Display Cooler Calculator

Spec a display cooler that actually holds temp.

Size a commercial display cooler by interior cubic feet. We compute BTU load (200 BTU/cu ft baseline, +20% for glass doors), shelf count, product capacity, and annual energy cost.

⏱ ~30 sec•ASHRAE / FDA Food Code•Size & Capacity

200

BTU / cu ft

Refrigeration load

+20%

Glass door

BTU adder

Cans / cu ft

Merchandiser fit

35–38°F

FDA hold temp

Refrigerated

STEP 01

Five inputs.
Real BTU load.

Interior dimensions, door type, and product mix drive BTU and energy cost.

W (in)

H (in)

D (in)

Door type

Primary product

Product mix drives unit-capacity estimate.

Updates live as you type

BTU load required

15600BTU/hr

65 cu ft interior · ~2080 12 oz cans

Shelves

Annual cost

$12337

Under the hood

ASHRAE math. FDA temps.

BTU baseline from ASHRAE refrigeration load tables; hold-temperature targets from FDA Food Code 2022.

01
Cubic feet from W×H×D
(W × H × D) ÷ 1728. Convert inches to cubic feet of interior volume.
02
BTU = cu ft × 200 (× 1.2 glass)
Refrigeration load is 200 BTU/hr per cu ft baseline. Glass doors add 20% to handle radiant heat gain.
03
Energy = 4 kWh/cu ft/day
Display coolers consume ~4 kWh per cubic foot per day. Multiply by 365 × your rate for annual cost.

Questions

Frequently asked

Glass conducts and radiates heat into the cabinet faster than insulated panels. Industry sizing adds roughly 20% BTU load for glass-door display coolers to compensate.