Every walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer and cooling unit gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Walk-in boxes and cooling units share the same five weights, but each factor measures something different for a box than for a cooling unit, as set out below.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | boxes: price per square foot of floor; cooling units: price per 1,000 BTU/hr | 30% |
| Cooling | boxes: refrigeration BTU/hr per square foot; cooling units: rated BTU/hr | 25% |
| Insulation / range | boxes: wall R-value; cooling units: lowest rated temperature | 20% |
| Completeness | boxes: refrigeration and floor included; cooling units: how much installing takes | 10% |
| Warranty | boxes: panel and parts warranty; cooling units: parts warranty | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Box sizes, interior volumes, R-values, refrigeration models and warranties come from the maker’s spec sheet or warranty policy, or the maker’s own data on a dealer’s product page. Refrigeration capacities come from the maker’s matching-systems table or the refrigeration maker’s product page. Cooling unit figures come from the maker’s own copy on its retail listing. Where a maker’s figures conflict (for example a title that gives one temperature range and a bullet that gives another) the product page notes it. Prices are checked at Amazon and dealers such as KaTom and WebstaurantStore, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value. For a box, this is the current price divided by the floor area (the maker’s nominal width times depth), in dollars per square foot, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $500 per sq ft scores zero and $100 per sq ft full marks. For a cooling unit, it is the price per 1,000 BTU/hr of rated capacity, also on a log scale: $400 scores zero and $50 full marks.
Cooling. For a box, this is the refrigeration system’s rated BTU/hr divided by the floor area. A cooler scores zero at 40 BTU/hr per sq ft and full marks at 120. A freezer system is rated at -10 F, where the same compressor moves less heat, so freezers have their own scale: 25 BTU/hr per sq ft scores zero and 80 full marks. A box sold without refrigeration scores zero. For a cooling unit, it is the rated capacity on a log scale, 5,000 BTU/hr scoring zero and 30,000 BTU/hr full marks. Capacities published in watts are converted at 3.412 BTU/hr per watt.
Insulation / range. For a box, this is the R-value of the wall and ceiling panels: R-20 scores zero and R-32 full marks. For a cooling unit, it is the lowest temperature the maker rates it to hold: 40 F scores zero and -10 F full marks, so a unit rated for freezers scores higher than a cooler-only unit.
Completeness. For a box, refrigeration included counts 60% and an insulated floor 40%. For a cooling unit, it is how much installing takes: a unit that runs once wired or plugged in scores full marks, a controller that needs a separate air conditioner half, and a split system that needs a technician to evacuate and charge it zero.
Warranty. For a box, the panel warranty and the parts warranty count half each: panels score zero with no warranty and full marks at 15 years, and parts score zero at 1 year and full marks at 5 years. For a cooling unit, it is the parts warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks. Optional extended compressor warranties sold separately aren’t counted.
What isn’t scored
Height, interior volume, door size, indoor or outdoor build, floor R-value, refrigerant, electrical supply, Wi-Fi monitoring, weight and release date are listed but not scored. Look at the electrical supply before buying: a 208-230 V kit may need a new circuit.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero and is marked estimated. A CoolBot’s capacity is set by the air conditioner it controls, so its value and cooling factors score neutral.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.