When choosing the right open-air refrigerator for a cafe or restaurant, finding a model that is within your budget is just the first step. You also need to ensure that it fits the size and nature of the space you have available, is convenient for the kind of business you do, and is capable of meeting the storage and display demands of your business.
The key is to know what to focus on, and in the case of an open-air refrigerator, the important deciding factors will be the space you have, the amount of foot traffic your business gets, and the types of products you store and display.
Why Size Matters When Choosing an Open-Air Refrigerator
When you think of getting an open-air merchandiser for a cafe or restaurant, the first and most important question to answer is: what size is appropriate for my business?
Choosing a model of the right size will help maximise efficiency, save costs, and facilitate smooth operation within your business establishment. Here’s how:
1. Space Efficiency
The right-sized open-air merchandiser size allows you to make the most of the space you have available, while avoiding the unnecessary cost and time wastage you would have incurred by choosing a model that is too large.
Here are two important tips to help you choose the right size open-air refrigerator:
- Vertical multi-shelf open-air merchandisers are best for maximising capacity without using too much floor space.
- Depth matters also. An open-air merchandiser should be just moderately deep, but not too deep. Too deep and it might block some aisles and take up more space, too shallow and your stocks will keep running out too quickly.
2. Customer Flow and Restocking
The right-sized open-air refrigerator also makes operations easy for both customers and employees. An open-air refrigerator of the right size and height can be positioned in the best spot, which in turn makes it easier for customers to find what they want, and for employees to move around and restock properly.
Here are some tips:
- Make sure it can fit along natural traffic paths in your cafe or store ( entrances, checkout areas, self-serve stations, etc.)
- Ensure that it is tall enough, such that you can properly organise it, with high-demand items at eye level.
Energy Consumption and Cost
It goes without saying that you will spend more on electricity bills if you buy an open-air refrigerator that is bigger than you need. Given that open-air refrigerators already spend more than closed-door commercial refrigerators, it is important to choose models that have the following energy-saving features:
- Night curtains, LED lighting, and ECM fans.
- Certification for energy efficiency
- Perforated back to ensure even cooling of items
- Temperature controls so you can set optimal temperatures at different times
Recommended Open Air Refrigerator Size Chart for Cafe
| Cafe Size | Daily Foot Traffic | Recommended Size (cu ft) | Why It Fits |
| Small | Low (≤ 100 customers/day) | 5–15 cu ft | Compact, space-saving; enough for bottled drinks, a few sandwiches, or pastries. Prevents wasted space/energy. |
| Medium | Moderate (100–300 customers/day) | 15–25 cu ft | Balances stock variety (drinks, salads, wraps) with manageable restocking. Ideal for most small cafés. |
| Big Cafe | High (300–500 customers/day) | 25–30 cu ft | Larger capacity reduces restocking interruptions; supports diverse grab-and-go offerings. Best for busy urban cafés. |
Cafe Sizes and Refrigerator Requirements Explained
1. What Size Open-Air Refrigerator Does a Small Cafe Need?
- If your cafe is located in a quiet neighbourhood, a niche spot, or is just newly opened, you are likely to have lower foot traffic (fewer than 50–100 customers per day)
- In that case, you need an open-air refrigerator that is about 5-15 cubic feet large, capable of holding about 100-250 cans plus sandwiches and pastries.
Recommended Refrigerator Sizes for a Small Cafe
Consider Wilprep’s Black 3 Sided Glass Display Refrigerator. It has a total capacity of 14.8 cu. ft., and features four height-adjustable shelves, each with a 66 lb capacity, to accommodate a variety of products including bottled drinks, dairy and deli items, desserts, and fresh produce.
With a quality compressor and finned copper condenser coils that keep temperatures steadily between 30-50°F with minimal energy costs, this is a compact, energy-efficient, and avoids wasted space while still displaying essentials for impulse grabs.
For smaller (and more affordable models), you can go for the 27" Vertical Open Air Merchandiser (6.7 cu. ft.) or the 24" Vertical Air Curtain Merchandiser (8 cu. Ft).
2. What Size Open-Air Refrigerator Does a Medium-Sized Cafe Need?
- If your cafe receives a daily foot traffic of about 100-300 customers, it is a medium-sized cafe.
- You might need a medium-sized open-air refrigerator with about 15-25 cu. Ft., capable of holding about 300–700 cans or ~150–350 bottles that is as energy efficient as possible.
Consider the Wilpreps 51" Black Vertical Air Curtain Merchandiser. It has a 19.4 cu. ft. capacity and features four height-adjustable shelves, each with a 66 lb capacity, to accommodate a variety of products including bottled drinks, dairy and deli items, desserts, and fresh produce.
Perfect for balancing stock variety (drinks, salads, wraps) with manageable restocking and ideal for most medium-sized cafés.
What Size Open-Air Refrigerator Does a Large Cafe Need?
For a large cafe, where you need to serve more than 200 customers in a day, you need an open-air refrigerator with more storage capacity (25–30 cu ft), and (equally important), you want a model with durable features capable of withstanding frequent opening and closing.
Consider this 76" Black Vertical Air Curtain Merchandiser from Wilprep. It has a total capacity of 29.7 cu. ft. with four adjustable shelves, each with a 66 lb capacity, to accommodate a variety of products of different heights.
You get a quality Secop compressor that delivers an exceptional cooling performance with maximum energy efficiency, a pull-down curtain for energy efficiency, digital temperature control knobs, and shelf label strips to price and organise your items properly.
Take note that it is built with robust stainless steel and double-pane tempered glass, and ETL Sanitation certified to ensure reliable performance in grocery stores.
Recommended Open-Air Refrigerators For Convenience Stores
| Daily Foot Traffic | Recommended Size (cu. ft.) | Typical Capacity | Why It Fits |
| Low (< 200 customers/day) | 20–30 cu. ft. | 400–700 cans or 200–350 bottled drinks | Small footprint, enough for basic drinks and grab-and-go items without wasting space or energy. |
| Moderate (200–800 customers/day) | 30–50 cu. ft. | 700–1,200 cans or ~350–600 bottled drinks | Handles a wider product variety and moderate restocking frequency. |
| Heavy (> 800 customers/day) | 50+ cu. ft. (often multi-section) | 1,200+ cans, 600+ bottles, plus bulk foods | Supports high turnover, reduces restocking, and accommodates a full product range. |
Convenience Store Sizes and Open-Air Merchandiser Recommendations
For a small convenience store, consider Wilprep’s 59" Black Vertical Air Curtain Merchandiser. It has a total capacity of 22.2 cu. Ft., and it features four adjustable shelves, each with a 66 lbs capacity.
It comes with a quality compressor, copper condenser coils for efficient cooling between 30-50°F, which is the ideal temperature to store bottled drinks, dairy products, and deli items, even desserts and fresh produce. The back panel is perforated to boost airflow and keep your products evenly chilled.
For energy efficiency, you get a pull-down night curtain and digital controls to adjust the internal temperature as needed. It also comes with double-paned glass and has been certified both by ETL and ETL Sanitation.
For smaller models, you can try the 51" Black 3 Sided Glass Display Refrigerator (19.4 cu. ft), which has similar features.
For a Medium-Large Convenience Store
For a medium to large-sized convenience store, consider Wilprep’s 76" Black 3 Sided Glass Display Refrigerator. Like the previous model, it has a 29.7 cu. Ft., and it features four adjustable shelves, each with a 66 lbs capacity. It comes with a quality compressor, copper condenser coils for efficient cooling between 30-50°F.
Tips for Measuring Installation Space For Your Open-Air Refrigerator
For a convenience store, measuring available space for an open-air refrigerator is critical because these units are large, front-facing, and need proper airflow. Here’s how to do it step by step:
1. Measure the Floor Space
Measure the width (side to side), depth (front to back), and height of the area where the fridge will sit.
- Allow extra clearance:
- At least 2-4 inches at the back and sides for ventilation.
- At least 6-12 inches above (if the compressor is top-mounted).
2. Account for Customer Flow
Ensure the fridge won’t block aisles, doors, or checkout lines.
Leave at least 3 feet of aisle space in front so customers can stand and browse without blocking others.
3. Check Entry and Installation Path
Measure doorways, hallways, and corners that the fridge must pass through during delivery.
Some large open-air merchandisers are over 80 inches tall and 40+ inches wide, so confirm it will fit through your entrance.
4. Consider Power Supply
Locate the nearest electrical outlet (usually 120V or 208–240V, depending on the unit).
Avoid extension cords-measure so the unit sits within safe reach of its outlet.
5. Match to Storage Needs
Use your daily foot traffic and product mix (drinks, dairy, grab-and-go meals) to decide capacity. You can use the above tables for reference.
Rule of Thumb for Measuring:
Measure the space you think you have.
- Subtract at least 6-12 inches total for clearance, airflow, and customer movement.
- Then choose the largest fridge that comfortably fits.
Final Thoughts on Open-Air Refrigerator Sizes
When setting up a cafe and convenience store, one of the struggles you will have earlier on is to choose properly sized commercial equipment for the business, and when it comes to open-air refrigerators, it is no different.
Keep in mind that every decision has to be made based on the amount of space available and the size of your business. Follow this baseline, and you will pick one that fits and is suitable for your business.
With quality open-air refrigerators like these recommended models from Wilprep’s kitchen, you will also get consistent service both in the short term and in the long term. And in case of any doubts, Wilpreps' customer service is always there to assist.
