Self-order kiosks have transformed quick-service and fast-casual restaurants. Customers order on their own, staff focuses on food preparation, and average ticket sizes increase. But kiosks aren't right for every restaurant.

Here's everything you need to know about implementing self-order kiosks.

What Are Self-Order Kiosks?

Self-order kiosks let customers browse menus, customize orders, and pay without staff assistance

Self-order kiosks are customer-facing touchscreen stations where guests can:

• Browse the menu visually
• Customize their order
• Add items and modifiers
• Pay (card, mobile wallet)
• Receive an order number

They're most common in QSR and fast-casual environments like McDonald's, Panera, and Taco Bell.

Benefits of Self-Order Kiosks

1. Increased Average Check

Studies consistently show 15-30% higher average ticket with kiosks:

• No judgment on add-ons (customers order more freely)
• Automated upselling prompts
• Visual appeal of menu items
• Time to browse without pressure

2. Reduced Labor Costs

Kiosks don't replace all staff, but they can:

• Handle ordering during peak times
• Reduce front-counter staffing needs
• Allow staff reallocation to food prep
• Cover gaps when short-staffed

3. Faster Throughput

Kiosks add ordering capacity without adding staff

During rushes:

• Multiple customers order simultaneously
• No single bottleneck at one register
• Reduced wait times
• Higher customer satisfaction

4. Order Accuracy

Direct customer input reduces errors:

• No miscommunication
• Customer confirms before submitting
• Modifiers clearly captured
• Fewer remakes and refunds

5. Data Collection

Kiosks capture valuable data:

• Popular items and combinations
• Peak ordering times
• Modifier preferences
• Customer order patterns

Popular Kiosk Options

Toast Kiosk

Price: $799+ hardware
Monthly: Included with Toast POS

Toast's kiosk integrates seamlessly with their POS ecosystem.

Features:

• Full menu display with photos
• Customizable upselling
• Payment processing built-in
• Order routing to kitchen
• Loyalty integration

Best for: Toast POS users

Square Kiosk

Price: Uses iPad ($329+) + Stand ($149+)
Monthly: $60+ (Plus plan recommended)

Square offers kiosk mode within Square for Restaurants.

Features:

• Self-serve ordering mode
• Works on iPads
• Payment processing
• Syncs with Square POS
• Customer-facing display

Best for: Square users wanting affordable entry

Clover Kiosk

Price: Clover Station ($1,349+)
Monthly: Varies by reseller

Clover devices can run in kiosk mode with appropriate apps.

Features:

• Customer-facing display
• Restaurant ordering apps
• Payment processing
• Flexible configuration

Best for: Clover ecosystem users

Specialized Kiosk Providers

Hardware Considerations

Kiosk hardware ranges from iPad-based to purpose-built commercial units

Tablet-Based (Budget)

Cost: $500-1,500 per station
Example: iPad + stand + payment reader

Pros:

• Lower upfront cost
• Familiar interface
• Easy to replace
• Flexible placement

Cons:

• Less durable
• Smaller screen
• Consumer-grade hardware
• May need enclosure

Commercial Kiosks (Premium)

Cost: $2,000-5,000+ per station
Examples: Toast Kiosk, Elo, NCR

Pros:

• Purpose-built durability
• Larger screens (15-22"+)
• Integrated payment
• Commercial warranty
• ADA compliance

Cons:

• Higher cost
• Less flexibility
• Proprietary components

Essential Hardware Components

ROI Analysis

Cost Example: 2 Kiosks

Upfront:

• 2 kiosks × $3,000 = $6,000
• Installation: $500
• Total: $6,500

Monthly:

• Software: ~$100-200
• Maintenance: ~$50

Savings Calculation

Scenario: Replace 1 counter staff position

• Labor saved: $15/hour × 40 hours × 4 weeks = $2,400/month
• Plus: Payroll taxes, benefits = ~$600/month
• Total savings: ~$3,000/month

Additional Revenue:

• 15% ticket increase on kiosk orders
• If 50 orders/day × $15 average × 15% = $337/day increase
• Monthly: ~$10,000 additional revenue

Payback period: 1-3 months for most high-volume QSR

Self-Order Kiosk vs. QR Ordering

QR ordering offers similar benefits with lower hardware costs

QR ordering (where customers scan a code and order on their own phones) provides similar benefits:

When to choose QR over kiosks:

• Lower budget
• Space constraints
• Want mobile payment
• Smaller operation

When to choose kiosks over QR:

• High-volume QSR
• Customer demographic prefers kiosks
• Want controlled experience
• Building a premium brand

See our QR vs kiosk comparison

Implementation Guide

Step 1: Assess Your Operation

Kiosks work best for QSR and fast-casual with visual menus

Good candidates for kiosks:

• Quick-service restaurants
• Fast-casual concepts
• High-volume operations
• Visual, photo-friendly menus
• Regular meal-building (combos)

Poor candidates:

• Fine dining
• Complex, changing menus
• Very low volume
• Elderly customer base (unless simple)

Step 2: Choose Your Platform

Match to your existing POS:

• Toast users: Toast Kiosk
• Square users: Square kiosk mode
• Others: Evaluate integration options

Step 3: Plan Placement

• Near entrance (capture walk-ins)
• Visible but not blocking traffic
• Away from direct sunlight (screen glare)
• Accessible (ADA compliance)
• Near pickup area (natural flow)

Step 4: Optimize Your Menu

Kiosk menus need adjustment:

• High-quality photos for every item
• Clear categories and navigation
• Built-in upselling prompts
• Combo/meal building flows
• Allergen and nutrition info

Step 5: Train Staff

Staff roles change with kiosks:

• Kiosk ambassadors (help customers initially)
• Order assembly focus
• Troubleshooting
• When to intervene vs. let customers self-serve

Step 6: Launch and Iterate

• Start with one kiosk to test
• Gather customer feedback
• Monitor order accuracy
• Analyze upselling performance
• Expand based on results

Frequently Asked Questions

Do kiosks really increase ticket size?

Yes, 15-30% increases are well-documented across QSR chains. The lack of perceived judgment and visual upselling drive this.

Will customers use kiosks?

Younger customers embrace them. Older customers may need help initially but often adapt. Having staff available for assistance helps adoption.

Can kiosks replace all counter staff?

No. You still need staff for:

• Food preparation
• Order assembly
• Customer assistance
• Cash handling
• Kiosk troubleshooting

Kiosks supplement, not replace.

Are kiosks ADA compliant?

Commercial kiosks are designed for accessibility. If using tablets, ensure proper height and screen reach.

What about cash customers?

Kiosks typically handle card payments only. Keep a cash register for customers who need it.

Conclusion

Self-order kiosks can transform high-volume restaurant operations

Self-order kiosks offer genuine ROI for the right restaurants — higher tickets, faster throughput, and reduced labor needs. But they require significant upfront investment and work best for high-volume QSR and fast-casual concepts.

Our recommendations:

• High-volume QSR: Commercial kiosks (Toast, purpose-built)
• Testing/budget: iPad-based kiosk setup
• Alternatives: QR ordering for similar benefits, lower cost

For simpler operations, QR code ordering may provide similar benefits with much lower investment. Consider your volume, customer base, and budget before committing to kiosk hardware.