Which deep freezer size for an ice cream parlour?
The right freezer size depends on how many flavours you serve and how much spare stock you keep. Here is a simple way to work it out before you ask for a quote.
Start with the counter
Most parlours serve from a scooping freezer. Count the flavours you plan to offer on day one, and add a few spaces for seasonal flavours. Each flavour needs one tub opening, so the number of tubs the freezer holds is the number that matters.
Measure the free length of your counter and compare it with the external dimensions of each scooping freezer.
Turn flavours into litres
A bulk tub for scooping holds about 5 litres. Spare stock is what fills the back-room freezer. A moderate parlour keeps about three spare tubs per flavour, which is roughly a week of sales. Only about two-thirds of a chest freezer’s gross volume is usable, because of the compressor housing, the baskets and the gaps needed for air, so divide the stock you want to store by 0.65 to find the gross volume to look for.
| Flavours | Tubs on the counter | Spare stock (3 tubs a flavour) | Back-room gross volume to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 tubs | 120 L | about 185 L |
| 12 | 12 tubs | 180 L | about 275 L |
| 16 | 16 tubs | 240 L | about 370 L |
| 24 | 24 tubs | 360 L | about 555 L |
A planning guide, not a guarantee. A parlour that sells fast, or restocks twice a week, can plan on fewer spare tubs.
Add back-room storage
Tubs on the counter run out, and you need somewhere to keep spare ones. A hard top deep freezer in the back holds bulk stock at a steady temperature. Here are the hard top models we list, so you can match the volume from the table above.
| Model | Gross volume | Size (W × D × H) |
|---|---|---|
| D350H225 | 282 L | 1205 × 612 × 840 mm |
| D475H224 | 444 L | 1360 × 695 × 880 mm |
| D525H224 | 505 L | 1606 × 695 × 840 mm |
| D625H225 | 568 L | 1666 × 690 × 900 mm |
| D875H325 | 722 L | 1860 × 780 × 908 mm |
All hard top deep freezers we list. See the range.
If one freezer is smaller than you need, two freezers also give you a backup if one needs service.
Think about packed ice cream
If you also sell cones, cups or packed ice cream from the shelf, a glass top deep freezer or a vertical freezer lets customers pick for themselves.
Leave room to grow
It is easier to buy a slightly larger freezer now than to replace one in a year. Also leave a gap around each unit for air, and keep the units away from heat and direct sun.
Next step
Send us the number of flavours, your counter length and the space at the back, and we will suggest models. You can also browse the scooping, glass top and hard top ranges below.
Need a quote?
Send us the model name, or tell us about your shop, and we will reply with a quote.