Self-service kiosks are not a supplement in contemporary restaurants. They have a direct impact on the speed of order processing, the length of the queue, and the amount of money the guests will spend by 2026. Nonetheless, the placement of kiosks for many of the owners remains a space rather than a business choice.

Have you ever noticed customers going directly to the counter, leaving kiosks unutilized? Or saw a crowd that is pushing against the pickup area, and the ordering area remains vacant?

This blog discusses the importance of the kiosk location, how the correct location can increase speed and revenue, and what the optimal kiosk placement would be for the QSRs, cafes, and fast-casual restaurants.  

Where Should the Kiosk Be Ideally Placed in a Restaurant?

The best kiosk placement implies the location of kiosks in areas where guests can see them and feel free to place an order and be able to move without difficulty. It is not about controlling but directing conduct.

Kiosk location will allow a smooth flow of events when implemented properly, minimize hesitation, and allow guests to place their order without feeling pressured.

The kiosk location aims to:  

• Reduce ordering friction  

• Enhance throughput when it is busy.  

• Enhance the movement of guests between entry and pickup.  

• Boost average order value  

It has no universal solution. The optimal location of kiosks is based on the layout of the restaurant, the type of service, the complexity of the menu, and the habits of the guests.

How to Determine the Location of a Kiosk?

The first step to smart kiosk placement involves knowing the movement, decision-making, and order placement of guests within your premises. These aspects are more important than the looks or size of the screen. The decisions made must be in favor of guest comfort and operational efficiency.

Natural foot traffic and Guest Entry.

Install kiosks at areas where the guests decelerate after entering, and not at the counter. Do not use corners or behind obstacles. When guests cannot view a kiosk immediately, they will not use it frequently.

Best practices include:  

• Co-locate kiosks with walkways.  

• Locate them in the direct sight of the entrance.  

Queue Management and Order Flow.

Kiosks are not there to make queues. Lack of proper spacing may lead to bottlenecks that may frustrate customers. Sufficient standing area allows the guests to place their orders comfortably and move out easily after making their order.

WRT Kiosk Location Remember:  

• Permit space between groups that order together.  

• Establish direct routes between ordering and pickup.  

Menu Complexity

Kiosk menus with customizations, add-ons, and combos work more effectively than counter menus. Visitors are less in a hurry to visit. The placement should not be done in a way that one has to make a decision in a hurry.

Kiosks work best when:  

• Visitors are able to spend leisurely without crowding others.  

• Screens can be seen easily without glare and congestion.  

Kitchen Visibility and Staff Workflow.

Restaurant kiosk placement should never disrupt staff movement or kitchen operations. Smooth back-of-house flow is just as important as guest flow. Orders should flow to the kitchen without any issues and correspond to pick-up areas.

Avoid kiosk locations that:  

• Block the staff walking paths.  

• Cause confusion at the handoff counter.  

Self-service kiosks for restaurants are especially effective for repeat orders, custom drinks, and add-ons. Avoid placing them near seating areas, where ordering traffic can disturb seated guests.

The Best Kiosk Location of Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs).

QSRs are speed-driven and volume-driven, and therefore, kiosk positioning is critical. It is aimed at quick decision-making and increased throughput. Kiosk-first ordering decreases counter reliance and evenly distributes the demand.

Strategies that should be placed:  

• Right before the counter, right in front of the entrance.  

• A special order here area with prominent signage.  

This will reduce the length of counter lines during busy periods and will allow the guests to self-direct without the assistance of the staff. In the long run, kiosks are used as a default mode of ordering.

Must Read: Enterprise QSR Playbook for Self-ordering Kiosk

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Best Kiosk Location for Cafes

Cafes are usually small and have a high volume of takeaway and pick-up counters. Placement should safeguard circulation and ease. Kiosks are to encourage fast orders without interfering with the relaxed cafe atmosphere. QSR kiosk strategy for placement should feel intentional, not squeezed into leftover space.  

Ideal locations include:  

• Closer to the entrance than the pickup counter.  

• Side-by-side menu boards so as to browse.  

Self-service kiosks are good for repeat orders, personalized drinks, and add-ons. Do not put them close to seats, where the ordering process may disturb seated customers.

Ideal Kiosk Placement for Fast Casual Restaurants

Fast-casual restaurants are fast and offer a quality experience. There are numerous kiosks and counters that are used to cater to the various preferences of guests. Placement must be self-guiding to the guests and not coercive.  

Best placement options:  

• A central ordering area that is seen at the entrance.  

• Kiosks that are positioned side by side to the counter and not in competition with the counter.  

This design will promote the use of kiosks, and the counter will remain open. In the long run, kiosks are chosen just because they are more comfortable.

Kiosk Placements to Avoid

Even good-quality kiosks do not work when they are not placed in the right location. These problems are normally experienced during peak hours. Early repair is a way of avoiding adoption issues in the long term.  

Common mistakes include:  

• The location of the kiosks is too close to the pickup counter.  

• Sealing exits or emergency exits.  

• Failing to provide enough room in group ordering.  

• Poor or unclear signage  

• Thinking of kiosks as a side product.  

Number of Kiosks to Have

The correct number of kiosks should be based on the high levels of orders rather than average traffic. Rush hour planning secures the speed and contentment of guests. The increase in the number of kiosks normally translates to reduced waiting time and increased order turnover.  

General guidance includes:  

• Several smaller kiosks rather than a large one.  

• Space to be private and comfort-wise adequate.  

• Future expansion layouts.  

• It is easier to add kiosks later when there is early space planning.

The Role of Technology in Kiosk Placement Optimization

The use of modern kiosks is not independent screens but is incorporated into a network. Technology is an important factor in long-term success. Information transforms location choices into quantifiable results.

Kiosks that are integrated with the restaurant POS system allow:  

• Routing orders to the kitchen at a faster rate.  

• Behavioral optimization of the menu.  

• Live location performance data.  

This enables operators to improve the placement as time goes by rather than making assumptions.

How NOVA Helps Restaurants Get Kiosk Placement Right

Kiosk placement delivers real results only when it is backed by technology that understands restaurant operations. NOVA helps restaurant owners turn kiosk placement into a strategic advantage that improves speed, flow, and revenue. Instead of locking you into a fixed setup, NOVA adapts to how guests actually move and order inside your restaurant.

With NOVA, restaurants benefit from:

• Unified POS for seamless kitchen flow

Every self-ordering kiosk order routes instantly to the kitchen, keeping prep organized and reducing errors during peak hours. Staff stay focused on execution instead of managing multiple systems.

• Real-time analytics on kiosk usage

Track which kiosk locations perform best, how often guests choose kiosks over the counter, and how behavior changes throughout the day.

• Clear insights into wait times and order value

See how kiosk placement impacts speed of service and average order value, helping you fine-tune layout decisions that directly affect revenue.

• Support for multiple ordering models

NOVA makes it easy to run kiosk-first, hybrid, or assisted ordering without changing platforms or workflows.

As guest expectations evolve, NOVA evolves with them. By 2026, kiosks will become the primary ordering channel for many restaurants. NOVA ensures your kiosk placement is not just visually right, but operationally and financially effective.

Measuring the Success of Your Kiosk Location

Placement success is visible in numbers, not opinions. Tracking the right metrics shows what is working. Regular measurement keeps kiosks effective as traffic patterns change.

Key metrics to track:

• Kiosk adoption rate

• Average order value vs counter orders

• Peak hour throughput

• Order accuracy and prep times

Continuous adjustment keeps performance strong.

Kiosk Placement Is a Revenue Decision, and NOVA Makes It Count

Kiosk placement directly impacts speed, sales, and guest experience. It shapes how quickly guests order, how smoothly queues move, and how much your team can handle during peak hours. This is not a design choice. It is an operational and revenue decision.

NOVA gives operators real-time visibility into order flow and guest behavior, helping place kiosks where they reduce friction and increase throughput. As kiosks become the primary ordering channel by 2026, brands that pair smart placement with NOVA’s performance insights will move faster, sell more, and stay ahead.

Book a demo with NOVA to know more!