How Much Do Vending Machines Make in Australia? Real Numbers
Real Australian revenue figures by site type plus the levers that actually move the number.
14 February 2026 · 8 min read · Reviewed and updated 13 September 2026
Weekly gross by site type (AU averages 2026) - Small office (20–35): **$120–$220** - Medium office (40–80): **$250–$450** - 24hr gym: **$300–$700** - Factory (2-shift): **$400–$650** - Hospital ward: **$500–$1,100** - Apartment lobby: **$150–$300** - University: **$600–$1,400**
The levers 1. Cashless (20–40% uplift) 2. Data-driven product mix (+15–25%) 3. Price ladders beat flat pricing 4. Placement (hallway > break-room corner) 5. Uptime — dead rows cost weekly averages
The variables that actually move the number
Anyone quoting a single national average is guessing. Weekly takings on the same machine swing on four things: the number of people who pass it, how long the site is open, whether it takes cards, and how well the planogram matches the audience.
Indicative pattern we see across Australian sites:
- Access hours matter more than headcount. A 24-hour gym with 300 members can out-earn a 60-person nine-to-five office.
- Cashless lifts the total, because a large share of Australians carry no coins at all.
- Regional industrial sites hold up well — Newcastle, Geelong, Gladstone, Mackay, the Latrobe Valley — because shift work spreads demand across the clock.
- Cost of goods runs around 45–50% of gross for a typical snack and drink mix, before commission, freight or finance.
Building an honest forecast
Take your expected weekly gross, subtract cost of goods, subtract any site commission, subtract servicing time at a realistic hourly rate, then subtract finance if applicable. What is left is the number to judge the site on. If it does not cover a half-hour drive each way plus stock, it is not a site — it is a hobby.
Cross-check your assumptions against the ownership guide and power costs.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does one vending machine make per week in Australia?
- It depends almost entirely on the site. A well-placed machine on a 20 to 40 person workplace or a busy gym earns materially more than the same machine in low-traffic retail, and cost of goods typically consumes 45 to 50% of gross.
- Is a vending machine business profitable in Australia?
- It can be, but the profit sits in the site and the route density, not the machine. Several machines close together beat one machine an hour's drive away.
- What is a realistic payback period?
- Seven to ten months on a strong site with a refurbished machine is a common outcome. New machines on the same site take longer to pay back but cost less to run and repair.