300 lb Ice Machines

Three ways to get 300 lb of ice a day

The right format depends on who takes the ice and how big your rush is. If staff scoop at a bar, undercounter is simplest. If you need a few hundred pounds stored for a dinner rush or banquet, a head on a bin wins. If customers or employees serve themselves, a dispenser keeps hands out of the ice.

Undercounter 300 lb machines

Also in the grid: the UNK0300AZ, a 230V / 50Hz version of the Manitowoc nugget machine for markets with 50Hz power. U.S. buyers should choose the UNP0300A.

Notes: - Biggest bins: Manitowoc's 30-inch NEO models hold 119 lb, the most of any undercounter machine we sell. - Fits under a standard counter: the ITV SPIKA NG 360 is 32.76 inches tall with a 99 lb bin. Many others are about 39 inches tall on legs. - Check the voltage: the Scotsman CU3030MAX-32 needs a 208-230V circuit, unlike every other undercounter model here. - Only 24 inches wide: the Hoshizaki F-330BAK-C and Scotsman UC2724SAX-1 fit a standard base-cabinet opening.

Modular 300 lb heads

A head makes ice; the bin you put it on decides how much ice you can store. A 300 lb head on a 344-365 lb bin can bank a full day's ice overnight for a morning or dinner rush. The Manitowoc IDT0300A is listed as a legacy unit with a newer IDP replacement, so check warranty terms before buying. See modular ice machines and ice storage bins.

300 lb countertop ice and water dispensers

The Manitowoc CNF0201A and CNF0202A countertop models in the grid are listed as legacy units replaced by the CNP versions. See office ice machines and hotel ice machines for more on dispensers.

Undercounter or head and bin? A cost comparison

Two ways to get about 240 lb a day at 90/70 for a busy restaurant:

The undercounter costs less and fits under a counter. The head-and-bin system stores almost three times as much ice and can take a larger head later. Choose by your peak, not your daily total.

How much ice is 300 lb?

• Per hour: about 12.5 lb an hour rated, or 8-11 lb an hour in warm conditions.
• Per seat: about 200 restaurant seats at 1.5 lb each, or 100 bar seats at 3 lb each.
• Per room: about 60 hotel rooms at 5 lb of guest ice each.

These use common planning figures. Size to your busiest day with 10-20% headroom.

Which 300 lb machine should you buy?

Running costs

From the product pages, energy use in this class ranges from 3.9 kWh per 100 lb (Ice-O-Matic CIM heads) to 6.72 kWh (Scotsman CU3030MAX-32). At 250 lb a day and $0.15 per kWh, that's about $535 a year versus $920 a year. Water ranges from about 12 gallons per 100 lb (cubelet and nugget machines) to 20 or more for cubers. See our operating cost guide.

Installation

• Power: a dedicated 115V circuit for almost every model; 208-230V for the Scotsman CU3030MAX-32.
• Water: a cold potable line through a water filter sized for about 300 lb/day.
• Drain: gravity drains for the machine and, with heads, the bin. Dispensers also drain their drip pan.
• Space: confirm width, depth and height with legs. Heads on bins need floor space and overhead clearance.

See our installation checklist and self-contained vs modular guide.

300 lb ice machines by venue

• Busy bars (80-100 seats): an undercounter Manitowoc UDP0310A or ITV SPIKA NG 360 behind the bar.
• Restaurants (150-200 seats): an Ice-O-Matic CIM0330FA90 on a bin in the kitchen, or a large undercounter at the beverage station.
• Hotel guest floors (50-60 rooms per station): a Hoshizaki DCM-300BAK-OS or Scotsman HID312AX-1 dispenser so guests never touch the ice.
• Offices of 200-300 people: a countertop nugget dispenser per floor.
• Healthcare units: the Manitowoc UNP0300A (nugget, 275 lb at 90/70) or the Hoshizaki F-330BAK-C (cubelet).

Worked example: a hotel guest floor

A select-service hotel with 60 rooms on two floors plans 5 lb of guest ice per room: 300 lb a day, or about 150 lb per floor.

• Option A: one Hoshizaki DCM-300BAK-OS touchless dispenser per floor. Each makes up to 343 lb/day and holds 40 lb, so each floor has headroom and a buffer for check-in time.
• Option B: one Ice-O-Matic CIM0330FA90 head on a 344 lb bin in a central ice room. Lower cost, but guests walk farther and scoop their own ice.

Most branded hotels now choose dispensers for hygiene. See hotel ice machines.

Self-serve dispensers: the storage question

A countertop dispenser's storage is small: 10 lb on the Manitowoc CNP0201A and Hoshizaki DCM-271BAK, 12 lb on the Scotsman HID312AX-1, 20 lb on the CNP0202A and 40 lb on the DCM-300BAK. When many people fill cups or bottles at once, such as at a shift change, small storage runs out before production can catch up. If your peak is concentrated, pick the larger-storage model.

Comparing running costs at 300 lb

At 250 lb of ice a day and $0.15 per kWh, using published energy figures:

Over five years, the gap between the most and least efficient here is about $1,900 in electricity.

Common mistakes

1. Buying on the name. A "300 lb" machine can make 200 lb on a hot day.
2. Wrong voltage. One undercounter model here needs 208-230V, and one nugget model is a 50Hz export version.
3. Legacy stock by accident. Several Manitowoc dispensers and the IDT0300A are legacy units.
4. Too little storage. If your rush is big, a head and bin beats any undercounter.
5. Forgetting height. Many 30-inch undercounters are about 39 inches tall.

Related collections

• 200 lb ice machines and 400 lb ice machines
• Manitowoc 300 lb ice machines
• Manitowoc NEO, Hoshizaki undercounter and Ice-O-Matic undercounter ice machines
• Restaurant ice machines