Sandwich Prep Table Pan Sizes: 8 to 30 Pans, Explained
Sandwich Prep Table Pan Sizes: 8 to 30 Pans, Explained
A sandwich or salad prep table is a refrigerated base with a pan rail on top — cold storage below, ingredients at the ready above. The "pan count" you see in product names (8-pan, 12-pan, 30-pan) refers to the rail, and it's the single most important spec to get right.
What the pan count actually means
The top rail holds standard fractional food pans — 1/6, 1/9, 1/3 size, and combinations. A "12-pan" rail holds twelve 1/6-size pans, but you can also fit fewer, larger pans (like 1/3 pans) in the same openings. More pans = more ingredient variety at your fingertips, not necessarily more volume.
The lineup, smallest to largest
| Model | Width | Doors | Pan rail |
|---|---|---|---|
| WKSR-27B | 27" | 1 | 8 pans |
| WKSR-27BM (Mega Top) | 27" | 1 | 12 pans |
| WKSR-48B | 48" | 2 | 12 pans |
| WKSR-48BM (Mega Top) | 48" | 2 | 18 pans |
| WKSR-60B | 60" | 2 | 16 pans |
| WKSR-72B | 72" | 3 | 20 pans |
| WKSR-72BM (Mega Top) | 72" | 3 | 30 pans |
The standard fractional pans
| Pan | Dimensions (W × D) |
|---|---|
| Full | 12″ × 20″ |
| 1/2 | 12″ × 10″ |
| 1/3 | 12″ × 6 2/3″ |
| 1/6 | 6 7/8″ × 6 1/3″ |
| 1/9 | 6 7/8″ × 4 3/8″ |
A "pan count" is always quoted in 1/6-pan equivalents — so a 12-pan rail holds twelve 1/6 pans, or fewer larger pans that each span two slots. Pan depth (2.5″, 4″, or 6″) is a separate choice.
How to pick the count
Count your toppings, spreads, and prepped proteins. A simple sandwich menu needs 8–12 pans; a full build-your-own salad and bowl concept with two dozen toppings needs 20–30. Undersize it and you'll store the overflow in the base or walk to a reach-in mid-rush.
Mega Top vs standard
"Mega Top" models widen the rail so the whole cutting surface becomes ingredient storage. If your assembler works with a lot of ingredients in a small space, a Mega Top turns 27 inches into 12 pans of capacity.
Bottom line
Pick the pan count by ingredient variety, not by floor space — then back it with a wide enough base to hold your backup stock below.
Browse the sandwich-salad prep table collection.