Will It Fit? Equipment Doorway Calculator

Enter the equipment’s size and the clear opening of every door and elevator between the truck and its final spot. The calculator tells you whether it fits upright, only tipped, or not at all.

Equipment size (inches)

Use the overall dimensions from the spec sheet or a tape measure, including handles, hinges and knobs.

Delivery path

Add every door, gate, hallway and elevator between the truck and the final spot. Measure the clear opening: between the door stops with the door open, not the door slab.

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Result

Fits, but only if tipped at some openings

  • Front entranceFits

    Upright · 5″ spare width, 0″ spare height

  • Kitchen doorTip to fit

    Tipped onto its back or front · 1″ spare width, 47″ spare height

Check the manufacturer’s moving instructions before tipping refrigeration, fryers or anything with fluids, glass or a compressor.

Straight-through check only. Tight hallway turns, stair landings and ceiling height while tipping are not modelled — walk the path before moving day.

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Measure before you buy used equipment

Used restaurant equipment is usually sold as-is and picked up by the buyer, so it is on you to make sure a unit can get from the loading dock to the line. A two-door reach-in that fits the kitchen wall can still be too wide for a 32-inch back door. Measuring the path takes ten minutes; discovering the problem on pickup day costs a truck, a crew and sometimes the deal.

What to measure

  1. Equipment: overall width, depth and height from the spec sheet or nameplate, then add anything that sticks out — door handles, hinges, knobs, gas connections and back-mounted compressors.
  2. Each door: the clear width with the door fully open, and the clear height under the head jamb. Note thresholds and closers that hang down.
  3. Hallways and turns: width at the narrowest point and whether there is room to swing a long unit around a corner.
  4. Elevators: the door opening and the cab’s inside width, depth and height. Tick “Enclosed space” so the calculator checks that the whole unit fits inside.
  5. The final spot: ceiling height if the unit must be stood back up after being tipped, and the clearances the manufacturer requires for airflow and service.

Upright vs. tipped

Movers can often get a unit through a tight door by tipping it onto its back or side, which is why the calculator checks every orientation. That is fine for a work table or shelving unit. It is a different story for refrigeration, fryers and anything with a compressor, fluid or glass — check the manufacturer’s moving instructions before planning around a tipped move.

Ask the seller the right questions

Before you commit to a listing, ask the seller for the model number, exact dimensions including handles, whether doors and legs can be removed, what floor the equipment is on, and who is responsible for disconnecting and moving it. Our used equipment inspection and pickup checklist covers the rest, and the commercial kitchen equipment checklist helps you plan the full build-out. When you are ready, browse used restaurant equipment for sale.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if equipment will fit through a door?

Compare the equipment’s two smallest dimensions with the door’s clear opening. If one fits the clear width and the other fits the clear height, the unit can pass through in that orientation. The calculator checks every orientation, prefers upright, and repeats the check for each opening on the path.

What is a door’s clear opening?

The clear opening is the usable space when the door is fully open: from the door stop on the latch side to the face of the open door (or its stop) on the hinge side, and from the floor or threshold to the underside of the head jamb. It is usually 1.5 to 2 inches narrower than the door slab. Always measure it rather than relying on the nominal door size.

Can a commercial refrigerator be laid on its side to move it?

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for that model. Many refrigeration manufacturers recommend keeping units upright, and some specify a waiting period before powering a unit on after it has been tipped so compressor oil can settle. If the only way through is tipped, confirm with the seller or manufacturer first.

What if the equipment will not fit?

Common options are removing the door from its hinges, removing door stops, taking off the equipment’s doors, handles, legs or casters, or choosing a narrower model. For walk-in coolers and large ovens, ask whether the unit breaks down into sections. Removal of building features may need the landlord’s approval.