- Featured
- Most relevant
- Best selling
- Alphabetically, A-Z
- Alphabetically, Z-A
- Price, low to high
- Price, high to low
- Date, old to new
- Date, new to old
Who a small commercial ice machine is for
A small machine fits operations that need steady ice but don't have room or volume for a modular head and bin:
- Cafés, juice bars and small restaurants with 30-60 seats
- Bars that want a second ice station or a gourmet cube for cocktails
- Offices, clinics, salons, churches and small retail
- Food trucks and concessions with a fixed water hookup
As a starting point, restaurants plan about 1.5 lb of ice per seat per day and cocktail service about 3 lb per seat. These are Manitowoc's published rules of thumb. A 40-seat café at 1.5 lb/seat needs about 60 lb/day, which a 15-inch unit can cover.
Small commercial ice machines by width
| Width | Typical output (70/50) | Good examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 15 in. | 52-110 lb/day | Scotsman CU0415MAX-1, Ice-O-Matic UCG060A, Hoshizaki C-80BAK, Manitowoc UCP0050A | Replaces a narrow cabinet; smallest bins |
| 16-18 in. | 60-121 lb/day | ITV DELTA NG 80, Ice-O-Matic UCG080A, Hoshizaki KM-81BAJ | Gourmet, clear and crescent cubes for bars |
| 20-21 in. | 57-159 lb/day | Manitowoc UDP0080A, ICETRO WU-0100-AC, ITV SPIKA NG 160 A1F | Best ice per inch of width |
| About 24 in. | 125-156 lb/day | Hoshizaki KM-116BAK, Hoshizaki KM-161BAK | Larger bins, dishwasher-size opening |
Confirm the exact cabinet size, front-venting design and door swing on each product page before ordering.
Pick the ice for your drinks
- Full dice or full cube - general purpose, slow melting. Example: Manitowoc UDP0080A.
- Crescent - Hoshizaki's half-moon cube, formed on a stainless steel evaporator. Example: Hoshizaki KM-116BAK. See crescent cube ice machines.
- Gourmet (top hat / octagonal) - clear, slow-melting cubes for cocktails and table service. Example: Ice-O-Matic UCG080A, which makes 1.2 x 1.35 in. cubes. See gourmet ice makers.
- Cubelet / nugget - soft, chewable ice for healthcare and soft drinks. Examples: Hoshizaki C-80BAK, ICETRO IU-0090-AN. See undercounter nugget ice makers.
Installation basics
- Power: most small units run on 115V with a standard plug; check each spec sheet.
- Water: a cold potable water line, ideally through a water filter.
- Drain: a gravity floor drain, or a drain pump kit if the drain is higher than the machine.
- Air: front-breathing models can be built in with no side clearance; others need side or rear space.
See our installation checklist for the full list.
What does a small ice machine cost to run?
Running cost is mostly electricity and water, and both are listed per 100 lb of ice on spec sheets. For example, the ICETRO IU-0090-AN uses 10.58 kWh per 100 lb of ice. Making 90 lb a day uses about 9.5 kWh. At $0.17 per kWh (an assumed average commercial rate), that is roughly $1.60 a day, or under $50 a month. Hoshizaki's KM-231BAK lists water use of 34 gallons per 100 lb at 90°F air and 70°F water. Compare models in our guide to commercial ice machine operating costs.
Small commercial vs residential
Residential undercounter ice makers are designed for light home use. Commercial units are built and certified (typically NSF) for daily business use. Many homeowners buy a small commercial unit for its ice quality and output; check that the warranty covers residential installation. If you need more than about 160 lb/day, step up to a 100 lb class model with a bigger bin, or a full-size undercounter ice maker.