GUIDE · HARDWARE
A receipt printer is a small purchase that you will use hundreds of times a day. Choosing the right paper width and connection saves money on paper, time at the counter, and arguments about faded bills.
Thermal receipt printers do not use ink. The paper is coated with a layer that darkens when heated, and the print head heats tiny dots to form text. That makes them fast, quiet, and cheap to run — the only consumable is the paper roll.
The trade-off is that thermal print fades over time, especially in heat and sunlight. For anything a customer must keep for months, such as a warranty bill, consider an A4 copy as well.
The 58 mm roll is the narrow size used by many portable and small counter printers. It typically fits around 32 characters on a line at normal size, which is enough for short item names, quantity, rate, and amount.
The 80 mm roll is the standard width for supermarket-style counters. It usually fits around 42 to 48 characters per line, so item names, columns, and totals are easier to read, and a logo prints at a sensible size.
A USB printer connected to the counter computer is the most reliable choice for a fixed counter. Bluetooth printers pair with a phone or tablet and suit mobile billing or small spaces. Network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) printers can be shared by several devices.
Before buying, confirm that your billing software can print to that connection type from the device you actually use. Printing from a phone usually goes through Android’s print screen or a Bluetooth link, while a computer can send directly to a USB receipt printer.
Very cheap rolls often print light grey and fade within weeks. Buy paper from a consistent supplier, store rolls away from heat, and check that the roll diameter fits your printer. If customers complain that bills are hard to read, the paper is usually the cause, not the printer.
Business customers, wholesale orders, and anything involving tax or warranty usually deserve an A4 invoice with your shop’s name, address, and terms. Many shops use both: a slip for walk-in customers and an A4 invoice, or an invoice on pre-printed letterhead, for larger orders.
Good billing software lets you choose the format on each bill, so you do not need two systems.
If most of your bills have fewer than ten short items and you value low running cost, a 58 mm printer is enough. If your bills are long, your item names are detailed, or you want a cleaner look at the counter, choose 80 mm. Either way, test one real bill from your own software before buying ten rolls of paper.