How to Size a Glass Door Display Fridge for Your Irish Shop or Café

If you're looking for a glass door display fridge in Ireland, the hardest part usually isn't the brand. It's the size. Go too small and you're restocking every hour on a busy Friday. Go too big and you've paid for cold air, lost counter space and a fridge that looks half empty by Tuesday.

This is a step by step way to work out what you actually need, whether it's for a convenience shop, a café, an off licence, a deli or a bar. At the end we'll show you real units from our glass door display fridges range at each size, so you can see what the numbers look like in the real world.

The short version

• Start with what goes in it. Drinks only, or dairy, sandwiches and desserts too? That decides the temperature range you need.
• Measure the space, then the way in. Width, depth and height of the spot, plus every door, corner and step between the van and that spot.
• Count your display, not your stock. Work out how many lines you want on show and size the shelves for that.
• Check the temperature range against your food. Not every display fridge is built for chilled food.
• Allow for growth. If you're between two sizes, the bigger one is rarely the mistake.

Step 1: Decide what's going in it

This is the step people skip, and it changes everything else. A fridge that's perfect for cans and bottles might not be right for milk, yoghurts or pre-packed sandwiches.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland says chilled food should be kept between 0°C and 5°C, and that the fridge thermostat should be set so the temperature of the food sits in that range. Plenty of display fridges list a range of something like +1°C to +10°C, or +2°C to +8°C. That's fine for soft drinks and beer, and many can be set colder, but if you're putting dairy or ready to eat food in, check the product page and make sure the unit can hold the food at 5°C or below in your actual room, with the door opening all day. If you're not sure, ask your local environmental health officer before you buy.

A few examples of how the ranges look on real units:

• The Tefcold FS1380B lists a temperature range of +2°C to +10°C.
• The Unifrost GDR300 lists +1°C to +10°C.

Both are sold as display or bottle fridges, so think drinks first and food second, and read the spec on the page for the exact unit you're considering.

Step 2: Measure the space (and the way in)

Write down the width, depth and height of the spot where the fridge is going. Then add breathing room. A fridge that's jammed against a wall or tucked next to a fryer has to work a lot harder, and you'll feel it on the electricity bill.

Things to measure before you order:

• The footprint. Width and depth including the door swing. A hinged glass door needs room to open fully, or you'll be stuck restocking at an angle.
• The height. Many upright display fridges run from about 1.8m to just over 2m. The Tefcold FS1380B is listed at 1840mm high, 595mm wide and 640mm deep, and the Unifrost GDR300 at 1921mm high, 620mm wide and 595mm deep. A tall unit under a low ceiling or a shelf unit is a classic surprise.
• The route in. Measure the front door, the corridor, any stairs and every tight corner. The fridge has to reach its spot upright and in one piece.
• The plug. Many smaller units run off a standard 13 amp socket, but the bigger ones can differ, so check the product page and make sure there's a socket within reach. Don't run a big fridge off an extension lead.
• The room itself. A hot kitchen, a sunny window or a spot beside the oven all push the fridge harder. Check the maximum ambient temperature the manufacturer lists for the model.

Tight on space? The countertop display fridges are worth a look, and our guide to buying a commercial undercounter fridge covers the same measuring habits for units that sit below the counter.

Step 3: Count your display, not your stock

Here's a way to think about it that works for most shops and cafés. A display fridge is a shop window as much as a fridge. The goal is to show every line you sell, with enough behind each one to get through a rush.

1. List the lines. Write down every drink or product that has to be in the fridge. Include the seasonal ones.
2. Decide how many of each you want on the shelf. One row deep for slow sellers, two or three for the lines that fly out.
3. Add your back-up stock if the fridge also has to hold the reserve, rather than a separate storeroom fridge or cold room.
4. Compare against the shelves. Count the shelves and check the shelf width against your product sizes. Adjustable shelves help a lot when you're stocking a mix of cans, 500ml bottles and tall 2 litre bottles.

Manufacturers quote capacity in different ways, so compare like with like. Some list litres, some list a bottle or can count. For example, the Tefcold BC145 bottle cooler is listed with a 109 litre gross internal volume and capacities of 76 bottles at 330ml and 136 cans at 330ml. That's a handy way to picture it, because it turns litres into things you'd actually put on a shelf. If a page only gives litres, remember that gross litres is the whole inside of the cabinet, and the usable space for product is always less.

Step 4: Match the size to the business

These aren't rules, just starting points that we see working for Irish customers.

Small café, deli or office kitchen

You probably need one single door upright or a compact unit, mainly for drinks and a few grab and go items. Width is the thing to watch. Narrow units exist, such as the Combisteel NAP-150, which is listed at 150 litres and only 390mm wide, or the NAP-250 at 217 litres and 460mm wide. If you have the height but not the width, a slim upright can be the answer.

Convenience shop or off licence

You'll want more doors, more shelves and good lighting, because the fridge is doing the selling for you. A single tall unit like the Tefcold FS1380B is a good anchor for a smaller shop, and the double door glass display fridges give you far more face for the footprint. The Unifrost HVR21B is a two door hinged display refrigerator listed at 960 litres gross with ten adjustable shelves and vertical LED lighting, which is the kind of capacity a busy shop needs. If you're really stocking the walls, look at the triple door and four door ranges too.

Bar or restaurant

Bars usually want a lower profile so staff can see over it, and plenty of space for bottles. A back bar cooler like the Combisteel 2 glass door back bar cooler is listed at 305 litres and 1434mm wide, but only 860mm high, so it keeps a low profile behind a bar. If you're deciding between styles, our post on back bar fridges goes into it in more detail, and the beer fridges and bottle coolers collection has plenty of options for the pint and bottle side.

Step 5: Compare the extras that change daily life

Once the size is settled, these are the details that separate a fridge you like from one you put up with:

• Lighting. LED strips down the door frame show off the product and cost very little to run. Some models add a light canopy on top for branding. The Tefcold FSC1450B, for instance, has a canopy and is listed at 438 litres.
• Cooling type. Fan assisted (ventilated) cooling keeps the temperature even from top to bottom and recovers faster after the door opens. That matters in a shop where it's opened a hundred times a day.
• Self closing doors. Helps keep the cold in and stops the "someone left it open" problem. The Unifrost HVR21B is listed with self closing hinged doors.

What does a glass door display fridge cost?

As a rough guide, single door upright display fridges on our site sit in the region of €700 to €1,300 ex VAT, and two door models from roughly €800 to €1,500 ex VAT, depending on brand, capacity and features. Those are rounded ranges to help you plan a budget. The live ex VAT price is always on the product page, and the glass door display fridges collection shows the live ex VAT price on every unit.

It's also worth thinking about the running cost, not just the purchase price. A unit sitting in a cool, ventilated spot works less hard than one squashed beside a hot oven, so where you put it matters as much as which one you buy.

Delivery, warranty and what to expect

Warranty and delivery times vary by model, and every product page lists them. As examples from the pages today, the Tefcold FS1380B lists a 2 year parts warranty and delivery of usually 2 to 4 working days, the Unifrost HVR21B lists a 2 year parts warranty with usually 1 to 2 working days, the Unifrost GDR300 lists 1 year parts warranty and usually 1 to 2 working days, and the Combisteel IRM-770, a 580 litre double door unit on four wheels, lists 1 year parts and labour with usually 4 to 11 working days. These are estimates, and the page for the exact unit is always the one to go by.

If you've a deadline, such as a shop opening or a big event, tell us the date when you get in touch and we'll tell you which models can realistically make it. Planning for the festive rush? Our post on ordering Christmas catering equipment early is worth a read, because it's easier to get the size you want before everyone else is ordering.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Measuring the spot but not the doorway. A classic reason a delivery goes wrong.
• Buying for today's range only. You'll add products. Leave room.
• Squeezing it in with no airflow. The unit needs space to breathe, so check the manufacturer's clearance advice.
• Assuming every display fridge suits food. Check the temperature range against what you're storing, and ask your environmental health officer if you're unsure.

Frequently asked questions

What size glass door display fridge do I need for a small shop?

For a small shop or café, one single door upright is a common starting point, and many shops add a second unit as the range grows. Measure your space first, count the lines you want to show, and choose from there.

How wide is a typical single door display fridge?

Many single door uprights are around 600mm wide, such as the Tefcold FS1380B at 595mm and the Unifrost GDR300 at 620mm. Slimmer models exist, including a 390mm wide Combisteel NAP-150, and wider ones too, so always check the dimensions on the product page.

Can I use a glass door display fridge for food as well as drinks?

Some can, but it depends on the model and the temperature it can hold. The FSAI advises that chilled food is kept between 0°C and 5°C, so check the unit's range and your actual room conditions, and ask your local environmental health officer if you're in any doubt.

Ready to pick yours?

Have a browse through our full range of commercial glass door display fridges, and use the single door and double door pages to narrow it down by size. If you'd like a second opinion, send us your measurements, what you plan to put in it and when you need it by, and we'll suggest a few options across different brands. What's the width of the space you're working with?