Blog / Installation
Indoor vs. Outdoor Grease Traps: Which One Does Your Restaurant Need?
When you are opening a new restaurant or replacing an existing grease trap, the first major decision is indoor versus outdoor. They do the same job — separate FOG from wastewater — but they differ significantly in size, cost, maintenance, and which kitchens they work best for. Here is a straightforward comparison.
Indoor Grease Traps
Indoor traps are smaller units installed under or near the kitchen sink, typically ranging from 20 to 100 gallons. They are the more common option for smaller restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and food trucks operating out of commissary kitchens.
Indoor Trap Profile
- Capacity: 20-100 gallons
- Location: Under sink, in cabinet, or adjacent to kitchen fixtures
- Installation cost: $500-$2,000 including labor
- Pumping frequency: Every 2-8 weeks depending on kitchen volume
- Best for: Cafes, bakeries, small restaurants, food truck commissaries
- Drawback: Limited capacity — high-volume kitchens outgrow them quickly
Outdoor Grease Interceptors
Outdoor interceptors are large underground units buried outside the building, ranging from 500 to 2,000+ gallons. They handle much higher grease volumes and are required for larger restaurants, multi-kitchen facilities, and any operation producing significant FOG.
Outdoor Interceptor Profile
- Capacity: 500-2,000+ gallons
- Location: Buried underground outside the building
- Installation cost: $3,000-$10,000+ including excavation
- Pumping frequency: Every 4-12 weeks depending on volume
- Best for: Full-service restaurants, high-volume kitchens, multi-tenant food halls
- Drawback: Expensive to install, requires excavation, Ohio freeze-thaw can damage concrete units
How to Decide
The decision usually comes down to three factors:
- Kitchen volume. If your kitchen produces more grease than a 100-gallon indoor trap can handle between pump-outs, you need an outdoor interceptor.
- Available space. Some Twinsburg restaurant spaces — especially older buildings on Darrow Road — do not have room for an indoor trap that is large enough. Others lack outdoor space for excavation.
- Budget and timeline. Indoor traps are faster and cheaper to install. If you are on a tight opening timeline, an indoor trap gets you operational sooner.
For detailed sizing guidance, see our FAQ on what size grease trap you need. We also offer free on-site assessments for new restaurants and restaurants considering a replacement. Learn more about our installation services.
Twinsburg Area Considerations
Ohio's freeze-thaw cycles are hard on outdoor concrete interceptors. Cracks develop over time, allowing groundwater infiltration and grease leakage. If you are installing an outdoor interceptor in the Twinsburg area, fiberglass or polyethylene units last longer than concrete in this climate. For existing concrete interceptors, regular inspection and repair catches cracks before they become expensive problems.