An undercounter chiller suits a commercial kitchen that needs refrigerated storage beneath a standard-height working surface. A lowboy chiller suits a cooking line that needs refrigerated drawers at a lower working height.
The biggest difference in the ANKE range is height. The standard undercounter chiller measures 850 mm high, while the lowboy chiller measures 650 mm high.
However, height alone should not decide the purchase. Drawer configuration, worktop use, kitchen layout, temperature range, ingredient access and service requirements also affect the choice.
Undercounter Chiller vs Lowboy Chiller: Quick Comparison
| Feature | ANKE Undercounter Chiller | ANKE Lowboy Chiller |
| Standard height | 850 mm | 650 mm |
| Depth | 700 mm | 700 mm |
| Available widths | 900, 1350, 1800 mm | 1200, 1420, 1900 mm |
| Temperature range | -2°C to +10°C | +2°C to +8°C |
| Ambient rating | 43°C | 43°C |
| Storage format | Doors or drawer banks | Drawers |
| Drawer options | 2 or 3 drawer banks | 2, 4 or 6 drawers |
| GN storage | GN 1/1 compatible | 2 × GN 1/1 per drawer |
| Reduced-height option | 700 mm plinth mount | 650 mm standard |
| Best use | Refrigerated storage + worktop | Low refrigerated drawer base |
Choose an undercounter chiller when the worktop is part of the preparation station. Choose a lowboy chiller when lower height and drawer access matter more.
What Is an Undercounter Chiller?
An undercounter chiller is a commercial refrigerator that places chilled storage directly below a working surface.
ANKE manufactures under counter chillers in three standard widths:
| Model | Dimensions | Net Usable Volume |
| UCC1 | 900 × 700 × 850 mm | 86.1 L |
| UCC2 | 1350 × 700 × 850 mm | 169.8 L |
| UCC3 | 1800 × 700 × 850 mm | 253.5 L |
Each chiller operates from -2°C to +10°C and is specified for ambient temperatures up to 43°C.
The stainless steel top provides a usable preparation surface. The refrigerated cabinet stores ingredients directly beneath that surface.
This format suits restaurant preparation areas, hotel kitchens, café production counters and other commercial kitchen stations that need storage and work space in the same footprint.
2-Drawer vs 3-Drawer Undercounter Chillers
ANKE undercounter chillers can use banks of two or three drawers. Doors and drawer banks are interchangeable within the specified configuration.
A 2-drawer bank provides deeper individual storage spaces. It suits larger containers and ingredients that require more vertical space.
A 3-drawer bank divides storage into smaller access zones. It suits mise en place that chefs access repeatedly during service.
The correct configuration depends on ingredient size and service workflow, not simply the number of drawers.
What Is a Lowboy Chiller?
A lowboy chiller is a low-profile commercial refrigerator that places chilled ingredients in drawers below normal counter height.
ANKE’s lowboy chiller range measures 650 mm high and includes three drawer configurations.
| Model | Drawers | Dimensions | Capacity |
| LB-DR2 | 2 | 1200 × 700 × 650 mm | 155 L |
| LB-DR2+2 | 4 | 1420 × 700 × 650 mm | 195 L |
| LB-DR2+2+2 | 6 | 1900 × 700 × 650 mm | 305 L |
Each drawer fits 2 × GN 1/1 containers. The units operate between +2°C and +8°C and are rated for environmental temperatures up to 43°C.
A lowboy therefore suits a cooking line where chefs need chilled ingredients close to the workstation without using a standard 850 mm-high refrigerated counter.
Which Lowboy Drawer Configuration Do You Need?
The number of drawers should match the number of ingredient groups required during peak service.
2-drawer lowboy: The LB-DR2 provides the most compact option. It suits stations with fewer chilled ingredients or limited line width.
4-drawer lowboy: The LB-DR2+2 gives the chef four separate refrigerated access points across a 1420 mm cabinet. It suits cooking lines that need more ingredient separation without using the largest model.
6-drawer lowboy: The LB-DR2+2+2 provides six refrigerated drawers across 1900 mm. It suits longer and busier lines that need multiple ingredients within immediate reach.
The buying question is therefore not only, “How much refrigeration capacity do I need?”
A better question is:
How many refrigerated ingredient zones does the chef need during peak service?
850 mm vs 650 mm: Why Height Changes the Kitchen Layout
An ANKE undercounter chiller measures 850 mm high. An ANKE lowboy chiller measures 650 mm high.
The standard difference is 200 mm.
The 850 mm undercounter height supports a normal preparation counter. A chef can prepare, portion or plate food on the refrigerated worktop.
The 650 mm lowboy leaves more vertical space above the refrigerated base. That makes the format relevant to cooking-line layouts where additional suitable equipment or working clearance is required above the refrigerator.
ANKE also offers a 700 mm plinth-mounted undercounter configuration.
This changes the comparison.
A 700 mm undercounter sits only 50 mm higher than the 650 mm lowboy. Buyers who want reduced height should therefore compare both options before assuming that a lowboy is the only solution.
Doors vs Drawers: Which Is Better During Service?
Doors and drawers support different storage behaviours.
Doors suit:
- larger containers
- irregular packages
- bulk ingredients
- shelving-based storage
Drawers suit:
- portioned ingredients
- mise en place
- repeated access
- ingredient separation
ANKE’s undercounter range provides greater flexibility because the cabinet can use doors or drawer banks.
The lowboy range focuses on drawer-based access.
A kitchen designer should therefore plan storage around how chefs reach ingredients, not only around litres.
Which Chiller Is Better for a Preparation Station?
An undercounter chiller is usually the better starting point for a general preparation station because its 850 mm top functions as a working surface.
The chef can prepare food above the refrigerator and store chilled stock directly below it.
This layout suits:
- cold-food preparation
- hotel kitchen prep sections
- café production
- plating stations
- general restaurant preparation
A buyer who needs refrigerated storage plus a normal-height worktop should therefore start with the undercounter format.
If the station requires a built-in ingredient pan rail instead of a completely clear worktop, read our guide to undercounter chiller vs preparation chiller.
That comparison covers a different kitchen decision and should remain separate from the lowboy comparison.
Which Chiller Is Better for a Cooking Line?
A lowboy chiller is usually more relevant to a cooking line when chefs need refrigerated drawers at a lower level.
The 2, 4 and 6 drawer configurations let a kitchen distribute chilled ingredients along the line.
However, a lowboy’s reduced height does not automatically mean that any cooking appliance can be installed above it.
The kitchen designer must check:
- equipment load
- heat transfer
- ventilation
- clearance
- manufacturer installation requirements
The refrigeration layout must support both the refrigerator and the equipment around it.
What Temperature Do Undercounter and Lowboy Chillers Hold?
ANKE undercounter chillers operate between -2°C and +10°C.
ANKE lowboy chillers operate between +2°C and +8°C.
Both product families are specified for 43°C ambient conditions.
These values matter because cabinet type and storage temperature are separate decisions. The buyer must select a temperature range that suits the food being stored.
For a broader explanation of refrigeration temperature terminology, read Chiller vs Fridge vs Freezer.
Why Does a 43°C Ambient Rating Matter in the UAE?
The ambient rating states the environmental temperature in which the refrigeration system is designed to operate.
Commercial kitchens in Dubai and across the UAE can contain ovens, ranges, grills and other heat-producing equipment. The temperature around a refrigerator may therefore be higher than the general room temperature.
ANKE specifies both its undercounter and lowboy chillers for operation at 43°C ambient.
A commercial buyer should check two temperature values:
- Storage temperature: the temperature required inside the refrigerator.
- Ambient rating: the environmental temperature the refrigeration system can handle.
Both values influence equipment selection.
How Does Service Access Affect the Choice?
Service access affects the long-term usability of commercial refrigeration.
ANKE undercounter chillers use a front-breathing and front-venting refrigeration system. The condensing unit can slide forward for maintenance.
This design supports installation within a continuous equipment line and helps enable the 700 mm plinth configuration.
ANKE lowboy chillers use removable compressor and condenser assemblies for maintenance access.
A refrigeration unit should therefore fit both the kitchen and the technician’s future service requirements.
Explore the wider ANKE commercial refrigeration range if your project also needs upright chillers, freezers, preparation chillers, bottle coolers or blast refrigeration.
Undercounter vs Lowboy Chiller: Which Should You Choose?
| Kitchen Requirement | Better Starting Point |
| Clear preparation worktop | Undercounter chiller |
| Standard 850 mm working height | Undercounter chiller |
| Lower 650 mm refrigeration base | Lowboy chiller |
| Doors and drawer flexibility | Undercounter chiller |
| 2, 4 or 6 refrigerated drawers | Lowboy chiller |
| 700 mm plinth-mounted option | Undercounter chiller |
| GN ingredients close to cooking line | Lowboy chiller |
| Larger door-access storage | Undercounter chiller |
Neither format is universally better. The correct chiller is the unit that matches the kitchen’s working height, storage method, ingredient flow, temperature requirement and available space.
Choose the Right Commercial Chiller with ANKE
ANKE manufactures commercial refrigeration for restaurants, hotels, cafés and professional foodservice kitchens in the UAE.
Choose an ANKE under counter chiller when you need chilled storage beneath a usable preparation worktop.
Choose an ANKE lowboy chiller when your cooking line needs a lower refrigerated base with 2, 4 or 6 drawer configurations.
For a new kitchen or refurbishment, contact ANKE with your layout, available dimensions and storage requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a lowboy chiller the same as an undercounter chiller?
No. ANKE’s standard undercounter chiller is 850 mm high and can use doors or drawer banks. The lowboy chiller is 650 mm high and uses drawer-based refrigerated storage.
What size is an undercounter chiller?
ANKE undercounter chillers are available in 900, 1350 and 1800 mm widths. Each standard unit measures 700 mm deep and 850 mm high.
Can an undercounter chiller have drawers?
Yes. ANKE undercounter chillers can use banks of two or three drawers.
How many drawers can a lowboy chiller have?
ANKE lowboy chillers are available with 2, 4 or 6 refrigerated drawers.
Can an undercounter chiller be lower than 850 mm?
Yes. ANKE offers a plinth-mounted undercounter option that reduces the cabinet height to 700 mm.
Which chiller is better for a cooking line?
A lowboy chiller is the stronger starting point when the line needs a 650 mm refrigerated drawer base. An undercounter chiller is stronger when the workstation needs a standard-height worktop.
