What to Specify When Ordering a Self-Service Kiosk From a Manufacturer

Ordering a self-service kiosk from a manufacturer is not the same as buying a finished product off a shelf. The buyer defines the specifications — screen size, orientation, mounting type, enclosure material, payment module, printer, and environmental rating — and the manufacturer builds to that specification. Missing a detail in the purchase order means receiving hardware that does not fit the deployment site, does not support the intended payment method, or cannot withstand the operating environment. This guide covers every specification a B2B buyer should define before sending an RFQ (request for quotation) to a kiosk manufacturer.

Screen Size and Orientation

The screen is the kiosk's primary interface. Two decisions — size and orientation — must be locked in before anything else because the entire enclosure is designed around them.

Screen size is driven by the use case, not by aesthetics. A 15.6-inch screen works for compact countertop kiosks handling quick interactions: check-in, queue ticketing, or simple ordering with a short menu. A 21.5-inch screen is the standard for floor-standing restaurant ordering kiosks — large enough to display food images, modifiers, and a running order total without cramming. A 32-inch screen serves wayfinding, retail catalog browsing, and ticketing applications where the user needs to scan a large amount of visual content. Going larger than 32 inches increases cost significantly and creates accessibility issues for shorter users and wheelchair users.

Orientation is either portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal). Portrait is the default for ordering kiosks, check-in terminals, and ticketing machines — it matches the vertical scrolling pattern of menu lists and forms, and it occupies less horizontal wall or floor space. Landscape suits wayfinding, information displays, and map-based applications where wide content is the primary view. Orientation must be specified at order time because the enclosure, internal component layout, and mounting bracket are all built around it. Switching orientation after production requires a new enclosure.

For all kiosk applications, specify a capacitive (PCAP) touchscreen. Customers interact with kiosks the way they use smartphones — tapping, swiping, scrolling. A resistive touchscreen feels sluggish by comparison, does not support multi-touch gestures, and creates a poor first impression. PCAP is the baseline expectation for any public-facing self-service device.

Mounting Type: Floor-Standing, Wall-Mounted, or Countertop

The mounting type determines where and how the kiosk fits in the physical space. Each type has different structural requirements and installation constraints.

Floor-standing kiosks are the most common. A freestanding unit with an integrated base can be placed anywhere with a power outlet and network access. No wall modification needed. The trade-off: it occupies 40–60 cm of floor space and must be heavy enough (or bolted down) to resist being pushed or tipped. Floor-standing models are standard for restaurant ordering, hotel check-in, and retail information points.

Wall-mounted kiosks save floor space and work well in narrow corridors, lobbies, and retail aisles. However, the wall must support the weight — a kiosk plus its mounting bracket weighs 15–30 kg depending on screen size — so drywall alone is insufficient. Power and network cables need to be routed through the wall or in a surface conduit. Specify wall-mount kiosks only when the deployment site has confirmed structural wall support.

Countertop kiosks are the smallest form factor. They sit on an existing counter, typically with a 15.6-inch screen, and are used for queue ticketing, loyalty card scanning, or simple self-checkout in environments where a full floor-standing unit is not practical. They are the easiest to deploy and reposition, but they depend on available counter space.

Enclosure Material and Build Quality

A self-service kiosk sits in a public space and gets touched, bumped, and sometimes kicked by thousands of people. The enclosure must withstand continuous physical contact and still look presentable after years of use.

Cold-rolled steel is the standard for floor-standing kiosk enclosures. It provides structural rigidity, impact resistance, and a professional powder-coated finish. Steel enclosures can be painted in any color to match brand guidelines. The downside: steel is heavy, which increases shipping costs but also makes the unit stable in public spaces.

Aluminum alloy is used for kiosk components that require both durability and heat dissipation — particularly the computing module and base panel. Aluminum is lighter than steel and conducts heat more efficiently, enabling fanless operation of the internal PC. Manufacturers such as TCANG use die-cast aluminum alloy for the kiosk's computing section while using steel for the outer enclosure, combining the structural strength of steel with the thermal performance of aluminum where it matters most.

When specifying the enclosure, also define the IP rating if the kiosk will be deployed in semi-outdoor or high-humidity environments. IP54 protects against dust ingress and water splashes. IP65 protects against water jets — required for outdoor kiosks exposed to rain. Indoor-only deployments in climate-controlled environments typically do not need an IP rating beyond standard construction.

Payment and Transaction Modules

A self-service kiosk that takes orders or processes check-ins usually needs to accept payment. The payment hardware is typically a separate module mounted into the kiosk enclosure, not built into the kiosk's mainboard. Specify which payment methods the kiosk must support:

• NFC / contactless card reader — For tap-to-pay with credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. This is the minimum payment capability for most kiosk deployments.
• QR code scanner window — For mobile wallet payments (Alipay, WeChat Pay) and digital vouchers. A 2D barcode scanner module mounted behind a glass window in the kiosk enclosure reads codes from smartphone screens.
• EMV chip card slot — For insert-and-PIN card transactions. Required in markets where contactless limits apply or where customers prefer chip-and-PIN.
• Cash acceptor / coin acceptor — For cash-based markets. Adds significant size, weight, and cost to the kiosk. Only specify cash handling if the deployment market has a high cash transaction rate.

The payment module is usually sourced separately from the kiosk manufacturer and integrated during production. Confirm with the manufacturer that the kiosk enclosure has the correct cutout dimensions and cable routing for the specific payment module being used. A self-service kiosk overview with more detail on payment integration is available in the technology guide.

Printer, Camera, and Other Embedded Hardware

Beyond the screen and payment module, kiosks can embed several additional hardware components. Each adds to the unit cost and enclosure complexity, so only specify what the deployment genuinely requires:

Built-in thermal printer — For receipts, order tickets, or queue numbers. Specify 80mm paper width for readable receipts, auto-cutter for hands-free operation, and a paper-low sensor that alerts staff before the roll runs out. Without the sensor, the kiosk silently stops issuing receipts when paper runs out — and nobody notices until customers complain.

Camera module — For facial recognition check-in (hotels, gyms) or age verification (alcohol and tobacco vending). Specify resolution (1080p minimum for recognition accuracy) and whether the camera needs infrared for low-light environments.

Speaker and microphone — For accessibility (audio instructions for visually impaired users) or voice-based interaction. Useful for healthcare and government service kiosks where accessibility compliance is mandatory.

RFID / NFC reader for non-payment use — For scanning employee badges, membership cards, or hotel room keys. Different from the payment NFC reader — this module reads UID-level data rather than processing financial transactions.

Environmental and Accessibility Requirements

Two often-overlooked specification areas that cause problems post-deployment:

Operating temperature range — Indoor kiosks in climate-controlled environments typically operate at 0–40°C, which standard components handle without issue. Semi-outdoor deployments (covered entrances, train platforms, drive-through windows) need components rated for -10°C to 50°C or wider. Specify the expected temperature range so the manufacturer selects appropriate display panels, storage drives, and capacitors — consumer-grade components fail quickly outside their rated range.

Accessibility compliance — In many markets, public-facing kiosks must comply with accessibility regulations such as the ADA (United States) or the European Accessibility Act. Key hardware requirements include: screen height reachable from a wheelchair (center of screen at 100–120 cm from floor), tilted screen angle for visibility from a lower position, tactile or audio cues for visually impaired users, and sufficient clearance in front of the kiosk for wheelchair approach. Specify accessibility requirements in the RFQ — retrofitting a kiosk for accessibility after production is expensive and often impractical.

RFQ Specification Checklist

Use this checklist when preparing a request for quotation to a kiosk manufacturer. Every item on this list should have a defined answer before the RFQ is sent:

Frequently Asked Questions