Fridge.com Logo

Walk-In Cooler Calculator

Spec the walk-in condensing unit.

Spec a walk-in cooler condensing unit using ASHRAE-style heat-load math: surface conduction, air infiltration, and product load — with a 25% safety factor on top. Sized in BTU/hr at the design temperature you enter.

⏱ ~45 secASHRAE-style heat-load mathCommercial
Share
+25%
Safety factor
ASHRAE
R-25
Cooler insulation
Min
R-30
Freezer insulation
Below 32°F
1.08
Air infiltration
BTU/cf/°F/ACH
STEP 01

Box dimensions,
temps, traffic.

Dimensions in feet. Temperatures in °F. Traffic determines air changes per hour.

Restaurant line is high; back-of-house storage is low.
Updates live as you type
Required cooling capacity
Updated live
110,720BTU/hr
2+ HP condensing unit (24,000+ BTU/hr)
Interior volume
640 cu ft
Insulation
R-20
Power requirement
136 A @ 240V (~33 kW)
Under the hood

ASHRAE-style heat-load with safety margin.

Three load components: surface conduction through walls, air infiltration on door open, and product load from stored items. 25% safety factor on top.

  1. 01

    Surface conduction

    Total surface area × (ambient − target) × 1.5 heat-transfer factor (assumes R-25 insulation).

  2. 02

    Air infiltration

    Volume × ACH × 1.08 × ΔT. ACH = 1 (low traffic), 2 (medium), 4 (high traffic).

  3. 03

    Product load

    Approximated as 10 BTU/hr per cubic foot of interior volume — typical for stored prepped food.

  4. 04

    Safety factor

    Sum × 1.25 for door opening losses, defrost recovery, hot product loading, and equipment aging.

Questions

Frequently asked

It depends on volume, target temperature, ambient temperature, and how often the door opens. A typical 10×8×8 ft cooler at 35°F in a 75°F room needs roughly 8,000–14,000 BTU/hr — but always size with the actual heat-load calc.
Keep going

Tools that pair with this one

Next step

Browse commercial-grade refrigeration.

Browse bottom-freezer and side-by-side refrigerators — useful starting points if you're spec'ing residential reach-ins alongside your walk-in.

Browse bottom-freezer fridges