Paper tickets are the past. A Kitchen Display System (KDS) can reduce errors, speed up ticket times, and improve communication between front and back of house. But with so many options — from POS-integrated to standalone systems — how do you choose?

Here's everything you need to know about kitchen display systems in 2025.

What is a Kitchen Display System?

KDS replaces paper tickets with digital screens, improving kitchen efficiency

A Kitchen Display System (KDS) is a digital screen that replaces paper ticket printers in the kitchen. Instead of orders printing on a thermal printer, they appear on a screen where kitchen staff can:

• See all orders in queue
• Track order timing
• Mark items as complete (bump)
• Route orders to specific stations
• Coordinate with front of house

How It Works

1. Server enters order into POS
2. Order instantly appears on kitchen display
3. Tickets are color-coded by timing/status
4. Kitchen marks items complete when ready
5. Expo or front of house sees completion
6. Order leaves kitchen

No lost tickets, no illegible handwriting, no walking back and forth.

Benefits of Kitchen Display Systems

1. Reduced Ticket Times

Digital workflows are faster than paper:

• No waiting for printer
• Clear, readable display
• Real-time updates
• Timing alerts for slow tickets

Many restaurants report 15-25% faster ticket times after implementing KDS.

2. Fewer Errors

Clear digital displays reduce miscommunication between FOH and BOH

Paper tickets get lost, smudged, or misread. KDS eliminates these issues:

• Orders always visible
• Modifiers clearly displayed
• No handwriting interpretation
• Allergy alerts highlighted

3. Better Communication

Real-time sync between front and back:

• Servers see when orders are ready
• Kitchen sees when guests arrive
• Expo coordinates multiple dishes
• Managers track performance

4. Data and Analytics

Paper tickets provide no data. KDS tracks:

• Average ticket times
• Item preparation times
• Peak hour patterns
• Staff performance
• Bottleneck identification

5. Coursing Made Easy

For full-service restaurants:

• Hold courses until fired
• Visual indication of course status
• Better timing of multi-course meals
• Expo can coordinate table-wide

Key Features to Look For

Essential Features

Advanced Features

Types of Kitchen Display Systems

POS-Integrated KDS

Kitchen displays built into your POS system:

Examples: Toast KDS, Square KDS, Lightspeed, TouchBistro

Pros:

• Seamless integration
• One vendor to manage
• Consistent interface
• Included in some plans

Cons:

• Locked to your POS
• Features vary by POS
• May cost extra

Best for: Restaurants using a modern cloud POS

Standalone KDS

Independent systems that connect to your POS:

Examples: Fresh KDS, QSR Automations, Epson KDS

Pros:

• Works with any POS
• Often more features
• Specialized for kitchen

Cons:

• Additional integration
• Another vendor
• May be complex

Best for: Restaurants with specific KDS needs or legacy POS

Popular Kitchen Display Systems

1. Toast KDS

Toast KDS integrates tightly with Toast POS for seamless kitchen workflow

Price: $0 for software (hardware separate)
Hardware: Toast-proprietary displays

If you use Toast POS, their KDS is the natural choice. Tight integration means orders flow instantly from POS to kitchen.

Features:

• Order routing by station
• Timing alerts (configurable)
• Expo view
• Item completion tracking
• All-day counts
• Bump bar support

Pros:

• Best integration with Toast POS
• No monthly software fee
• Professional-grade hardware
• 24/7 support

Cons:

• Only works with Toast
• Proprietary hardware (~$449+)
• Locked into Toast ecosystem

2. Square KDS

Price: $20/month per device
Hardware: Most Android tablets/iPads

Square's KDS works with Square for Restaurants and is one of the more affordable options.

Features:

• Order routing
• Timing and alerts
• Ticket recall
• Prep time tracking
• Works on common tablets

Pros:

• Affordable
• Works on iPads/Android tablets
• Easy setup
• Part of Square ecosystem

Cons:

• Square POS required
• Fewer advanced features
• Basic routing options

3. Fresh KDS

Price: $29/month per screen
Hardware: Most tablets

Fresh KDS is a popular standalone option that works with many POS systems.

Features:

• Works with Square, Clover, Toast (via integration)
• Color-coded tickets
• Timing alerts
• Multiple screen routing
• Bump bar support
• Detailed reporting

Pros:

• POS-agnostic
• Strong feature set
• Reasonable price
• Flexible hardware

Cons:

• Requires integration setup
• Another vendor to manage
• Some POS integrations limited

4. TouchBistro KDS

Price: Hardware only (~$449+ per screen)
Hardware: iPad-based

TouchBistro's KDS is highly regarded for full-service restaurants.

Features:

• Advanced routing
• Coursing support
• Color-coded by order type
• Timing alerts
• Recall function
• Bump bar or touch

Pros:

• Excellent for full-service
• Strong coursing
• Reliable (hybrid mode)
• Good integration

Cons:

• TouchBistro POS required
• iPad-only
• Setup requires Mac server

Read our TouchBistro review

5. Lightspeed KDS

Price: Hardware only
Hardware: Various options

Lightspeed Restaurant includes KDS capability with good routing and management.

Features:

• Station routing
• Prep time tracking
• Order prioritization
• Sync with inventory
• All-day counts

Pros:

• Included with Lightspeed
• Inventory integration
• Multi-location sync
• Strong analytics

Cons:

• Lightspeed POS required
• iOS only
• Higher base cost

Read our Lightspeed review

Choosing the Right KDS

Your kitchen layout and service style determine the best KDS setup

Decision Framework

Use your POS's KDS if:

• You use Toast, Square, TouchBistro, or Lightspeed
• You want simple integration
• You don't need advanced features
• One vendor is preferred

Use a standalone KDS if:

• Your POS doesn't offer KDS
• You need specific advanced features
• You want flexibility to change POS later
• You have complex routing needs

Hardware Considerations

Tablets vs. Commercial Displays:

For high-volume kitchens, invest in commercial-grade displays. For smaller operations, tablets work fine with protective cases.

Mounting Options:

• Wall mount (most common)
• Shelf mount
• Ceiling mount (suspended)
• Counter stand

Bump Bar vs. Touch:

• Bump bar: Physical buttons, preferred by many kitchens (grease, water resistant)
• Touch screen: More intuitive, modern, can be less durable

Implementation Tips

1. Plan Station Routing

Map out your kitchen workflow:

• Which items go to which station?
• How do stations communicate?
• Where does expo coordinate?
• How do coursed orders flow?

2. Configure Timing Alerts

Set appropriate thresholds:

• Green: Within target time
• Yellow: Warning (getting slow)
• Red: Critical (needs attention)

Calibrate based on your actual preparation times.

3. Train Kitchen Staff

KDS connects front of house and back of house for smoother service

Don't just install and expect adoption:

• Hands-on training during slow periods
• Clear procedures for bumping, recalling
• Backup plan if system goes down
• Gradual transition from paper

4. Run Parallel for a Week

Keep your thermal printer active during transition:

• Catch any integration issues
• Build staff confidence
• Ensure nothing is missed

5. Monitor and Adjust

After going live:

• Review timing data weekly
• Adjust alert thresholds
• Optimize station routing
• Address pain points

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a KDS cost?

Software ranges from free (included with some POS) to $20-30/month per screen. Hardware ranges from $300 tablets to $1,500+ commercial displays. Budget $500-1,500 per kitchen station for a typical setup.

Can I use a TV as a KDS display?

Technically yes, but not recommended. Commercial displays handle heat, grease, and kitchen conditions better. They're also designed for continuous operation.

Do I need a bump bar?

Not required, but many kitchens prefer them. Physical buttons work better with wet or greasy hands than touchscreens.

Will kitchen staff resist the change?

Some resistance is normal. Start training early, involve staff in setup, and demonstrate the benefits. Most adapt within 1-2 weeks.

What if the KDS goes down?

Keep your thermal printer configured as backup. Cloud-connected POS systems can usually fall back to printed tickets.

Conclusion

A well-implemented KDS transforms kitchen operations

Kitchen Display Systems represent one of the highest-ROI technology investments for restaurants. Faster tickets, fewer errors, and better data justify the cost for most operations.

Our recommendations:

• Using Toast? Toast KDS (free software, proprietary hardware)
• Using Square? Square KDS ($20/month, use tablets)
• Using TouchBistro? TouchBistro KDS (excellent for full-service)
• Using Lightspeed? Lightspeed KDS (included with POS)
• Need standalone? Fresh KDS (works with most POS)

For a complete restaurant technology setup, pair your KDS with the right POS system and QR ordering solution.