator needs, and this page will provide additional guidelines for making those results more specific and accurate for the type of refrigerator you have.
The good news is, once you understand how BTU works differently in a refrigerator than heating appliances like a gas range or a convection oven, it becomes quite easy to calculate it yourself.
We will also provide you with the right formulas for these calculations.
Wilprep’s Refrigeration BTU Calculator
How to Use Our BTU Calculator for any Refrigerator
There are three main variables you need to calculate the BTU of any refrigerator using our BTU calculator: your refrigerator’s air volume, some temperature data (for the system to estimate its heat capacity), and some more specific details about your refrigerator.
The more specific you can be with this information, the more accurate the results will be.
Here's a step-by-step guide:
Step #1: Input the Air Volume
The air volume is the amount of space in your refrigerator in cubic feet.
Most manufacturers provide this information in the product description, but you can always use the following formula:
Air volume = Length × Width × Height
For example, let’s say you are installing a 15-foot by 10-foot by 10-foot walk-in cooler in a fast food restaurant. The air volume would be:
Air Volume= 15 × 10 × 10=1,500 cu.ft
Step#2: Input Data for the Heat Load Estimate
Add the temperature setting inside the refrigerator, the temperature outside the refrigerator (ambient temperature), and the temperature of the incoming item(s).
Our calculator automatically establishes heat load by taking the difference between the temperature outside and inside the refrigerator and the heat capacity of normal air (which is about 0.24 BTU for normal air with a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit ).
Step 3: Make Specific Adjustments Based on Your Refrigerator
Step 2 gives you a baseline for operation, but for more accurate results, you need to make some adjustments that may be specific to your refrigerator, such as the types of doors (seal or no seal), insulation level, and the total amount of items in the refrigerator.
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Adjust for Environment and Usage
Add 10–20% more BTUs if your refrigerator is in a warmer area (e.g., near an oven or in a garage).
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Account for Insulation and Efficiency
If your refrigerator is better insulated or an energy-efficient model (preferrable with ETL certification), it probably requires fewer BTUs to achieve the same cooling effect.
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Verify Compressor Capacity
Check your compressor’s capacity (in BTU): it should align with your calculated requirement.
Definition of Terms
Air Volume
The air volume of a refrigerator is the volume of air space within the refrigerator (in other words, the size of your refrigerator). It is usually measured in cubic feet or cubic meters, and larger refrigerators require more BTU to cool effectively.
Heat Load
The heat load of your refrigerator is the total amount of energy that needs to be extracted from within the unit to cool it to a set temperature and maintain that temperature despite external and internal factors.
To estimate the heat load of a refrigerator, consider the ambient or surrounding temperature in the area, the frequency with which the refrigerator is used, and the temperature of the item(s) you intend to put into the refrigerator.
Estimating the Heat Load of Your Refrigerator
Higher external temperatures (ambient temperature) increase the heat entering the refrigerator.
Frequently opening and closing the refrigerator door also increases heat entry, increasing the heat load.
The heat load will increase in a fridge when you add warm or room-temperature items.
How to Calculate BTU For Refrigeration (Even Without Calculator)
Once you calculate the size of the refrigerator (in cubic ft) and make reliable estimates of the heat load, you can use the following formula as a guideline to calculate the BTU of your refrigerator, even if you don't have an online calculator.
BTU Required=Volume (cubic feet)×BTU per Cubic Foot
What is the Average BTU per cubic foot?
BTU per cubic foot is typically 80–100 for standard residential refrigerators.
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However, for hot environments, you can add 10–20% more BTUs for the refrigerator.
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For high-traffic environments like restaurants, use a higher BTU per cubic foot (120–150 BTUs).
Example: Calculating BTU per Hour for a Commercial Refrigerator
Let's say you get one of Wilprep’s commercial refrigerators. Here is how to manually calculate the BTU per hour requirement based on some specific details.
Details
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Internal volume: 54 cubic feet
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BTU per cubic foot: 120 (commercial use)
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Hot environment adjustment: +15%
Base BTU Required = 54 120 = 6,480 BTUs/hour
Adjusted BTU
Adjusted BTU Required=3,600×1.15=7,452 BTUs/hour
What is BTU?
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and it is the measurement unit used to measure the amount of heat energy the refrigeration system sucks out in order to cool the interior of the unit and sustain the cool temperatures inside.
A refrigerator’s BTU rating shows the amount of heat it can remove in an hour, so refrigerators with higher BTU ratings have more powerful cooling capacity.
Unlike heating appliances like…. A refrigerator works refrigerators work by extracting heat from the interior and transferring it outside. This explains why the back of your refrigerator is always hot to the touch! The refrigeration cycle, which contains…..such it the heat, lower the temperature and extract it to the outside via the…
How BTU Works in a Refrigerator
The BTU rating tells many important things about a refrigerator, such as the amount of heat it can remove in an hour, which in turn lets you know how efficient the cooling system is, whether or not it is able to sustain cool temperatures, temperature maintenance, efficiency and whether or not the refrigerator can handle different kinds of food items.
Why BTU Matters
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Heat Removal
The BTU rating represents the amount of heat the refrigerator can remove in an hour. A higher BTU rating indicates that a refrigerator has a more powerful cooling capacity.
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Temperature Maintenance
The BTU rating indicates the extent to which a refrigerator can maintain a stable internal temperature, even if the outside heat or the number of times the door is opened.
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Energy Efficiency
The BTU rating can also help you determine how energy-efficient a refrigerator is. An efficient refrigerator with advanced insulation and a high-quality compressor removes heat using less energy, even if its BTU rating is higher.
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Load Adaptability
A properly rated BTU system can handle different kinds of food items. High BTU means the refrigerator can store more items without overworking the compressor.
Disclaimer
Consult manufacturers or refrigeration experts for commercial setups to verify compatibility with environmental conditions and usage demands.
Recommended Refrigerators From Wilprep
#1: Wilprep’s 27.6" Commercial Display Refrigerator
This 27" commercial glass door refrigerator offers 18.7 cubic feet of storage space, suitable for medium-volume storage to properly store and showcase drinks and more merchandise for your business.
Key Features
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18.7 cubic feet of storage space, perfect for medium-volume storage needs.
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5 adjustable shelves, with each capable of holding up to 88 lb.
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Single tempered glass door ensures clear visibility and attractive displays.
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Advanced air cooling system with an Embraco compressor and R290 refrigerant.
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Frost-free operation and even cooling between 32-50°F.
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LED lighting enhances visibility and display appeal.
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Durable stainless steel interior and exterior ensure consistent performance in commercial settings.
Consider this Refrigerator if:
You own or run a cafe, convenience store, or bakery where you need to display beverages, desserts, or ready-to-eat items.
#2: The 44.5" Commercial Display Refrigerator 2 Glass Door (33.5 cu. ft. Capacity)
This Double glass door refrigerator from Wilprep has an advanced air cooling system that ensures fast, with an Embraco compressor with R290 refrigerant providing high efficiency and energy savings for long-term reliability.
Key Features
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33.5 cubic feet of storage, ideal for medium to high-volume needs.
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An Embraco compressor for reliable and consistent cooling between 32°F and 50°F.
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Easily displays up to 950 standard 12 oz. cans
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Adjustable shelving accommodates items of varying sizes.
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Dual tempered glass doors offer clear visibility and easy access
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Bright LED interior lighting for enhanced product appeal.
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Built with high-quality materials for frequent commercial use.
Consider this Refrigerator if:
Your business is mid-size and needs a reliable and visually appealing solution to showcase a variety of beverages, snacks, or grab-and-go items.
Bigger Options
For bigger options of the same refrigerator (same features) but with more capacity, you can check out the Commercial Solid Door Reach-In Freezer (54 inches, two doors, 42.2 cu. ft capacity, 10 adjustable shelves) or the Commercial Display Refrigerator ( 78.1 inches, three doors,72 cu. ft capacity, 12 adjustable shelves).
About Wilprep’s Kitchen
Wilprep Kitchen is a leading provider of reliable commercial kitchen equipment, including refrigerators, food warmers, commercial ranges, and industrial ovens. Their collection of commercial refrigerators includes display refrigerators, reach-in units, and open-air models to meet the diverse needs of businesses.
If you own a small business that sells beverages, bottled products, or other display items, Wilprep Kitchen’s glass-door refrigerators provide the perfect blend of efficiency, durability, and visual appeal to help you grow your business.
