Should a reach-in refrigerator have solid or glass doors?

Solid doors insulate better and hide stock, which suits back-of-house storage. Glass doors let staff find items without opening the door and are common where guests or servers see the unit, though glass lets in more heat than an insulated door. Many kitchens use solid doors on the line and glass doors on the service side.

What is a pass-thru reach-in refrigerator?

A pass-thru reach-in has doors on both the front and the back, so the kitchen can load it from one side while servers or another station take from the other. It suits banquet halls, cafeterias and kitchens that separate prep from service, but it needs clear floor space on both sides.

How much reach-in capacity does a restaurant need?

There is no fixed rule, because it depends on delivery frequency, the menu and whether a walk-in carries the bulk stock. A practical method is to count the pans, cases and trays you hold between deliveries at your busiest point, then add room for air to circulate, since a packed cabinet cools unevenly.

How much do commercial reach-in refrigerators cost?

List prices on Norpex range from $650 to $24,634.99 CAD, with a median of $6,119.99 across 139 priced models; prices are list prices before tax and shipping.

What types of commercial reach-in refrigerators do you carry?

Norpex lists these types of commercial reach-in refrigerators, with the number of models of each: reach-in (102) and pass-thru (15).

Which brands of commercial reach-in refrigerators do you carry?

Norpex lists 139 commercial reach-in refrigerators. The brands with the most models listed are Turbo Air with 63, Omcan with 17, Ikon with 9, New Air with 9 and Celcold with 8.

Do you ship commercial reach-in refrigerators across Canada?

Norpex ships to delivery addresses across Canada. Equipment ships from distributor warehouses, so dispatch timing depends on the supplier and the destination. For items that can be bought online, shipping is calculated at checkout from live carrier rates for the delivery address and confirmed before payment. There is no automatic free-shipping or flat-rate offer.

Commercial Reach-In Refrigerators in Canada

Reach-in refrigerators are upright cabinets that keep bulk ingredients, prepped items and backups close to the line. They come in one, two and three section widths, with solid or glass doors, full or half doors, and compressors mounted at the top or bottom. Restaurants, bakeries, schools and healthcare kitchens use them as everyday storage where a walk-in is too large or too far away, or as overflow beside one.

About commercial reach-in refrigerators

Before you buy

Size the cabinet by the pans, sheet trays and cases you store rather than by cubic feet alone, and check whether the shelves or pan slides take full-size pans and trays.
Weigh the compressor position against the room: a bottom-mount unit draws air from near the floor and raises the lowest shelf to an easier height, while a top-mount unit keeps the condenser clear of floor-level flour, dust and grease.
Check the door swing and hinge side against the aisle and neighbouring equipment, and confirm whether the doors can be re-hinged on site if the layout changes.
Compare full doors with half doors: half doors let out less cold air on each opening in a busy kitchen, while full doors make loading tall items easier.
Measure the delivery path, because a two or three section cabinet may need its doors removed to pass through a standard doorway.

Common questions

Should a reach-in refrigerator have solid or glass doors?: Solid doors insulate better and hide stock, which suits back-of-house storage. Glass doors let staff find items without opening the door and are common where guests or servers see the unit, though glass lets in more heat than an insulated door. Many kitchens use solid doors on the line and glass doors on the service side.
What is a pass-thru reach-in refrigerator?: A pass-thru reach-in has doors on both the front and the back, so the kitchen can load it from one side while servers or another station take from the other. It suits banquet halls, cafeterias and kitchens that separate prep from service, but it needs clear floor space on both sides.
How much reach-in capacity does a restaurant need?: There is no fixed rule, because it depends on delivery frequency, the menu and whether a walk-in carries the bulk stock. A practical method is to count the pans, cases and trays you hold between deliveries at your busiest point, then add room for air to circulate, since a packed cabinet cools unevenly.
How much do commercial reach-in refrigerators cost?: List prices on Norpex range from $650 to $24,634.99 CAD, with a median of $6,119.99 across 139 priced models; prices are list prices before tax and shipping.
What types of commercial reach-in refrigerators do you carry?: Norpex lists these types of commercial reach-in refrigerators, with the number of models of each: reach-in (102) and pass-thru (15).
Which brands of commercial reach-in refrigerators do you carry?: Norpex lists 139 commercial reach-in refrigerators. The brands with the most models listed are Turbo Air with 63, Omcan with 17, Ikon with 9, New Air with 9 and Celcold with 8.
Do you ship commercial reach-in refrigerators across Canada?: Norpex ships to delivery addresses across Canada. Equipment ships from distributor warehouses, so dispatch timing depends on the supplier and the destination. For items that can be bought online, shipping is calculated at checkout from live carrier rates for the delivery address and confirmed before payment. There is no automatic free-shipping or flat-rate offer.

Guides

Buying guide

Reach-In Refrigerator Buying Guide: Doors, Sizes and Compressors

8 min read · Updated September 25, 2026

How-to

What to Measure Before Ordering Commercial Kitchen Equipment

8 min read · Updated September 25, 2026

Fagor – 115V Double Section Reach-in Refrigerators With Solid Door – QVR-2-N

Celcold – 23″ Commercial Glass Door Reach-In Refrigerator – CR23GDM

Randell – 32″ Stainless Steel Dual Temp Refrigerator/Freezer Reach-in One-section – 9404-32DT-RBFTR (Special Order 4-6 Weeks)

Aurora 54″ Two (2) Door Reach-In Refrigerator, 41 cu.ft. (1169 L), Stainless Steel

81″ Three (3) Door Reach-in Refrigerator, 72 cu.ft (2040 L), Stainless Steel

COLDZONE – DOUBLE DOOR S/STEEL REFRIGERATOR 40″

Juneau 27″ One (1) Door Reach-in Refrigerator, 18 cu.ft. (510 L), Stainless Steel

Turbo Air – PRO Series 51.75″ Reach-in, One-Section Refrigerator With 6 Stainless Steel Wire Shelves – PRO-50-4R-G-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Reach-in refrigerator Lumin Cool-29R-1D

Turbo Air – PRO Series 77.75″ Reach-in Three-Section Roll-In Refrigerator with 6 Half-Hinged Solid Door with Door Handles & Locks – PRO-77-6R-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Randell – 27″ Stainless Steel Dual Temp Refrigerator/Freezer Reach-in One-section – 9404-27DT-RBFTL (Special Order 4-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – M3 Series 29″ Solid Half Door Stainless Steel Reach-In Refrigerator with Left Hinged Door – M3R24-2-N-L (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – M3 51.6″ Reach-in Two Glass Window Doors Refrigerator with 6 PE Coated Wire Shelvess – M3R47-2-G-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – PRO Series 28.75″ Silver Pass-Thru, One-Section Refrigerator with 3 Stainless Steel Wire Shelves – PRO-26R-GSH-PT-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

29″ One (1) Glass Door Reach-In Refrigerator, 23 cu.ft. (651 Liter), Stainless Steel

Kelvinator Commercial – 54″ Upright Reach-In Refrigerator with 4 Half Doors – KCHRI54R4HDR

Cres Cor – 120V ChillTemp Single Door Super-Duty Refrigerated Cabinet – R171SUA10ESD

Turbo Air – PRO Series 28.75″ Silver Pass-Thru Refrigerator with 1 Glass Front Door / 1 Solid Back Door – PRO-26R-GS-PT-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air M3R24-1-N 29″ M3 Series Solid Door Reach-in Refrigerator

Kelvinator Commercial – 31″ Upright Reach-In Refrigerator with 1 Door – KCHRI25R1DRE

Celcold – 48″ Commercial Glass Door Reach-In Refrigerator – CR48GDM

Turbo Air – PRO Series 28.75″ Silver Reach-in, One-Section Refrigerator for Correctional Facility with 3 Stainless Steel Wire Shelves – PRO-26R-N-CRT (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Aurora 54" Reach-In Stainless Steel Refrigerator with Glass Door, 41.3 cuft

COLDZONE – GLASS DOOR S/S REFRIGERATOR 49″