Vending machines allow you to purchase items without having to deal with store employees. They supply quick food and water options for busy folks in commercial buildings and even on the sides of streets. These machines come in multiple sizes and options with varying capacities to quench people’s thirst or satisfy their snacking moods.
A vending machine’s dimensions will vary based on what type it is. Below, I’ll quickly sum up the average vending machine dimensions (W × D × H) for food and beverages:
- Small Snack Vending Machine: 21 × 36 × 72 inches
- Medium Snack Vending Machine: 28.5 × 29.5 × 72 inches
- Large Snack Vending Machine: 40.75 × 31 × 76.375 inches
- Beverage Vending Machine: 47 × 32 × 72 inches
- Graphic Beverage Vending Machine: 37 × 33.5 × 79 inches
Vending Machine Dimensions
Vending machines are computerized appliances that provide a variety of goods to a user in exchange for a specified quantity of money. The most common products types sold in vending machines are snacks (both salty and sweet) and drinks. In most circumstances, the machine will accept payment in the form of cash, coins, and even credit cards.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to vending machines. The machine’s size will vary depending on how much product the owner wants to place inside them, as well as the manufacturer who designed and built the machine. Below, I’ll cover the dimensions of each type of snack and beverage vending machine.
Small Snack Vending Machine
This type of machine will fit in places with limited floor space. They are considerably smaller than the following types of snack machines, so they will hold fewer products when fully stocked. You can expect to stock up to 12 product types with a final item count of around 150.
The measurements of a small snack vending machine are 72 inches tall, 21 inches wide, and 36 inches deep.
Medium Snack Vending Machine
A medium snack vending machine is commonly found in places with medium-level demand for snacks but with limited floor space, including but not limited to office breakrooms. Inside of a medium snack vending machine, you should see about 24 items on display—twice the amount of a small snack vending machine—with a total of 312 items when fully stocked.
The measurements of a medium snack vending machine are 72 inches tall, 28.5 inches wide, and 29.5 inches deep.
Large Snack Vending Machine
Designed with big windows, this type of snack machine is perfect for spacious areas with lots of people, including airports and universities. A large snack vending machine will promote as many as 60 products, totaling 617 items after fully restocking.
The measurements of a large snack vending machine are 76.375 inches tall, 40.75 inches wide, and 31 inches deep.
Beverage Vending Machine
A beverage vending machine has a built-in refrigerating unit. It is created to display up to 45 unique beverage options. It will typically come with a glass panel that shows users how much of each item is still in stock. You can expect such a machine to contain approximately 360 cans and/or bottles at once.
The measurements of a beverage vending machine are 72 inches tall, 47 inches wide, and 32 inches deep.
Graphic Vending Machine
Graphic beverage vending machines rely on visual branding rather than seeing the physical object to promote its contents. On the front of the machine, you will generally find a front panel that the owner can modify at any time to promote one or several items at once, while buttons on the control panel will display all beverage options. A fully stocked graphic beverage vending machine can carry as many as 12 products at once, with a total of 360 bottles or 804 cans.
The measurements of a graphic beverage vending machine are 79 inches tall, 37 inches wide, and 33.5 inches deep.
FAQs About Vending Machines
1. How does a vending machine work?
After a user inputs a code or presses a button, the corresponding item will drop from a rack, fall through a chute, and land in the item collection tray. The money is stored in a complicated sifting mechanism and is locked to prevent access from unauthorized users.
2. Can I own a vending machine?
Yes, as long as you have $1,200 to $10,000 to purchase your first machine.
To use a vending machine at home, you’ll have to buy one, plug it in, and stock it whenever you feel like it. On the other hand, if you want to make money from your machine, you will first have to obtain a permit.
3. How much can you earn from a vending machine?
There are several videos on YouTube where the content creator talks about how much they invested in their business and how much they make. You can check out videos by Chris D’Andrea, Jamie Ibanez, and Reyes the Entrepreneur to learn about the ins and outs of the vending machine game. Some vending machine business owners report making over $2,000 per machine per year.
4. What vending machine items sell the most?
You can rely on several products to begin earning money via a vending machine. Some of the top-selling items include Pop-Tarts, Snickers, Cheez-Its, energy drinks, vitamin water, and iced tea. However, like in any business, you should have a feel for the market before diving directly into the vending machine game, especially when there are at least 5 million machines in the country already.
Conclusion
In this article, I talked about the common dimensions for vending machines based on their type and size. To refresh your memory, vending machines can be as small as 21 × 36 × 72 inches and as large as 47 × 32 × 72 inches, but you will have to consider what type of item (food or drink) the machine dispenses.
If you found this guide useful, make sure you share it with your friends on social media. Also, if you own a business or are planning to start one, I’d love to hear your thoughts about the business in the comments section.
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