# What types of self-service kiosks are available on the market? > Table-top, freestanding, wall-mounted or outdoor kiosks: the formats available, what goes inside each one and how to choose for your space. - URL: https://waitry.net/en-gb/blog/types-of-self-service-kiosks - Date: 2026-10-15 - Author: Natalia Rodriguez - Categories: Tools There are four formats actually used in the hospitality industry (table-top, free-standing, wall-mounted and outdoor), and the choice is almost never down to the technology: it depends on the space you have and where people enter. Inside, the factors that affect the price are the card reader, whether it accepts cash, and the screen. ## First of all, the names A totem, kiosk, self-ordering screen and self-service terminal are all the same thing. You’ll most often see them called *self-service kiosks*. I say this because when you ask for a quote, you’ll be given those four words, and it’s worth knowing that nobody is offering you anything different. If you want a detailed explanation of what it is and how it works, you can find it at [What is a self-service screen?](/es/blog/que-es-una-pantalla-de-autoservicio). ## The four formats Format Where does it fit in? The good thing What to look out for Table-top Bars, counters, small premises The cheapest option and the one requiring the least building work You don’t see it as much. If it’s not in plain sight when you come in, it doesn’t get used much Freestanding Entrances with a foyer and wide corridors The most visible and the most widely used It takes up its square metre and there needs to be space in front of it Wall-mounted Narrow corridors, shopping centres It doesn’t get in the way You have to drill, and the height is fixed Outdoor Terraces, drive-throughs, events, venues Sell where there used to be nothing More expensive: it needs to be weather-resistant and have a brighter screen ![PantalladeautoservicioMadrid](https://waitry-website-media.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Kioskosmadrid) There’s a fifth one that’s rarely seen but makes a big difference: **the double-sided one**, two screens back-to-back in a single unit. It serves two queues at once whilst taking up the space of just one. In busy premises with limited space, it offers the best value for money available. ## What changes on the inside Two kiosks of the same format can vary greatly in price, and this is almost always the reason why. **The screen.** Between 22 and 32 inches is the norm. Touchscreen, obviously. And the detail that’s most often overlooked is the **brightness**: a self-ordering screen against a shop window at midday turns into a mirror, and nobody orders there. **The card reader.** Built into the body, with contactless functionality. That’s the standard. **Cash.** Accepting coins and banknotes requires a cash acceptor to be fitted inside the kiosk. **It’s quite expensive and it’s the part that requires the most maintenance**, because it jams, needs restocking and has to be cashed up. Most venues start out using only card payments and add cash later, if they find they need it. **The printer**, for the receipt with the order number. It goes inside. **The anchor.** It may seem like a minor detail, but it can save a lot of hassle: a freestanding self-service terminal that isn’t fixed to the floor can move around, and in a venue with children or large crowds, this is a problem. ## How to choose: in three questions **Where do people come in?** The kiosk has to be seen **upon entering**, not once they’re already in the queue. Anyone who has already chosen to wait doesn’t leave the queue. This decides the format more than anything else. **How much space is there in front?** People who order via the screen take longer than those who order verbally, because they’re reading. If the kiosk is right in the way, it gets in the way and ends up being used less. **Will it be sunny or rainy?** If the answer is yes – even if it’s only sometimes – you need an outdoor one. An indoor kiosk on a terrace won’t last as long as you might think. ## Accessibility is no longer optional – it is the law This has changed recently, and many people in the sector are not yet aware of it. The [Act 11/2023](https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2023/05/08/11/con), which transposes the European Accessibility Directive, includes self-service terminals amongst the products that must be accessible, and has been in force since 28 June 2025. The technical standard used to comply with this is EN 301 549, which sets out the accessibility requirements for digital products and services, according to [the Madrid City Council’s guidance on the directive](https://www.madrid.es/UnidadesDescentralizadas/OfAccesibilidad/EI/RECURSOS_Y_DOCUMENTACION/INFOGRAFIAS/Ficheros%20Infograf%C3%ADas/Directiva%20Europea%20Accesibilidad.pdf). For kiosks that were already in operation before that date, there is some leeway: they may remain in use until the end of their service life, up to a maximum of ten years from when they were first commissioned. For those purchased now, there is no leeway. In practice, what matters is the screen height, the contrast and the font size. A screen designed solely for someone standing excludes wheelchair users, and the contrast determines whether an elderly person can order on their own or has to wait for someone to help them. As well as being the right thing to do and a legal requirement, it’s simply bad business. When requesting a quote, the specific question is whether the manufacturer provides you with the EU Declaration of Conformity, which refers to EN 301 549. > **How we do it** > [Waitry’s kiosks](/es/productos/kioscos) are developed in-house and the app is **native**: it carries on selling even if the network goes down, and synchronises when it comes back online. > **Kiosk Studio** lets your team design the home screen (banner, highlights, promotions, loyalty blocks) and publish it to all the chain’s kiosks without going through support, using groups to test it in one outlet first. > And from the dashboard, you can see in real time whether the kiosk is switched on, whether it is in use, whether the payment has gone through and whether the printer has run out of paper. The documentation for [orders and payments in the front of house](https://help.waitry.net/es/category/pedidos-y-pagos-en-sala-1yn10kk/) It explains it step by step. ## At events and in hotels, the choice changes It’s worth mentioning because these are the two places where people most often get the format wrong. [**At events**](/es/sectores/eventos) the main requirement is that they can be set up and taken down. You want sturdy kiosks that can be deployed by area and removed once the event is over, equipped with a card reader and cash handling facilities. The venue is registered for those days and deactivated once the event is over. [**In hotels**](/es/sectores/hoteleria) the kiosk is located in the lobby and operates at times when there used to be no one around: early breakfasts, grab-and-go, a late-night dinner. In this setting, the freestanding format almost always wins, because it needs to be visible from reception. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is the difference between a kiosk and a totem?** None. They are two names for the same screen where the customer places their order and pays for it themselves. **What screen size is best?** Between 22 and 32 inches is standard. Brightness is more important than size, especially if it gets natural light. **Is it worth my while to accept cash?** It makes the kiosk more expensive and requires considerably more maintenance. It’s usually best to start with just the card and add it later if you find you need it. **Can you put a kiosk on a terrace?** Yes, an outdoor one. An indoor one can’t cope with either direct sunlight or damp. **Does it have to be accessible by law?** Yes. Act 11/2023 covers self-service terminals and has been in force since 28 June 2025. Those that were already in operation prior to this date have until the end of their useful life, up to a maximum of ten years. **What if I’ve got very little space?** On the countertop, or mounted on the wall. If you also have a high volume of orders, have a look at the double-sided version. **How many do I need?** The rule of thumb is the queue at peak times: if more than four or five people regularly gather, one won’t be enough. **Who updates the menu at the kiosk?** Your team, via the dashboard. It’s worth asking before you buy: if the answer is that you have to open a support ticket, you’ll end up changing it less often than you’d like. ## Where to start → [Create my free account](https://app.waitry.net/signup) → [Book a 15-minute demo](/es/demo) ## Sources **Mandatory accessibility requirements for self-service terminals, date of entry into force and deadlines for equipment already installed:** [Law 11/2023 in the Official State Gazette (BOE)](https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2023/05/08/11/con) and [the Madrid City Council’s guide to the European Accessibility Directive](https://www.madrid.es/UnidadesDescentralizadas/OfAccesibilidad/EI/RECURSOS_Y_DOCUMENTACION/INFOGRAFIAS/Ficheros%20Infograf%C3%ADas/Directiva%20Europea%20Accesibilidad.pdf). **Formats, components and operation:** Waitry product documentation.