Receipt Printers

Receipt Printers: Thermal Printing for Point of Sale Use

Receipt printers – also known as POS printers or ticket printers – print sales receipts, vouchers and kitchen orders directly at the point of sale. All models in this category use direct thermal printing: the paper reacts to heat, so ink or toner is not required. The paper width is usually 58 mm or 80 mm, with 80 mm being the more common choice for standard receipts in retail. Models with variable paper width can be used for both formats. Two factors are key when making your selection: the interface to the POS system and the print speed. One example of variable paper width and an RS232 connection is an Epson receipt printer with RS232. Models with speeds of up to 250 mm/sec cover a large proportion of typical POS applications. Those with very high receipt volumes will also find devices with speeds of up to 500 mm/sec. Most receipt printers feature an automatic cutter that cleanly separates the receipt after printing.

Connectivity: USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi

The type of connection is the first criterion you should clarify before purchasing. USB is the simplest connection and suits individual tills with a local connection. For network environments with multiple tills or centralised POS software, receipt printers with Ethernet are the right choice. If you want to remain flexible or use the printer without fixed cabling, choose a model with Wi-Fi – receipt printer Wi-Fi variants typically support 802.11b/g/n. For network environments with Ethernet connectivity, a Metapace receipt printer with Ethernet is a suitable option. Receipt printers with Bluetooth complement the range for mobile scenarios, such as outdoor hospitality or market operations. Some devices combine multiple interfaces, for example USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi in a single unit. A cash drawer port is available on many models and controls the cash drawer directly. If your POS system only supports RS232, you need to specifically look for models that include this serial interface – not all newer devices still feature RS232.

Print Quality, Print Speed and Special Features

The resolution of most receipt printers is 203 dpi (8 dots/mm), which is sufficient for plain text and barcodes on sales receipts. Some models work at 180 dpi (7 dots/mm) – for pure text receipts in everyday POS use the difference is barely noticeable, but for small QR codes or 2D barcodes, 203 dpi can offer an advantage. Epson, Star Micronics, Citizen, Bixolon and Metapace receipt printers are the most common brands in this segment and cover a wide range of requirements from basic standalone units to networked solutions – those looking for a Star Micronics receipt printer with USB, for example, will find a compact solution for single-workstation use. For hygiene-sensitive environments such as bakeries or canteens, devices with disinfectable housings are available. A receipt printer is not, however, a label printer: anyone who wants to print product or shipping labels in variable sizes will need a separate label printer. Likewise, a receipt printer is not suitable if you want to output high-resolution graphics or photos on paper – direct thermal technology is not designed for this purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions About Receipt Printers

What is a receipt printer?

A receipt printer is a compact printing device that outputs sales receipts and vouchers at the point of sale. It almost always uses direct thermal printing and therefore requires neither ink nor toner. Receipt printers are connected to POS systems – via USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

How does a receipt printer work?

A receipt printer uses thermal paper that darkens through targeted heat at the print line. The print head heats individual dots on the paper surface without transferring any ink. The paper passes through the device and an automatic cutter separates the finished receipt.

Is a thermal printer a good choice?

For day-to-day POS operation, a thermal printer is the practical choice because ink and toner are not required and maintenance remains minimal. Those who need to archive receipts long-term should note that thermal paper is sensitive to light and heat and can fade over the years. For archiving purposes, digital copies or a different printing method are therefore more suitable.