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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 secASHRAE / FDA Food CodeSize & Capacity
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200
BTU / cu ft
Refrigeration load
+20%
Glass door
BTU adder
32
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.

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
4
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.

  1. 01

    Cubic feet from W×H×D

    (W × H × D) ÷ 1728. Convert inches to cubic feet of interior volume.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.
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