F&BosA restaurant POS machine in India typically costs ₹12,500–18,000 for a handheld with a printer, ₹28,000–38,000 for an Android all-in-one touch POS and ₹38,000–45,000 for a Windows touch POS, mostly before 18% GST. A complete single-counter setup usually costs ₹29,000–43,000, and a dine-in restaurant with two kitchen printers ₹46,000–62,000.
"POS machine" can mean anything from a phone with a Bluetooth printer to a dual-screen touch terminal. The right choice depends on your format, your software and how many people bill at once. This guide covers the hardware side; for how a POS works overall, see our restaurant POS system guide.
Types of restaurant POS machines and their prices
| Type | What it is | Best for | Typical price | Range seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your phone + Bluetooth printer | A phone or tablet you already own, with a 58 mm Bluetooth or USB thermal printer | Tiny counters, kiosks, food trucks | ₹1,900–3,800 | Printer only |
| Keypad billing machine | A standalone billing machine with keypad and built-in printer | Very small shops with a short menu | ₹6,500–12,000 | ₹3,500–17,500 |
| Handheld POS with printer | An Android handheld with a built-in 58 mm printer | Table-side billing, delivery, small counters | ₹12,500–18,000 | ₹9,500–30,000 |
| Android tablet | An 8.7–11 inch tablet running a POS app, plus a separate printer | Cafés and small restaurants | ₹18,000–24,000 | ₹13,000–33,000 |
| Android all-in-one POS | A 15–15.6 inch touch terminal with built-in printer | QSRs, cafés and restaurant counters | ₹28,000–38,000 | ₹22,000–56,000 |
| Windows touch POS | A 15–15.6 inch touch PC terminal | Busy counters and Windows-based software | ₹38,000–45,000 | ₹36,000–81,000 |
| Apple iPad | A base iPad (A16, 128 GB Wi-Fi) running a POS app, plus a printer | Restaurants already using Apple devices | ₹49,900 | Apple India price, incl. taxes |
Phone or tablet with a printer
The cheapest way to start. Many cloud POS apps run on an Android phone or tablet, an iPad or a browser, and print to a standard thermal printer. Tablet prices in India rose in 2026, so a reliable 10–11 inch Android tablet now typically costs ₹18,000–24,000, and the base iPad ₹49,900 at Apple India.
Keypad billing machine
A standalone machine with a keypad and built-in printer, common in small shops. It's cheap, but most can't run KOTs, tables, inventory or reports, so most restaurants outgrow one quickly.
Handheld POS
An Android handheld with a built-in 58 mm printer, such as the Sunmi V2s or iMin Swift 2, typically ₹12,500–18,000. Captains take orders and print bills at the table; it also suits delivery counters and food stalls. Our guide to handheld POS and captain apps explains when you need one.
Android all-in-one touch POS
A 15–15.6 inch touch terminal with a built-in receipt printer, such as the Sunmi T2, iMin D4 or Rugtek RTP models, typically ₹28,000–38,000. It's the most common counter machine for QSRs and cafés: one tidy unit, with a dual-screen option to show guests their order.
Windows touch POS
A touch PC terminal, such as Posiflex or POSBank models, typically ₹38,000–45,000 and up to ₹81,000 for premium units with built-in printers. Choose it if your software needs Windows or you want a larger, more powerful counter machine.
Printers, cash drawers and other hardware
| Device | Typical price | Range seen | Buying note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58 mm thermal printer (USB / Bluetooth) | ₹1,900–3,800 | ₹1,800–8,850 | Fine for small bills; too narrow for detailed GST bills at busy counters. |
| 80 mm receipt / KOT printer with auto-cutter | ₹9,600–12,600 | ₹7,350–14,200 | Choose a LAN (Ethernet) model for the kitchen. |
| Cash drawer | ₹4,000–4,200 | ₹3,450–5,000 | Opens from the printer; check the cable type with the seller. |
| Kitchen display screen | ₹11,000–19,000 | ₹7,800–45,000 | A tablet or 15.6 inch touch monitor; a smart TV works for view-only screens. |
| Barcode scanner | ₹2,500–4,500 | ₹2,300–6,900 | Useful for packaged items in bakeries and sweet shops. |
| Weighing scale with printer | ₹18,000–26,900 | ₹5,500–44,000 | Must carry legal metrology stamping; label scales cost more. |
| Customer display | ₹5,000–6,500 | ₹3,600–15,000 | Pole display, or a second screen on dual-screen terminals. |
For the kitchen, a LAN (Ethernet) 80 mm printer such as the TVS RP 3230 or RP 3200 Plus is the usual choice: it sits on your network, so any billing device can send KOTs to it. If you'd rather replace paper KOTs, see our KOT system guide for how kitchen tickets and displays work. Our POS hardware setup checklist shows how to connect and test everything.
Sample setup budgets
Here's what complete setups typically cost, using the typical price ranges above. All figures are hardware only, mostly before GST.
| Setup | What's included | Hardware budget |
|---|---|---|
| Starter counter | Your own phone + 58 mm Bluetooth printer | ₹1,900–3,800 |
| Single billing counter (tablet) | Android tablet ₹18,000–24,000 + 80 mm printer ₹7,350–10,500 + cash drawer ₹3,450–5,000 | ₹28,800–39,500 |
| Single billing counter (all-in-one) | Android all-in-one POS ₹28,000–38,000 + cash drawer ₹3,450–5,000 | ₹31,450–43,000 |
| Dine-in restaurant | Android all-in-one ₹28,000–38,000 + 2 LAN KOT printers ₹14,700–19,300 + cash drawer ₹3,450–5,000; captains use phones you own | ₹46,150–62,300 |
| QSR with kitchen display | Android all-in-one ₹28,000–38,000 + KDS screen ₹11,000–19,000 + cash drawer ₹3,450–5,000 | ₹42,450–62,000 |
| Sweet shop or bakery | Android all-in-one ₹28,000–38,000 + scale with printer ₹18,000–26,900 + barcode scanner ₹2,500–4,500 + cash drawer ₹3,450–5,000 | ₹51,950–74,400 |
Budgets combine typical prices seen on 10 October 2026. Add 18% GST where the seller's price excludes it.
Card machines and UPI sound boxes
Payment hardware is usually rented rather than bought:
- Card machines are typically rented for ₹325–700 a month, or bought outright for about ₹5,699–15,500. Providers also charge a fee on card payments: around 0.4% on most debit cards and 1.1–1.99% on credit cards, depending on the provider and category. UPI payments carry no merchant fee.
- UPI sound boxes announce each payment aloud. PhonePe publishes plans from ₹25 a month after a ₹999 one-time fee, or ₹125 a month after a ₹318 setup fee; other providers typically charge around ₹99–150 a month.
Whatever you choose, make sure your POS records the payment method on every bill so day-end totals match your bank settlements. To add software and running costs to these hardware figures, see our restaurant POS cost guide with 3-year examples.
What to buy for your restaurant
- Small café, kiosk or food truck: an Android tablet or your phone with a thermal printer.
- QSR: an Android all-in-one at the counter, an 80 mm printer, and a kitchen display or LAN KOT printer.
- Dine-in restaurant: a counter terminal, one LAN KOT printer per kitchen station, and captain devices (phones, tablets or handhelds) for table orders.
- Sweet shop or bakery: a counter terminal, a stamped weighing scale and a barcode scanner for packaged items.
- Cloud kitchen: a tablet or all-in-one, an 80 mm printer for KOTs and labels, and a kitchen display to track prep times.
Buying tips
- Check compatibility first. Confirm your POS software supports the exact printer, drawer and scale models before you buy.
- Prefer standard hardware you can replace from any dealer, rather than devices locked to one software vendor.
- Ask about warranty and service centres in your city: a dead printer on a Saturday night costs more than the printer.
- Get a GST invoice and confirm whether the quoted price includes GST and delivery.
- Budget for the extras: thermal paper rolls, a UPS or inverter backup, a reliable Wi-Fi router and a spare printer for the busiest station.
- For scales, insist on legal metrology stamping and confirm the connection to your POS.
Do you need a dedicated POS machine at all?
Not always. Modern cloud POS software runs on everyday devices. F&Bos restaurant POS software runs on Android tablets and phones, iPads and web browsers with standard thermal printers, so you can start with hardware you already own and add dedicated terminals only where they speed up service. If you're comparing software too, see our list of the best restaurant POS software in India, or our page on restaurant billing software.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of a POS machine for a restaurant in India?
As of October 2026, a handheld POS with a built-in printer typically costs ₹12,500–18,000, an Android all-in-one touch POS ₹28,000–38,000 and a Windows touch POS ₹38,000–45,000, mostly before 18% GST. A complete single-counter setup with a printer and cash drawer usually costs ₹29,000–43,000, and a dine-in setup with two kitchen printers ₹46,000–62,000.
Can I use a tablet or my phone instead of a POS machine?
Yes. Many cloud POS apps run on Android tablets, phones, iPads or a web browser with a standard thermal printer. A phone with a ₹2,000–4,000 Bluetooth printer is enough for a small counter, and an Android tablet with an 80 mm printer suits most cafés and small restaurants.
Should I buy a 58 mm or 80 mm thermal printer?
Buy 80 mm for most restaurants. It prints clearer GST bills and KOTs with item modifiers, and models with an auto-cutter are faster at peak. A 58 mm printer is fine for small counters, handhelds and short bills. For the kitchen, choose an 80 mm printer with a LAN port.
Do POS machine prices include GST?
Usually not. Most dealer and B2B listings in India quote prices before 18% GST and freight, while retail prices on brand stores and Apple's store include taxes. Always ask for a GST invoice so you can claim input tax credit if you're eligible.
How much does a card machine or UPI sound box cost?
Card machines are usually rented for about ₹325–700 a month or bought for ₹5,699–15,500, plus a fee on card payments; UPI payments carry no merchant fee. UPI sound boxes are typically ₹25–150 a month, depending on the provider and plan.
Related POS guides
Restaurant POS system: the complete 2026 guide
How a POS works, GST and UPI, costs and launch.
Read the guide → COMPARISONBest restaurant POS software in India
Ten systems compared on price, aggregators and offline billing.
Read the guide → BUYER'S GUIDEHow to choose a restaurant POS in India
Seven criteria and the hidden-fee checklist.
Read the guide →Price sources (checked 10 October 2026): IndiaMART: Android POS machines · TVS Electronics store: receipt printers · Apple India: iPad · GeM: Honeywell barcode scanner listing · PhonePe: SmartSpeaker charges · Paytm for Business: pricing · Razorpay: POS offer details, plus individual dealer listings on IndiaMART, TradeIndia and Industrybuying.