How much ice does your venue actually need?
Use our commercial ice calculator to estimate your busiest-day ice requirement and get a clearer idea of the capacity your venue may need.
Choosing the right ice maker starts with demand.
A commercial ice maker needs to do more than produce ice. It needs to produce enough ice for the way your venue actually trades.
A machine that comfortably handles a quiet weekday may be a very different proposition on a busy Saturday night, during warm weather or when your venue has a sudden increase in demand.
That is why it is useful to start with your busiest trading day, rather than your average one.
Start with your busiest day.
A simple way to estimate your daily ice requirement is to work backwards from your customer numbers and expected ice usage.
The Clear Cool calculator allows you to apply a 20%, 25% or 30% buffer to help account for peak periods, hot weather and unexpected demand.
Use your busiest trading day rather than an average day.
Ice consumption varies by venue and application, so use a figure appropriate to your operation.
Add a buffer for busy periods, hot weather and unexpected demand.
Calculate your indicative ice requirement
Answer four quick questions and we'll show you an indicative kg-per-day requirement.
Clear Cool Ice Calculator
How much ice does your venue actually need?
Get an indicative busiest-day ice requirement in under a minute.
The right machine starts with your venue — not the spec sheet.
What type of venue are you?
This helps us put your result into context. It does not change the calculation.
Please choose a venue type to continue.
How many customers do you serve on your busiest day?
Use your busiest day
Size your requirement around peak trading rather than an average Tuesday.
Your answer here is advisory only — it does not change the numbers.
How will you use the ice?
Different venues and drinks offers use ice differently.
Please choose your main ice use to continue.
Example only
Ice usage varies significantly by venue and application. If you already know your approximate usage, enter it here. If you don't know, you can use 0.5kg to explore an illustrative calculation — but this is an example only, not a universal recommendation. 0.5kg/customer should not be treated as a recommended figure for every venue.
Allow for the rush.
A peak-demand buffer can help account for busy periods, hot weather and unexpected demand.
Your current calculation
Your indicative requirement
0
kg / day
The number is only the start.
This is an indicative planning figure, not a final ice machine specification.
The right commercial ice maker also depends on:
Think ahead
You've told us your customer numbers may grow. Consider future demand when discussing machine capacity with Clear Cool.
Want Clear Cool to check your result?
Tell us about your venue and our team can help you work through the right ice type, capacity, storage and machine format.
What else should you consider?
Ice type
What are you serving?
Storage
How much ice needs to be ready at peak?
Space
Will the machine fit and operate correctly?
Services
Check water, drainage and power.
Operating conditions
Temperature can affect machine output.
Future growth
Will today's machine still work for tomorrow's venue?
The Clear Cool rule
Clear Cool — Suppliers of Bottle Coolers, Glass Washers & Ice Makers. Part of The Rudd Group.
Capacity is only part of the decision.
The calculator gives you an indicative planning figure. It isn't intended to replace a proper machine specification.
Two venues with the same calculated daily requirement can still need very different ice-making equipment depending on the type of ice required, how the venue trades and where the machine will be installed.
Common questions
How accurate is the Clear Cool ice calculator?
It provides an indicative planning figure based on the customer numbers, ice allowance and peak-demand buffer you enter. A final machine specification should also consider ice type, storage, installation, operating conditions and future demand.
Should I size my ice machine around an average day?
Planning around your busiest trading periods is generally more useful than relying only on average demand because this is when your ice supply is under the greatest pressure.
Why does the calculator add a peak-demand buffer?
The additional 20–30% allowance is designed to help account for peak trading, hot weather and unexpected demand.
What if I don't know how much ice each customer uses?
Ice usage varies significantly between venues and applications. The calculator includes a 0.5kg example so you can explore how the calculation works, but this is not a universal recommendation. Clear Cool can help you work through your specific requirement.
Does the calculator recommend a particular ice machine?
No. The calculator estimates an indicative requirement. Machine selection should also consider the type of ice, storage requirements, available space, services and operating conditions.
Don't guess your ice.
Tell us about your venue and the Clear Cool team can help you work through the right ice type, capacity, storage and commercial ice maker for your operation.
Contact Clear Cool