Receipt printers are made for shops, cafés, restaurants, warehouses and other businesses that need to print till receipts, order tickets or labels quickly. The category holds over 190 desktop and portable models, and the leading makers are Epson, Bixolon, Brother, Citizen and Star Micronics.
How to choose a receipt printer
Print technology. Most models in our range print thermally, so there is no ink or ribbon to replace. You will find direct thermal and thermal models, and some also offer thermal transfer, which suits labels that must last longer. A direct thermal receipt fades over time, which is worth knowing if you must keep documents for years.
Resolution. 203 DPI is the most common value in our range and is enough for text and simple barcodes. Choose 300 DPI if you plan to print a logo, small type or compact QR codes. A few models offer 180 DPI, which suits plain receipts.
Connectivity. Our range includes wired models and models that combine wired and wireless connections. A wired connection suits a fixed till position, while wireless is handy when the printer sits away from the computer or works with a tablet. Before buying, check that the printer supports your till software and operating system.
Working conditions. In a kitchen, warehouse or cooler room, look at the permitted temperature and humidity. In our range, operating temperatures often run from around -5 to 0 °C up to 40 to 50 °C, and some models go down to -15 °C. Permitted operating humidity often reaches 10 to 90%.
Paper width and cutter. Most till printers use either 58 mm or 80 mm paper: the narrower roll suits portable units, while the wider one fits more detailed receipts. An automatic cutter speeds up work at the counter, and print speed matters for kitchen order tickets.
Receipt printer brands
- Epson: known for its TM series of thermal POS printers, widely used in retail and hospitality.
- Bixolon: a South Korean maker offering POS, label and mobile printers.
- Brother: well known for label and mobile printers used in services and logistics.
- Citizen: a Japanese manufacturer known for thermal POS and portable printers.
- Star Micronics: focuses on POS printers, and its TSP series is widely recognised.
- Zebra: best known for barcode and label printers, and also makes mobile models.
- Sunmi: builds Android-based smart POS devices with integrated printers.
Also in our range: Seiko Precision, Metapace and Equip.
Frequently asked questions
How is a receipt printer different from a regular office printer?
A receipt printer prints on a narrow paper roll and usually uses thermal printing, so it needs no ink or toner. It is made for quickly printing receipts, order tickets and labels rather than A4 documents.
What resolution do I need for receipts?
203 DPI is enough for ordinary receipts. If your receipt includes a logo, small type or a compact QR code, 300 DPI is a better choice.
Does a receipt printer need ink?
A thermal receipt printer needs no ink, because the image appears when heat reacts with special paper. Thermal transfer models need a ribbon and inkjet models need cartridges. Check the print technology before you buy.
Can I print wirelessly?
Yes, our range includes models with both wired and wireless connections. Wireless is handy for a tablet-based till or a printer placed away from the computer. Check that the model works with your till software and device.
