What size used cooking oil container does a restaurant need? Most kitchens need between 45 and 200 gallons. Size it so a month of oil fills it to about 75 to 90 percent. A small cafe fits a 45 gallon indoor caddy. A busy restaurant fits 100 to 130 gallons. A fry-heavy kitchen needs 200. Use the bin size calculator for your exact number.
What size used cooking oil container does a restaurant need by kitchen type?
Match the container to how much oil your kitchen throws out each week. This table shows the usual starting point.
| Kitchen type | Used oil per week | Usual starting size |
|---|---|---|
| Cafe or bakery | 3 to 10 gallons | 45 gallon indoor caddy, or 70 gallon outdoor bin |
| Busy restaurant, two or three fryers | 20 to 35 gallons | 100 to 130 gallon outdoor bin |
| Fry-heavy, like fried chicken or fish and chips | 35 to 60 gallons | 200 gallon outdoor bin, picked up more often |
| High volume, many fryers | 60 to 120 gallons or more | 200 gallon bin, with more pickups or a second bin |
Treat the table as a start. Your own fryers decide the real number.
How do I work out how much oil my kitchen makes?
Count your fryers, then do four steps.
- Check how much oil each fryer holds. Most floor fryers hold 35 to 50 pounds (Restaurant Technologies).
- Count how often you change each fryer in a week.
- Multiply to get pounds of oil per week.
- Divide by 7.6 to get gallons.
Here is an example. Two 50 pound fryers changed once a week make about 13 gallons a week. That fills a 70 gallon bin to about 80 percent in a month. Change them every three or four days and you make about 23 gallons a week. That calls for a 130 gallon bin.
Busy kitchens may change oil every one to two days. Light kitchens change it far less.
Should I get an indoor caddy or an outdoor locked bin?
Get an indoor caddy if your kitchen is small. Get an outdoor locked bin if you fry a lot.
An indoor caddy holds 45 to 60 gallons. It fits a back hallway or the dish area. It also helps when you have no outdoor space or your landlord limits it.
An outdoor bin holds 70 to 200 gallons. It sits by the back door or the dumpster area. A bigger bin means fewer pickups.
Both types lock, so no one can tap your oil.
What happens if the container is too small or too big?
A container that is too small overflows. That means spills, pests, and smells at your back door.
A container that is too big lets oil sit too long. Old oil can start to smell.
If a month of oil would overflow even the biggest bin, do not buy a giant tank. Shorten the pickup cycle or add a second bin. Your volume can also change with the seasons. A beach cafe may triple in summer. Tell us, and we change the size at no charge.
For more on timing, read how often to schedule cooking oil pickup. To see how a fast food kitchen adds up, read how much used cooking oil a fast food restaurant produces.
How does Oil Guyz size your container?
We ask about your fryers, how often you change the oil, and where a container can sit. Then we place a free locked bin sized to your kitchen and pump it in place. Your pickup day is set to match your volume. There is no fee, no contract, and no minimum. See our free container options or free used cooking oil pickup.
