Restaurant POS hardware
Published by KwickPOS, a restaurant POS company. We include KwickPOS in comparisons and say so when we do. How we handle this.
Restaurant POS hardware comes down to five choices: terminals or tablets at stations, handhelds for the floor, printers or screens in the kitchen, card readers that take tap and phone payments, and a network that's wired where it can be. Before buying, check whether the hardware only works with that vendor's software or processing, what the warranty covers, and what internet speed the vendor requires.
Hardware is the part of a POS you can touch, and the part that's hardest to undo: proprietary terminals can't move to another system, and a weak network makes good software feel slow. This guide walks through each piece, with prices and requirements vendors publish, checked October 1, 2026.
Terminals, tablets and handhelds
| Type | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| All-in-one terminal | Counters and service stations; built for restaurant use | Often proprietary; replacement cost if it breaks |
| iPad or tablet with a stand | Lower cost, easy to replace, familiar to staff | Consumer devices are less rugged; check which models the software supports |
| Handheld | Ordering and payment at the table, line-busting, patios | Battery life and Wi-Fi coverage |
What vendors publish
- Square: Register $899 or $44 a month over 24 months; Handheld $399 or $37 a month over 12 months; Terminal $299; Stand $149; Kiosk $149; card reader $59.
- Clover: Flex handheld $749 or $40 a month for 36 months; Mini $849; Station Duo $1,899; kitchen display $799 (14-inch) or $899 (24-inch) plus $25 a month per device. Clover says its devices "are only shipped after the application is approved."
- SpotOn: Station 15 $750, Station 10 $415, handheld $297.
- Lightspeed Restaurant: runs on iPads; its support site says it "requires a supported Apple device" and lists supported models.
- TouchBistro: runs on iPads and says it is "compatible with the majority of iPad models".
- Shift4 Dine: hardware is included in its monthly bundle, with a lifetime warranty.
- Toast: sells its own terminals, handhelds, card readers and kitchen displays, and its software runs only on approved Toast hardware. Hardware prices weren't readable on its site for this check; ask for a quote.
- KwickPOS: publishes terminals at $1,299, $1,599 and $2,299, and says its software runs "on any device with a web browser".
Proprietary or standard
Some vendors' hardware only works with their own software, and some only with their own card processing. That matters when you leave: proprietary hardware usually has to be replaced, and standard hardware such as iPads, receipt printers and cash drawers can often be reused. Ask each vendor directly: "If I switch software or processors, which of this hardware keeps working?"
Warranties
Warranty terms vary by device. Square's limited warranty, for example, covers its Terminal, Handheld and Stand for one year and its Register for two years. SpotOn's terms give one year from shipment for its restaurant systems. Toast gives one or two years on card readers depending on the model, and doesn't cover physical or liquid damage. Clover sells Clover Care for accidental damage. Kitchens are hard on hardware, so read what's excluded.
Kitchen printers or screens
Printers are cheap and survive heat; screens add timers, routing and an expo view. Many kitchens use both. See the kitchen display guide for the full comparison and costs.
Card readers
- Tap and phone wallets on the reader you're buying. Not every bundle includes them; Clover's restaurant pricing, for example, lists tap and wallet payments as not included on its Starter bundle.
- Chip and swipe as fallbacks.
- A customer-facing screen for tips and order review.
- Encrypted readers. Readers that are part of a PCI-listed P2PE solution reduce your security work. See the payment security guide.
The network
Vendors publish very different internet requirements, so check the one you're buying:
| Vendor | Published requirement or recommendation |
|---|---|
| Toast | At least 15 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up, dedicated to Toast; Ethernet for stationary devices |
| Clover | At least 8 Mbps down and 384 Kbps up; Ethernet for countertop devices |
| SpotOn | At least 25 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up; only the handheld runs on Wi-Fi |
| Lightspeed Restaurant | 20 Mbps down and up for each POS device and payment terminal; a business-grade router |
| TouchBistro | Supports only the Cisco Meraki Z3/Z4/Z4C routers |
Whatever the vendor, keep the POS on its own network separate from guest Wi-Fi, run cables to fixed devices, check Wi-Fi in every corner where handhelds go, and consider a cellular backup for outages.
Buy, finance or bundle
Buying outright usually costs least over time. Monthly hardware payments spread the cost, and bundles fold hardware into the software price for a set term. Compare the total over the term, and check who owns the hardware at the end. The cost guide works through a lease example.
A typical setup by restaurant size
- Small café: one terminal or tablet at the counter, a card reader with a customer screen, a receipt printer, a label or kitchen printer.
- 40–80 seat full service: two service-station terminals, a handheld per server section, kitchen printers or screens per station, an expo screen.
- Bar: terminals at each well, handhelds for the floor, a printer for the kitchen if you serve food.
Then confirm the plan with the vendor's site survey, and see the rollout checklist for installation.
Common questions
Should I buy proprietary or standard POS hardware?
Standard hardware can often move to another system; proprietary hardware usually can't. Ask which pieces keep working if you switch.
How fast does the internet need to be?
It depends on the vendor: published figures range from 8 Mbps down at Clover to 20 Mbps up and down per device at Lightspeed.
What do POS warranties cover?
Usually manufacturer defects for one or two years, not physical or liquid damage. Read the exclusions.
Sources
- Square for Restaurants hardware kits, Square. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Clover shop, Clover. Checked October 1, 2026.
- SpotOn restaurant hardware, SpotOn. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Supported hardware, Lightspeed. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Hardware requirements, TouchBistro. Checked October 1, 2026.
- SkyTab POS hardware, Shift4. Checked October 1, 2026.
- KwickPOS terminals, KwickPOS. Checked October 1, 2026.
- KwickPOS home page, KwickPOS. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Square hardware limited warranty and returns, Square. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Point of sale terms, SpotOn. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Card readers warranty, Toast. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Clover Care, Clover. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Toast network requirements overview, Toast. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Use best practices for networks, Clover. Checked October 1, 2026.
- SpotOn network requirements, SpotOn. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Network requirements for Lightspeed Restaurant, Lightspeed. Checked October 1, 2026.
- Supported routers, TouchBistro. Checked October 1, 2026.