200 lb Ice Machines

What "200 lb" really means

Ice machine names and titles use output measured at 70°F air and 50°F water, the most favorable conditions. The AHRI standard rates machines at 90°F air and 70°F water, closer to a busy bar or kitchen in summer. In this size class the gap is large.

Sorted by warm-day output. Specifications from each product page.

The takeaway: if you genuinely need 200 lb on a hot day, the Manitowoc UDP0240A is the only machine in this class that delivers it. If 150-175 lb on a hot day is enough, you have a dozen choices across six brands.

How much ice is 200 lb a day?

• Per hour: about 8 lb an hour on average, or 6-7 lb an hour in warm conditions.
• Per drink: at 4-6 oz of ice per soft drink, 200 lb fills roughly 530-800 drinks.
• Per seat: using common planning figures, 200 lb covers about 130 restaurant seats at 1.5 lb per seat, or 65 bar seats at 3 lb per seat.

Typical 200 lb customers are mid-size restaurants, neighborhood bars, coffee shops with a busy iced menu, small hotels and clinics.

Choose the ice style

Bin size matters as much as output

A 200 lb machine makes about 8 lb an hour. If your busiest hour uses 50 lb, the bin must hold the difference. The bins in this class range widely:

• 90 lb: Manitowoc UDP0190A and UDP0240A, the largest here.
• 74-80 lb: Ice-O-Matic CIMU220, Scotsman UC2024SAX-1, Hoshizaki KM-231, ITV SPIKA NG 230, ICETRO IU-0220, Hoshizaki IM-200BAK.
• 44-57 lb: ITV IQN 200C, Scotsman UF2020AX-1.
• 20 lb or less: Manitowoc UNP0200A and the Scotsman HID207AX-1 dispenser, which suit steady all-day use rather than a sharp rush.

Our bin sizing guide shows how to work this out for your service.

Fitting it in: width and height

• Narrowest: the ITV IQN 200C (18.3 in.) and Scotsman UF2020AX-1 (20 in.).
• Under a standard counter: the ITV SPIKA NG 230 is 32.76 inches tall, low enough for many 34-36 inch counters. Many other machines in this class, including the Scotsman UC2024SAX-1 and Ice-O-Matic CIMU220, are about 39 inches tall on their 6-inch legs, which suits bar-height counters.
• Widest: the Hoshizaki IM-200BAK at 39-1/2 inches, because its square-cube system needs a larger cabinet.
• On the counter: the Scotsman HID207AX-1 is a countertop ice and water dispenser with touch-free dispensing. See office ice machines.

Running costs

From the product pages, energy use in this class ranges from 3.7 kWh per 100 lb (Ice-O-Matic CIMU220) to 8.62 kWh (ICETRO IU-0220). At 180 lb a day and $0.15 per kWh:

A machine that costs $300 more but saves $400 a year in electricity pays back in under a year. See our operating cost guide.

Which 200 lb ice machine should you buy?

Installation

All machines here run on 115V. Give each one a dedicated circuit, a cold potable water line through a water filter, and a gravity drain or drain pump kit. Follow the clearances in each installation manual, especially for models that breathe from the sides. See our installation checklist.

When to size up or down

• Size up to a 300 lb ice machine if your hot-day need is above about 180 lb, your kitchen runs hot, or you expect to grow.
• Size down to a 100 lb ice machine or a 24-inch undercounter crescent model if your peak need is under about 110 lb.
• Go modular with a separate bin if your peak hour uses more ice than any built-in bin holds. See modular ice machines.

Upgrading from a 100 lb machine

Many 200 lb buyers are replacing a smaller machine that keeps running out. Before you buy:

1. Measure the space. Most 200 lb machines are 24-26 inches wide, against 15-20 inches for a typical 100 lb unit. The narrowest options here are the 18-inch ITV IQN 200C and the 20-inch Scotsman UF2020AX-1.
2. Check the electrical. All 200 lb machines here run on 115V, so the existing circuit is usually fine if it's dedicated.
3. Look at the bin, not just output. Many "running out" problems are really bin problems. A 90 lb bin covers a rush that a 31 lb bin can't.
4. Check the drain. A larger machine sends more water down the drain. Make sure the drain line is sized and pitched correctly.

How ice machine output is rated

Two figures appear on most spec sheets:

• 70°F air / 50°F water: the most favorable conditions, used in many product titles.
• 90°F air / 70°F water: the conditions used for AHRI certification, closer to a warm kitchen or bar in summer.

Both are measured over 24 hours with the machine running continuously. Real output also depends on water pressure, airflow, scale and cleaning. Our production ratings guide explains the difference in detail.

Worked example: a busy coffee shop

A coffee shop serves 250 iced drinks on a summer day, each with about 6 oz of ice: 250 x 6 = 1,500 oz, or about 94 lb. Add blended drinks and cold-brew pitchers, and it uses about 150 lb a day, with a morning rush that takes 40 lb in an hour.

• Nugget ice for iced coffee: the ITV IQN 200C (159 lb at 90/70, 44 lb bin) covers it, just.
• Cube ice with a bigger buffer: the Manitowoc UDP0190A (175 lb at 90/70, 90 lb bin) covers both the day and the rush.

200 lb machines by venue

• Restaurants (100-130 seats): the Manitowoc UDP0190A or UDP0240A at the beverage station.
• Neighborhood bars (50-60 seats): the Hoshizaki KM-231BAK or Scotsman UC2024SAX-1.
• Coffee shops and smoothie bars: the ITV IQN 200C or Manitowoc UNP0200A for nugget ice.
• Cocktail bars: the Hoshizaki IM-200BAK for clear square cubes in volume.
• Offices and lobbies: the Scotsman HID207AX-1 touch-free dispenser.
• Delis and salad bars: the Scotsman UF2020AX-1 for flake ice.

Common mistakes

1. Trusting the name. Most "200 lb" machines make 150-175 lb on a hot day.
2. Ignoring the bin. A 20 lb bin on a 200 lb machine suits steady use, not a rush.
3. Forgetting height. Several models are about 39 inches tall.
4. Buying discontinued stock unknowingly. Check lifecycle notes; the Hoshizaki KM-231BAK is the current version of the KM-231.
5. Skipping water treatment. Scale cuts output every month it builds up.

Care

Clean and sanitize every six months, clean the air filter monthly, and change water filters on schedule. Our maintenance checklist covers the routine.

Related collections

• 150 lb ice machines and 300 lb ice machines
• Manitowoc NEO and Hoshizaki undercounter ice machines
• Restaurant ice machines and all undercounter ice makers