Grease Trap Sizing Calculator

Grease Trap Sizing Calculator

Setting up a commercial kitchen? This calculator gives a general reference size for a grease trap based on your expected daily meal volume.

Peak Hourly Flow = (Meals Per Day x Gallons Per Meal) / 8-hour service period
Recommended Trap Size = Peak Hourly Flow x Retention Multiplier

Example

200 meals per day, 5 gallons wastewater per meal, 2.5x retention multiplier:

Peak Hourly Flow = 125 gal/hr → ~312 gallon grease trap recommended

Why This Is a Starting Reference, Not a Final Answer

This uses a common general sizing method based on meal volume and wastewater flow, but actual required grease trap size for a specific commercial kitchen is typically determined by local health department and plumbing code requirements, which vary significantly by jurisdiction.

Always Confirm Before Installation

Undersizing a grease trap is a common and costly commercial kitchen mistake, leading to frequent overflows, clogs, and potential code violations - always have a local plumbing professional confirm final sizing against your jurisdiction's specific requirements before installation.