Catering Trolley Guide: Serving Cart vs Clearing Trolley vs GN Rack vs Platform
Quick answerChoose by the job. A serving trolley (2 or 3 tier) is the all-rounder for plating, stock and moving equipment. A bowl-collecting cart is narrow enough to clear between occupied tables. A gastronorm (GN) pan trolley holds full-size 1/1 pans on runners to move prepped food between fridge, bench and service. A platform trolley carries crates, sacks and tall loads that won't fit between shelves.
Which trolley do you need?
1. What will it carry most of the time?
2. Where will it be used?
3. How many separate jobs should it handle at once?
2 Tier Serving Trolley
The standard restaurant cart: two shelves, 810 x 460mm, round tube frame with no sharp corners. £79.80
View trolley
3 Tier Serving Trolley
Three shelves on a rigid square tube frame, 950 x 500mm: a mobile station in one trip. £69.54
View trolleyBowl Collecting Cart
750 x 400mm, narrow enough to pass between occupied tables, at 835mm bench height. £52.44
View cartGN Pan Trolley
Slide-in runners for 1/1 gastronorm pans. Choose 6, 15 or 30 pans below.
Compare GN trolleysPlatform Trolley 900mm
One open 900 x 550mm deck in heavier 1.2mm stainless, for tall and awkward loads. £116.28
View trolleyEvery trolley compared
| Trolley | Size (W x D x H) | Shelves | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serving trolley 2 tier | 810 x 460 x 850mm | 2 | Plating, clearing, stock, equipment | £79.80 |
| Serving trolley 3 tier | 950 x 500 x 950mm | 3 | Mobile stations, banqueting | £69.54 |
| Bowl collecting cart | 750 x 400 x 835mm | 2 | Clearing between tables | £52.44 |
| Platform trolley | 900 x 550mm deck | Flat deck | Deliveries, crates, tall loads | £116.28 |
| GN trolley 6 x 1/1 | 380 x 550 x 1000mm | 6 runners | Under-counter pan storage | £112.86 |
| GN trolley 15 x 1/1 | 380 x 550 x 1735mm | 15 runners | Walk-in fridges, batch prep | £107.16 |
| GN trolley 30 x 1/1 | 550 x 740 x 1740mm | 2 x 15 runners | Production kitchens, banqueting | £205.20 |
Prices correct at time of writing.
Choosing a GN pan trolley
- 6 x 1/1 (1000mm high): short enough to live under a standard 900mm counter and roll out when you need it.
- 15 x 1/1 (1735mm high): a full production run in a 380mm-wide footprint. Load it in prep, wheel it into the walk-in, wheel it out at service.
- 30 x 1/1 double column: replaces two full-height racks with one, for production kitchens and banqueting.
All take standard full-size 1/1 gastronorm pans on slide-in runners, so you can reach any pan without unstacking the ones above it. Measure your walk-in door and the height under your counters before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What is a gastronorm trolley?
A mobile rack with runners sized for standard gastronorm pans, used to store and move prepped food between the fridge, prep bench and service.
Will a serving trolley fit through a standard door?
The 2 tier 810 x 460mm trolley is designed as the standard restaurant size and fits through a standard doorway.
2 tier or 3 tier serving trolley?
2 tier is lighter and narrower for general use. 3 tier lets one trolley do three jobs at once, such as crockery, cutlery and waste.
How do I clean a stainless steel trolley?
Wipe down with standard kitchen sanitiser, rinse and dry. Check and clean the castors regularly so they keep rolling smoothly.
Keep your kitchen moving
Stainless steel serving carts, clearing trolleys, GN racks and platform trolleys with next-day UK delivery. Call 0121 769 3436 for trade pricing.
Shop Trolleys & Carts