Restaurant POS Hardware Guide

Restaurant POS hardware helps staff enter orders, process payments, and manage the flow of service from ordering through fulfillment.

In this guide, we’ll explain the main types of restaurant POS hardware, what each component does, and how to choose equipment that works with your restaurant’s POS software.

What Is Restaurant POS Hardware?

Restaurant POS hardware is the physical equipment used to enter orders, process payments, and manage restaurant operations.

Common hardware includes tablets or touchscreen terminals, card readers, receipt printers, and cash drawers. Restaurant-specific equipment may also include kitchen display systems, handheld ordering devices, customer-facing displays, and self-service kiosks.

What’s The Difference Between Restaurant POS Hardware & Software?

Restaurant POS hardware includes the physical equipment used to take orders and payments, such as touchscreen terminals, tablets, card readers, receipt printers, and kitchen display screens.

Restaurant POS software is the application that runs the system. It allows staff to enter orders, calculate totals, send tickets to the kitchen, process payments, and manage other restaurant operations. Depending on the system, the software may be installed on the device or accessed through the cloud.

A complete restaurant POS system generally requires both hardware and software, although the exact equipment needed depends on how the restaurant takes orders and accepts payments.

Common POS Hardware For Restaurants

The hardware your restaurant needs depends on how you take orders, accept payments, and send tickets to the kitchen.

Additional Restaurant POS Hardware To Consider

These optional components can improve ordering, kitchen workflows, and the customer experience.

How To Choose POS Hardware For Your Restaurant

POS hardware and software must be compatible, so it’s best to choose them together. Follow these steps to find the right setup for your restaurant.

Step 1: Set Your Budget

Consider the full cost of the system, including:

• Hardware
• Software subscriptions
• Payment processing
• Installation and training
• Optional features and accessories

Hardware may be purchased upfront, financed, leased, or included in a payment plan, depending on the provider.

Compare processing rates and contract terms along with the cost of the equipment and software.

Step 2: Identify Your Must-Have Features

Start with the features your restaurant needs for daily operations, such as menu management, order entry, payment acceptance, and reporting.

Depending on your business, you may also need:

• Online ordering
• Delivery integrations
• Table and reservation management
• Inventory tracking
• Employee management
• Kitchen display software
• Loyalty and marketing tools

Separate essential features from optional add-ons so you don’t pay for tools you won’t use.

Step 3: Measure Your Restaurant Space

Measure your counters, service areas, and kitchen stations before choosing equipment.

A food truck or small counter-service restaurant may need only a compact tablet setup, while a larger restaurant may require multiple terminals, handheld devices, printers, and kitchen displays.

Step 4: Compare POS Systems & Hardware

Once you know your budget, feature requirements, and available space, compare compatible software and hardware packages.

Schedule demos or use free trials when available. Consider usability, payment processing, integrations, contract terms, customer support, and whether the system can grow with your restaurant.

Also check whether the hardware is designed to withstand common restaurant conditions such as spills, heat, grease, and drops.

Step 5: Install The Hardware & Train Your Staff

Before purchasing, review the warranty, return policy, installation options, and support services.

Install and test the equipment before launch, confirm that each device communicates properly with the POS system, and train employees on order entry, payments, refunds, and basic troubleshooting.

The Bottom Line On Restaurant POS Hardware

The right restaurant POS hardware can speed up ordering, improve communication between the front and back of house, and make payment processing more efficient.

Choose hardware that fits your restaurant’s workflow, space, budget, and POS software. You can get started with our recommendations for the best restaurant POS systems, including compatible hardware and pricing.