10 Food Truck Design Ideas

Coming up with a great design is essential when starting a food truck. From the exterior images to the interior layout, every detail plays an important role in the success of a mobile eatery. To make the planning stage a bit easier, this guide outlines 10 food truck design ideas that’ll help you combine functionality and aesthetics so that your new business thrives.

Appropriate Size

When exploring food truck design ideas, one of the most important factors to consider is the size that best suits your needs. The average food truck length ranges from 14 to 20 feet, with 14 feet being ideal for smaller ventures and 20 feet more suited for established businesses. It’s also important to consider the height and weight: you don’t want to get stuck at a low overpass or be rerouted due to weight limits. By carefully considering these dimensions, you’ll ensure your food truck is both functional and well-suited to your business goals.

Service Window

The size, placement and style of your food truck’s window requires careful thought. Although having one window for ordering and another for pickup can streamline operations, a larger window that gives a view of the kitchen’s organization and cleanliness can build trust with diners. In regards to style, consider sliding vs. hinged options, as well as the weight: the last thing you want is a service window that’s awkward for you to open or close.

Exterior Design

Your food truck’s exterior design plays a vital role in your business’s marketing strategy. To attract as much attention–and as many customers–as possible, be sure to use eye-catching graphics and interesting colors to make your mobile eatery stand out from the rest. Although you can always paint on the images, a custom-printed vinyl food truck wrap is not only faster but also makes it easier to change the design in the future if you wish.

Important Text

In addition to attention-getting visuals, don’t forget to include important information on the exterior, such as your business name, social media accounts, phone number and tagline. When designing the text, make sure that the letters are big enough to read from a distance and that the color stands out against the background. Also, be mindful of where you place your text: if you put it on the window cover or access door, customers might not be able to see it once they’re propped open.

Interior Layout

While the exterior design is important for drawing in customers, the kitchen layout is crucial for satisfying them with good food and quick service. Since food trucks have to do a lot in a small space, a FoodPark.io article recommends utilizing vertical storage space to free up countertops, as well as placing cooktops, refrigerators and sinks in a “work triangle” so that staff members can transition between tasks quickly. Safety is important, so remember to include non-slip floors and good ventilation to minimize hazards related to dangerous falls and excessive heat, too.

Shade Awnings

If your food truck business is in an area with a lot of hot and sunny weather, consider putting an awning on your mobile eatery. Shading the area around the order and/or pickup window will not only protect customers from UV light but also keep kitchen temperatures lower, increasing customer satisfaction and lowering energy bills. Even though awnings are usually more functional than decorative, make sure yours have the same color scheme or graphic images as the rest of your truck’s exterior so that they blend together seamlessly. 

Menu Board

No list of food truck design ideas would be complete without mentioning menu boards. When creating your main marketing tool, use legible fonts and contrasting colors so that it’s easy to read, as well as include short descriptions and allergy information so people know exactly what they’re ordering. Considering how a small change in sales can greatly impact revenue, it’s a good idea to put your food truck’s most profitable menu items near the top where customers’ eyes naturally gravitate–this alone is sure to coax more people to order those items.

Branded Items

Even though designing the truck itself is important, don’t forget about small, everyday items. Customers see and use things like food packaging, paper menus and plastic bags whenever they buy from you, making these items great opportunities to reinforce your brand. So, be sure they feature your business name, contact information, color scheme and logo so that your business sticks in their mind, increasing the likelihood they’ll pay you another visit.

Lighting Systems

According to custom food truck manufacturer Legion Food Trucks, choosing the right lighting solutions can improve both efficiency and aesthetics. LED lights help prevent the interior space from overheating and tube bulbs reduce energy consumption, maintaining comfort levels and lowering utility costs. Exterior lights have a big impact on setting the mood, so go with string or colored lights to create an upbeat feeling or opt for dim sconces for a more elegant ambience.

Sound System

Although it’s not an essential part of standard food truck design, adding a good sound system has a lot of benefits. Besides giving staff members a bit of background noise, the right type of music, such as bachata instrumentals at a Dominican truck or Andean flute for a Peruvian one, can go a long way in creating an ambience that complements the food. Even if you don’t play music, a speaker system for letting people know when their orders are ready can reduce wait times and streamline business operations.