Updated 2 October 2026.
What an interactive kiosk is
An interactive kiosk is a terminal that lets a person finish a task on their own: order and pay, check in, print a ticket, look something up, or collect an item from a locker. The words interactive kiosk, touch screen kiosk and digital kiosk are used for the same thing. The touchscreen is how the user operates it, the software runs the task, and the enclosure holds the screen, computer, peripherals and power at a height people can reach.
A screen that only plays content, with nothing for the user to do, is digital signage. It becomes a kiosk once the user can act on it, and that brings in decisions signage never needs: touch technology, reach ranges, payment and identification hardware, and how to stop people getting out of the app.
This guide covers those hardware decisions. It is written for anyone specifying a touch screen kiosk, whoever supplies it. For the software layer, see kiosk software. For use-case pages, see self-order kiosks, check-in kiosks, payment kiosks and ticketing kiosks. For outdoor sites, see outdoor kiosks.
The specification at a glance
| Decision | Typical choices | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 10–15 in countertop; 21.5–27 in floor-standing; 32 in and up for wayfinding | Task complexity, viewing distance, reach range |
| Orientation | Portrait or landscape | Portrait suits menus, forms and a standing user; landscape suits maps and video |
| Touch technology | Projected capacitive (PCAP), infrared (IR), surface acoustic wave (SAW) | Screen size, gloves, water, dirt, vandalism |
| Brightness | ~250–350 nits indoors up to 2,500+ nits in direct sun | Ambient light at the site |
| Form factor | Floor-standing, wall-mounted, countertop, or built into another machine | Floor space, wall strength, traffic flow |
| Operating system | Android, Windows, Linux | Software to run, drivers, management tooling |
| Peripherals | Payment terminal, QR or barcode scanner, RFID/NFC reader, receipt printer, camera, lockers | The task the kiosk completes |
| Connectivity | Ethernet, WiFi, 4G/5G | Site network policy, cabling cost |
| Accessibility | Reach ranges, clear floor space, audio and tactile input | Local law (in the US, the ADA) and who will use it |
The rest of this page works through each row.
Touch technology: PCAP vs IR vs SAW
Kiosk touchscreens mostly use one of three technologies (resistive screens, common in older terminals, are now rare in public kiosks). The touchscreen article on Wikipedia explains how each one senses a touch.
| Projected capacitive (PCAP) | Infrared (IR) | Surface acoustic wave (SAW) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it senses | Grid of electrodes behind the cover glass detects a change in capacitance | Frame of LEDs and sensors around the screen detects interrupted beams | Ultrasonic waves across the glass are absorbed by the finger |
| Multi-touch | Yes, with gestures | Yes, on most modern frames | Limited |
| Works with gloves | Thin gloves; thicker gloves need tuning | Any glove or object | Soft gloves; not hard styluses |
| Water and dirt | Tolerates cleaning; controllers can be tuned to reject water drops | Debris or insects in the bezel can block beams | Water and contaminants cause false or missed touches |
| Bezel | Flush glass, no frame | Raised frame needed for the beams | Small bezel for the reflectors |
| Sizes | Common to ~32 in, available larger | Scales easily to very large screens | Mid sizes |
| Sunlight | Unaffected | Strong sunlight can interfere with the beams | Unaffected |
| Best for | Most public kiosks; self-order, check-in, payment | Very large wayfinding screens; heavy gloves | Clean indoor information kiosks |
Our default for public kiosks is PCAP behind tempered cover glass, because the flush glass front has no frame to collect dirt and is easy to wipe clean, and users expect phone-style gestures. Use IR where the screen is very large or users wear heavy work gloves. Specify the cover-glass thickness and an impact rating if the kiosk will be unsupervised (see vandal resistance on the outdoor page).
Screen size and orientation
There is no single right size; size the screen for the task and how far away the user stands.
- 10–15 inches. Countertop, wall-mounted and payment kiosks, or a sidecar screen on a vending machine. Enough for a few large buttons, a QR code or a PIN pad. Our BG10X10 and KF6X10 vending machines use a 10-inch screen.
- 21.5–27 inches. The usual size for floor-standing self-service kiosks that show a menu, a form or a product list to a user standing at arm’s length. Our K180-6C kiosk uses a 21.5-inch multi-touch screen; the KF10X22 vending machine uses a 22-inch screen.
- 32 inches and up. Wayfinding maps, catalogues and screens that also attract attention from a distance. Check reach ranges: on a tall portrait screen, the top of the display often sits above the 48-inch reach limit, so interactive controls must stay in the lower part of the screen.
Portrait suits a standing user, scrolling menus and forms, and a narrow footprint. Landscape suits maps, video and side-by-side layouts. Decide orientation before the software is designed; turning a finished interface on its side rarely works.
Other sizes are specified per project. Tell us the task and the site and we will propose a size, rather than you choosing from a list.
Brightness and readability
Brightness is measured in nits (candela per square metre). A screen that is perfect in a lobby can be unreadable next to a glass wall. Display makers publish guidance along these lines (example from an industrial display manufacturer):
| Site | Typical recommendation |
|---|---|
| Indoor, away from windows | ~250–500 nits (standard monitor panels are ~250–350) |
| Bright indoor, near windows or skylights | ~500–700 nits |
| Covered or shaded outdoor | ~700–1,500 nits |
| Direct sunlight | ~2,500–4,000+ nits |
Brightness is not the whole answer. Anti-glare or anti-reflective glass and optical bonding (filling the air gap between the LCD and cover glass) cut reflections and raise contrast, so a bonded screen at a given brightness reads better than an unbonded one (optical bonding overview). Higher brightness also means more heat and power. Read the outdoor kiosk guide before specifying a sunlight-readable screen.
Form factors
- Floor-standing. The most common interactive kiosk. Can be free-standing on castors or levelling feet, or bolted to the floor. Our K180-6C is about 1,830 mm high, 750 mm wide and 400 mm deep, weighs about 100 kg, and stands on industrial levelling castors or fixed legs.
- Wall-mounted. Saves floor space in corridors and small shops. The wall must carry the load, and the screen height still has to meet reach ranges. See our compact wall-mount units.
- Countertop or tablet-style. Lowest cost. Suited to payment and order points on an existing counter, but easier to knock or remove.
- Built into another machine. A kiosk screen on a vending machine, smart locker or dispenser. That is how most of our kiosks ship: see kiosk vending machines, smart lockers and embodied-AI robotic kiosks.
Operating system and kiosk lockdown
A public kiosk must boot straight into one app and stop users reaching anything else. Each mainstream OS has a supported way to do that:
| Android | Windows | Linux | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockdown method | Lock task mode (Android 5.0 and later): only allowlisted apps run; home, overview and notifications are hidden | Assigned Access: single-app kiosk or restricted multi-app experience on Pro, Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise editions | Custom session or display manager configured to launch one app |
| Strengths | Fast boot, low power, runs on industrial control boards, touch-first | Runs existing Windows software and drivers (some printers, scanners, legacy apps) | Full control of the image; no licence fee |
| Watch for | Peripheral drivers must exist for Android | Licensing, update management, larger PC hardware | You build and maintain the lockdown yourself |
Android’s lock task mode is stricter than screen pinning, which a user can exit at will. Windows Assigned Access restarts the kiosk app automatically if it closes.
KioskForce kiosks run on Android-based industrial control boards. The kiosk software and the cloud dashboard from Vending on Track, our Australian software partner, are managed together, with a REST API, CSV import and export, and ServiceNow integration for organisations that want kiosk events in their own systems. If your project has to run an existing Windows application, tell us at the start; it changes the computer, enclosure and cost.
Peripherals: what the kiosk needs to finish the task
The screen starts the transaction; peripherals complete it. Specify only what the task needs, because each one adds cost, cabling and a part that can fail.
- Payment. Card and contactless terminals, QR payment, coins and notes. Card readers on unattended terminals should be approved under the PCI PTS POI programme, which includes unattended payment terminals. We integrate MDB cashless terminals such as Nayax and Cantaloupe, plus WeChat Pay and Alipay; see payments.
- Identification. RFID or NFC badge readers, PIN entry, QR or barcode scanners. KioskForce kiosks support RFID card, PIN and QR login with per-user quotas; biometric readers are an option at extra cost, quoted per project.
- Output. Receipt or ticket printers, label printers, or a locker or dispenser that hands over an item. The K180-6C has six locker cells with door sensors, expandable with additional lockers through a PoE switch.
- Other. Camera, speaker and microphone for assisted service; charging ports; proximity or presence sensors to wake the screen.
Accessibility: reach ranges and ADA
In the US, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design set the dimensions most kiosk buyers design to:
- Reach range (§308). For an unobstructed forward or side reach, the high reach is 48 inches (1,220 mm) maximum and the low reach 15 inches (380 mm) minimum above the floor. Put every control the user must touch inside that band, including on-screen buttons on tall portrait screens.
- Clear floor space (§305). At least 30 by 48 inches (760 × 1,220 mm) in front of or beside the kiosk for a forward or parallel approach.
- Operation (§309). Operable with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching or twisting, at 5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum force.
- ATMs and fare machines (§707). These must also be speech-enabled, provide at least one tactilely discernible input control for each function, use a 12-key telephone-style keypad layout where numeric keys are used, have a screen visible from a point 40 inches (1,015 mm) above the centre of the clear floor space, display sans-serif characters at least 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) high, and give Braille instructions for starting speech mode. §220 requires at least one of each type at each location to comply.
Section 707 is scoped to ATMs and fare machines. For other self-service kiosks, the US Access Board published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking in September 2022 that would base new kiosk requirements on section 707 and the Revised Section 508 Standards. Federal agencies already buy kiosks under Section 508. Practical advice: design to section 707 now (audio output with a headphone jack, a tactile keypad or navigation buttons, controls within reach range). It is far cheaper than retrofitting, and outside the US local accessibility rules follow similar principles. This is design guidance, not legal advice; confirm requirements with your own advisers.
Where an interactive kiosk is the wrong answer
- The task needs judgement or a conversation. Complaints, complex sales or anything where the user is likely to get stuck still need a person, or at least a video-call option on the kiosk.
- Your users already carry the tool. If the task is a simple lookup or a payment your users would do on their phones, a QR code to a mobile web page may be cheaper than a kiosk.
- You only need to show information. If nobody needs to touch it, buy digital signage.
- You need one off-the-shelf tablet stand next week. A catalog tablet enclosure is faster. We design kiosks to specification, which takes weeks.
Questions to send any touch screen kiosk supplier
- Which touch technology, cover-glass thickness and impact rating does the quoted screen use?
- What is the screen’s brightness in nits, and is it optically bonded?
- Which operating system, and how is the device locked down and updated remotely?
- Which peripherals are included, and are the payment devices PCI PTS approved?
- Where do the interactive controls sit relative to the 15–48 inch reach range?
- Who writes and maintains the kiosk software, and can it integrate with our systems?
- Which certification marks does the kiosk carry for our market, with certificates?
- Who handles warranty and service in our region?
How KioskForce answers
| Question | Our answer |
|---|---|
| Who designs the kiosk? | Hardware and software are designed in-house at our Nanjing office and built in several partner factories in China. See custom kiosk manufacturer. |
| Screen sizes | 21.5-inch multi-touch on the K180-6C; 10-inch or 22-inch on our touchscreen vending lines. Other sizes specified per project. |
| Operating system | Android-based industrial control boards, managed through the Vending on Track cloud dashboard. |
| Integration | REST API, CSV import/export, ServiceNow. |
| Payment and ID | MDB cashless terminals (Nayax, Cantaloupe and others), QR, WeChat Pay/Alipay, RFID badge, PIN. See payments. |
| Certification | Specified per destination market and confirmed on the quotation. See power and compliance. |
| MOQ and lead time | 1 unit for modified standard models (4–6 weeks); typically 10 units for fully custom designs (8–12 weeks); software scoped separately. |
| Installation and support | On-site installation is optional and done by your contractor or, in some regions, a local distributor. Support is by email, or through the local distributor where one supplied the kiosk. Warranty: 12 months on manufacturing defects. |
| Price | K180-6C from USD 1,800; BG10X10 from USD 1,200; KF10X22 from USD 2,100, before freight, duties and installation. See kiosk cost. |
We sell direct and, in some regions, through local distributors.
Frequently asked questions
What is an interactive kiosk?
An interactive kiosk is a self-service terminal with a touchscreen and software that lets a person complete a task without staff, such as ordering food, paying a bill, checking in, printing a ticket, finding a route or collecting an item from a locker. Digital kiosk and touch screen kiosk are used for the same thing. A screen that only plays content, with no input, is digital signage rather than an interactive kiosk.
Which touchscreen technology is best for a kiosk?
For most public kiosks up to about 32 inches, projected capacitive (PCAP) is the default: it sits behind glass, supports multi-touch and gestures, and has no bezel frame to collect dirt. Infrared (IR) frames suit very large screens and users in thick gloves, but debris in the bezel and strong sunlight can cause false touches. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) gives a clear image but is sensitive to water and contaminants, so it suits clean indoor sites.
What screen size should a touch screen kiosk have?
Size the screen for the task and the distance. A countertop or payment kiosk that shows a few large buttons works at 10 to 15 inches. A self-order or check-in kiosk that shows a menu or form usually uses 21.5 to 27 inches, often in portrait. Wayfinding and catalogue kiosks viewed from further away use 32 inches and up. KioskForce uses a 21.5-inch screen on the K180-6C kiosk and 10-inch or 22-inch screens on its touchscreen vending machines; other sizes are specified per project.
How bright does a kiosk screen need to be?
A typical indoor monitor is about 250 to 350 nits, which is enough away from windows. Display makers commonly recommend about 500 to 700 nits near windows, 700 to 1,500 nits for shaded or covered outdoor sites, and 2,500 nits or more in direct sun. Anti-glare treatment and optical bonding improve readability as much as raw brightness does.
Should a kiosk run Android or Windows?
Android suits single-purpose kiosks: it boots fast, runs on low-power industrial boards and has a built-in lock task mode for kiosk use. Windows suits kiosks that must run existing Windows software or drivers, and supports kiosk lockdown through Assigned Access on Pro, Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise editions. Linux is common where the integrator wants full control of the image. KioskForce kiosks run on Android-based industrial control boards.
What does the ADA require for a touch screen kiosk?
Under the 2010 ADA Standards, operable parts within accessible elements must sit within reach ranges of 15 to 48 inches above the floor (section 308), with a clear floor space of at least 30 by 48 inches (section 305) and an operating force of 5 pounds maximum (section 309). Section 707 adds speech output, tactile input and screen visibility rules for ATMs and fare machines. The Access Board began rulemaking for other self-service kiosks in 2022, and many buyers already use section 707 as the design benchmark.
How much does an interactive kiosk cost?
KioskForce publishes indicative starting prices: the K180-6C 21.5-inch locker kiosk from USD 1,800, the BG10X10 touchscreen vending machine with a 10-inch screen from USD 1,200, and the KF10X22 with a 22-inch screen from USD 2,100. Prices are before freight, duties and installation. A fully custom interactive kiosk is quoted per specification.
Related reading
- Custom kiosk manufacturer: how we design and build kiosks
- Outdoor kiosks: IP, NEMA, IK ratings and sunlight readability
- Kiosk cost and types of kiosks
- Kiosk software
- Kiosk vending machines and smart lockers
- Power and compliance buying guide
- How to vet a kiosk or vending manufacturer
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