How to choose a display fridge size

What size display fridge fits a café counter?

Start with the usable counter width and depth, then check the height against sightlines and the route into the premises. The JINYU GN-900CT measures 900 × 530 × 730 mm (width × depth × height) and has a listed capacity of 120 L. The GN-1200CT measures 1200 × 530 × 730 mm and lists 162 L. It takes 300 mm more counter width while sharing the same cabinet depth and height. These dimensions do not include ventilation or service space; use the exact model drawing and required clearances to check the installation.

Compare GN-900CT and GN-1200CT specifications

Measure the work, not just the gap

The best display size supports the products you sell and the way your team serves them. Begin with a rough menu or merchandise list and the part of the day you are planning for. Record the tray, plate or pan sizes you actually use. Think about how often staff can replenish the display, where stock is held and how customers will see the selection. A wider unit can add display space, but it also occupies working space and may make replenishment less convenient.

Avoid choosing solely from a photograph. A line illustration explains a general form, not shelf capacity or installation clearance. Use the published model dimensions to create a shortlist, then request the configuration drawing for the exact model. That drawing and your site measurements should form the basis of the final fit check.

Plan cake-box packing space beside the display

Counter width, depth and support

Measure the available counter in three directions. Width is the visible frontage, depth runs from the customer side toward the staff side, and height is the complete equipment height. The GN-900CT and GN-1200CT are both 530 mm deep and 730 mm high; their widths are 900 mm and 1200 mm respectively. These figures describe the equipment, not an installation recess with operating clearance already included. Leave space for connections and ventilation as specified for the final unit.

For countertop equipment, confirm that the surface and supporting structure can carry the loaded appliance. Discuss equipment weight, stock weight and service access with the person responsible for the fit-out. Check whether a raised display blocks customer sightlines, menu boards or communication across the counter. Use a taped outline or simple cardboard mock-up to test the working position before committing to a cabinet alteration.

Check countertop display weight and support

Doorways, turns and the delivery route

Measure every restriction between the receiving point and the installation position, including external doors, internal doors, corridors, turns, lifts and stair landings. Record clear opening dimensions rather than relying on the nominal door size. Handles, closers, fixed furniture and low ceiling sections can reduce usable clearance. A long display can be difficult to turn even when its depth fits through the first doorway.

Ask for packed dimensions and handling information as well as the bare equipment dimensions. A wooden crate needs its own route and receiving space. If unpacking before entry is necessary, agree a safe procedure with the receiving team instead of assuming the crate can simply be removed at the roadside. Consider where packaging will be stored during inspection and whether the carrier's service includes the handling you need.

Aisle clearance and staff movement

Place the proposed display footprint on a scaled floor plan. Add the normal service position of staff, customer queuing space and movement around nearby appliances. Check access for cleaning and maintenance, not only the space used during trading. The necessary clearances depend on the final equipment drawing, your layout and local requirements. No single aisle dimension on a product website can approve a complete premises plan.

Open doors and service panels may need space beyond the static footprint. A front sliding-door display changes the access arrangement and should be reviewed around customer and staff movements. For the listed three-tier front sliding-door models, the equipment is 710 mm deep and 1400 mm high. Other listed three-tier formats are 730 mm deep and 1300 mm high. Do not assume the different forms are interchangeable inside the same built counter.

Display capacity and replenishment

External dimensions are not a statement of internal usable capacity. Shelf arrangement, pan format, product height and spacing determine what can be presented. Compare your actual trays or containers with the internal configuration, and ask what accessories are included. For sushi displays, four to seven pans are listed; for pizza ingredient counters, three to seven pans are listed. The count does not establish pan dimensions, so confirm the exact arrangement.

For cakes and desserts, make a practical display plan with your most important products rather than filling every possible surface. Think about labels, access for removal and the turnover of chilled stock. Approximate operating temperature of 2-8 °C is not a substitute for checking food temperatures or following your food-safety procedure. Plan replenishment around safe handling and real service demand, with temperature monitoring appropriate to your operation.

Compare the listed formats

Two-tier curved displays are offered here at 900, 1000, 1200 and 1800 mm widths. The square two-tier selection adds a 1500 mm option. Both formats are listed at 730 mm deep and 1200 mm high. A curved 1500 mm two-tier case is not part of this published selection. For a North American 120V project, compare only the models marked ETL: the 1800 mm two-tier models are CE-only.

Three-tier displays add height and alternative access profiles, but every model in that series is CE-only at 220-240V / 50Hz. Choose electrical suitability alongside size. The seven-pan sushi display is listed at 1690 mm wide. Check the final installation drawing and service clearances before cutting a countertop or fixing adjacent cabinetry.

Check refrigerator voltage requirements for your project

Send a useful size brief

Prepare a small package of measurements: available width, depth and height; the tightest doorway; the route through the building; and the working aisle arrangement. Add product or pan dimensions, desired display range, voltage and destination postcode. Include photographs that explain the space, with a scale reference where possible. For a full kitchen or store project, use the Projects page to request a floor-plan review and a suitable channel for your drawing.

Ask for an exact configuration drawing before approving installation dimensions. Review power access, ventilation, support, cleaning and delivery with the local team. If two sizes fit, compare how each affects the service workflow and replenishment, rather than assuming larger is better. A clear brief allows the equipment, electrical supply and receiving plan to be considered together. Leave uncertain measurements marked for verification and resolve them before an order or a permanent fit-out change.