Restaurant POS Hardware Kit Builder
Tell us about your place and see exactly what to buy: billing device, printers, cash drawer, kitchen screen and more, with typical prices. Or start with the phone in your pocket.
A station is anywhere that needs its own order tickets, such as the main kitchen, tandoor, grill or bar.
Your essentials kit
Café · 1 counter · 1 kitchen station
- Tablet$150 – $450
10–11 inch Android tablet or iPad, with a stand
Light, cheap and fast for a counter with a small menu.
✓ Works with DineOpen: Android and iPhone/iPad apps
- Receipt printer (80 mm thermal)$150 – $350
Auto-cutter, USB + LAN
Fast, clear bills on the standard roll size. Can open the cash drawer.
✓ Works with DineOpen: USB, network (LAN/Wi‑Fi) or Bluetooth
- Kitchen order printer (80 mm)$180 – $400
Network (LAN or Wi‑Fi), auto-cutter
Every order prints in the right kitchen the moment it is placed.
✓ Works with DineOpen: Network printers, one per station
- Cash drawer$70 – $160
RJ11 cable, 4–5 note slots
Opens by itself when a cash bill prints, so the cash stays locked.
✓ Works with DineOpen: Opens from the receipt printer
- Wi‑Fi router$60 – $200
Dual-band, placed near the counter
Network printers and kitchen screens need a steady local network.
✓ Works with DineOpen: Required for network printers
- 8 × Printed QR codes on tablesFree
Print on paper or card
Guests scan, see the menu and order from their phone.
✓ Works with DineOpen: QR menu and ordering built in
Typical prices for new hardware, October 2026. US market prices. DineOpen doesn’t sell hardware. Buy from any local supplier.
Do you need a special POS machine?
No. A “POS machine” is just a device that runs billing software, plus a printer. DineOpen runs in the browser and as apps for Windows, Android and iPhone, so the phone, tablet or laptop you own already works. Many owners bill from a phone on day one and buy hardware once they know what they need.
Buy dedicated hardware when the counter gets busy: a receipt printer speeds up billing, a kitchen printer or screen stops lost orders, and a cash drawer keeps cash safe.
Phone, tablet, laptop or terminal?
| Device | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | Waiters, trucks, starting out | Free if you have one. Small screen for a big menu. |
| Tablet | Cafés and quick service | Big enough to bill fast. Use a stand and a charger at the counter. |
| Laptop / mini PC | Busy counters, bakeries | Works with the most printers, scales and drawers through the Windows app. |
| All-in-one terminal | Front counter at a busy restaurant | Durable and tidy. The most expensive option. |
Choosing a restaurant printer
Two questions: what size and type of printer, and how it connects.
| Printer | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 80 mm thermal | Bills and kitchen tickets at most restaurants | Standard roll, fast, auto-cutter, can open a cash drawer. |
| 58 mm thermal | Food trucks, stalls, small cafés | Cheaper and smaller. Narrow bills fit fewer columns. |
| Impact (dot matrix) | Very hot kitchens, two-colour tickets | Uses plain paper that heat can’t darken. Louder and slower. |
| Label printer | Takeaway and delivery bag labels | Sticky labels with order number and items. |
| Connection | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| USB | One device next to the printer | Simple and reliable, but only the device it is plugged into can print. |
| Network (LAN or Wi‑Fi) | Kitchen printers, several devices | Any device on your network can print to it. Best for kitchens. |
| Bluetooth | Phones, tablets, trucks | No cables, but short range. Pick a printer that supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). |
What works with DineOpen
Windows app
USB and network printers print without a dialog box. Cash drawer, USB barcode scanner and USB or RS-232 weighing scale.
Android app
Bluetooth (BLE), USB and network printers, plus the built-in printer on Android POS handhelds.
iPhone & iPad
Network and Bluetooth (BLE) printers and AirPrint. The kitchen display and customer display run in any browser.
Restaurant POS hardware FAQ
How much does a restaurant POS machine cost?
For one counter with one kitchen, a tablet, 80 mm receipt printer, kitchen printer, cash drawer, router and UPS cost about ₹30,000–₹70,000 in India, or $600–$1,600 in the US. If you already have a phone, tablet or laptop, a receipt printer and cash drawer alone cost about ₹8,000–₹17,000. You can also start with no hardware at all.
Do I need a special POS machine for my restaurant?
No. Modern POS software such as DineOpen runs on an ordinary phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. A dedicated POS terminal is tidier and tougher, but it is not required. Buy printers and drawers from any local supplier.
Which printer size should I buy, 58 mm or 80 mm?
80 mm is the standard for restaurant bills and kitchen tickets. It prints more text per line, cuts paper automatically and can open a cash drawer. 58 mm printers are cheaper and smaller, which suits food trucks and stalls.
Should my kitchen printer be USB, Wi‑Fi or LAN?
Use a network printer (LAN cable or Wi‑Fi) in the kitchen. Then every billing device and waiter phone can send orders to it. A LAN cable is the most reliable. USB printers only print from the one device they are plugged into.
Kitchen printer or kitchen display screen?
Printers are cheap and familiar. A kitchen display screen shows orders in time order, lets cooks mark them ready and shows how long each order is taking. Many kitchens start with a printer and add a screen later, or keep both.
Can I use my phone as a POS?
Yes. You can take orders and bill from a phone with the DineOpen app or in the browser, and connect a Bluetooth printer if you want paper bills. Many owners start this way and add a tablet or printer as they grow.
Do I need a cash drawer?
If you take cash, yes. A drawer that opens only when a cash bill prints keeps cash locked and makes counting at the end of the day easier. Cloud kitchens that take only online payments can skip it.
Does DineOpen sell hardware?
No. DineOpen is software. You can buy printers, drawers, scanners and screens from any local supplier or online store. This guide shows what works with DineOpen and how it connects.
More free tools
Start billing today, buy hardware later
DineOpen works on the phone, tablet or laptop you already have, in any country.
- 7-day free trial
- No card needed
- Free menu setup
Updated October 2026 · Prices are typical ranges for new hardware and change often.