The problem isn’t finding a good commercial ice machine, it’s finding the best one for you. And in order to choose the best ice machine, you have to know what you’re looking for and what you need. 

We understand that each business has unique ice needs. There are countless ways your commercial ice machine can affect your business’s growth, efficiency, and profitability. With that in mind, we’re here to help you get to the bottom of your ice machine needs so you can make the smartest decision when purchasing your ice machine. 

Ready? Let’s go.

In order to buy the best ice machine for your business, you need to consider:

1. The type of ice machine you need
2. How much ice you’ll need on a daily basis
3. What type of ice you need

Commercial ice machines fall into one of four categories, generally speaking: 

• Modular ice machines (sometimes called ice machine head)
• Undercounter ice machines
• Countertop ice dispensers
• Ice/Water combination machines

Let’s break these ice machine types down a bit. 

Sometimes called an ice machine head, this machine sits on top of a separate bin and is only responsible for producing ice. You’ll need a separate unit to dispense or store the ice.

Modular ice machines may only do one job, but they do it really well. These ice makers produce a lot of ice. Depending on the size, you’re looking at ice output ranging from 250 lbs per day to over 1000 lbs per day. 

Undercounter ice machines produce and store ice in a compact unit. They’re designed to fit under most counters, making ice easy to access. Undercounter ice machines are a great way to keep your front bar stocked with ice that’s immediately available, but it probably won’t support the full weight of your restaurant’s daily operation.

Daily output usually maxes out around 350 lbs per day, so medium to large operations won’t want to rely fully on an undercounter ice machine.

Countertop ice dispensers are designed to take up the smallest footprint possible. They’re compact and designed for easy access. As a general rule, countertop ice dispensers produce nugget ice. The compact size of the unit and nugget ice type means you’ll usually find countertop ice dispensers in health care settings. 

Countertop ice dispensers are small but mighty. Some units can produce as much as 400 lbs of ice per day, but keep in mind that the storage bin is small—so you’ll need to use ice quickly if you want to keep the supply of ice coming. 

Once you determine the best type of ice machine for your business, you’re ready to move on to size. This is a crucial step to ensure you have enough ice to support your current business, even on busy days—and have room to grow your business in the future. 

In order to size your ice machine, you need to know how much ice you’ll need on a daily basis. You don’t have to guess, here. We’ve made a convenient ice calculator you can download for free below.  Once you have your daily ice output number, add 20% and voila! You’ve got your criteria for choosing an ice machine that will dispense enough ice for your business to flourish.

Related: How Much Ice Does My Commercial Kitchen Need?

As you’re evaluating ice machines and comparing specs, keep in mind that ice production quantity is formatted in the ice output or yield per 24 hours.