Thermal receipt printers are tissue box-sized printers that produce hardcopy receipts for sales transactions. The best ones should be durable, integrate with a wide range of point-of-sale (POS) systems, and print fast enough to keep up with your transaction volume. Pricing for a solid thermal printer averages around $350.
Based on our evaluations, the best thermal printers for small businesses are:
- Star Micronics TSP143IV: Best overall thermal receipt printer for retail and restaurants
- Epson TM-T88VII Omnilink: Best high-speed thermal receipt printer for retail, restaurants, groceries, and pharmacies
- Star Micronics mC-Print3: Best thermal printer for bars and coffee shops
- Square Terminal: Best mobile thermal receipt printer for service businesses, retail, and off-site selling
- Best Thermal Receipt Printers Compared
- Star Micronics TSP143IV: Best Overall Thermal Receipt Printer
- Epson TM-T88VII: Best High-speed Thermal Receipt Printer
- Star Micronics mC-Print3: Best Receipt Printer for Bars
- Square Terminal: Best Mobile Thermal Receipt Printer
- How to Choose a Thermal Receipt Printer
- Thermal Receipt Printers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Bottom Line
Best Thermal Receipt Printers Compared
| Price* | Print speed | Printer dimensions | Warranty length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $264.83 | 250 mm/s | Width: 140 mmDepth: 169 mmHeight: 123 mm | 2 years extendable with options to extend or swap |
| Check out Star Micronics TSP143IV | ||||
 | $359.99 | 500 mm/s | Width: 145 mmDepth: 195 mmHeight: 148 mm | 4 years (limited) |
| Check out Epson TM-T88VII | ||||
 | $498.50 | 250 mm/s | Width: 132 mmDepth: 140 mmHeight: 125 mm | 2 years (limited) with options to extend or swap |
| Check out Star Micronics mC-Print3 | ||||
 | $299 upfront (or $27 per month for $12 months) | 100 mm/s | Width: 86.4 mmDepth: 142.2 mmHeight: 63.5 mm | 1 year |
| Check out Square Terminal | ||||
| * Prices vary based on connection type and vendor** See individual provider sections for full list of compatible POS systems | ||||
Star Micronics TSP143IV: Best Overall Thermal Receipt Printer
Overall Score: 4.70 / 5
| RATING CRITERIA | Price | 5.00 out of 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Features | 5.00 out of 5 | ||
| Ease of Use | 4.00 out of 5 | ||
| Expert Score | 5.00 out of 5 |
Pros
- Small footprint
- Multiple connection types including Android Open Accessory (AOA)
- Powered USB connection to charge mobile POS terminals
- Digital receipt and promotions tools
Cons
- Not the highest print speed available
- User reviews are not great compared to other printers on this list
Pricing
Around $265 (depending on connection type and vendor)
Star Micronics’ TSP143IV is the fourth generation of its popular TSP 100 series printers. The previous version of this printer—the TSP143III—took the top spot in our previous ranking, and the new version is even stronger. With a 20% smaller footprint, this dependable thermal receipt printer is sleeker than its predecessor while still supporting USB connections that power POS tablets in addition to printing receipts.
The TSP143IV earned a 4.70 out of 5 on our thermal receipt printer scoring system. This printer scored well for its multiple network connection types, two-year extendable warranty, and good price given its high quality. It lost some ground with its print speed which, while decent, is not the fastest possible. The Star Micronics TSP143IV has fairly good user reviews online, though other printers on this list—such as the Epson TM-T88VII—scored more highly. The Epson printer also prints more quickly, so if you need faster speeds for high-volume printing, you’ll be better served by the Epson device.
Check out Star Micronics TSP143IV
Epson TM-T88VII: Best High-speed Thermal Receipt Printer
Overall Score: 4.43 / 5
| RATING CRITERIA | Price | 2.50 out of 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Features | 5.00 out of 5 | ||
| Ease of Use | 4.75 out of 5 | ||
| Expert Score | 5.00 out of 5 |
Pros
- 500 mm/s print speed is the fastest available
- Variable simultaneous connections allow you to print from a multitude of devices
- 4-year warranty
Cons
- Can be expensive
- When buying from a reseller, can be hard to tell what model you're getting
- Larger than many other thermal printers
Pricing
Around $360 (depending on connection type and vendor)
The Epson TM-T88VII is the latest model of Epson’s ubiquitous TM-T88V printer. The T88 has been one of the most popular receipt printers for more than a decade. These printers are absolute workhorses and offer the fastest available printing speed, making them great for high-volume businesses. They also integrate directly with tons of POS systems (see full list below).
This printer earned a 4.43 out of 5 on our thermal receipt printer ranking. It got high marks for its connectivity options; the TM-T88VII connects via ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi (via a wireless USB dongle).
The TM-T88VII’s biggest drawback is the price (although the mC-Print3 below is even pricier). While it is possible to get a TM-T88VII for around $360, the price was previously over $500, and some resellers may still charge high prices. You’ll be tempted to look for deals or buy used, but be careful—various versions of the T88 have been around for so long, sellers on third-party sites like eBay can mistakenly list their T88 printers as the latest version when they are not. And not every T88 has every connection type; you’ll need to double-check that the printer you’re buying has the connection type you need.
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Did you know?
When looking at thermal printers, you’ll frequently run across the phrase “Epson emulation.” This term simply means that a printer has been built to speak the same printer “language” as an Epson printer. The Epson T88 series printers’ ubiquity makes them the printers that so many competitors try to emulate, and the one that most POS software developers program for.
Star Micronics mC-Print3: Best Receipt Printer for Bars
Overall Score: 4.20 / 5
| RATING CRITERIA | Price | 2.50 out of 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Features | 4.50 out of 5 | ||
| Ease of Use | 4.50 out of 5 | ||
| Expert Score | 5.00 out of 5 |
Pros
- Front-loading design withstands splashes and spills
- Compact size is great in small spaces
- Can connect via USB, Lightning, Bluetooth, WLAN, and via the cloud through CloudPRNT and WebPRNT functions
Cons
- Frontloading printer paper can be tricky
- Auto cutter has a shorter life span than competitors
- The most expensive printer on this list
Pricing
Around $498.50 (depending on connection type and vendor)
The Star Micronics mC-Print3 is a compact, front-loading thermal receipt printer. This petite, cube-shaped printer is a little over 5 inches square, making it easy to squeeze into tight cash wraps and server stations. The front-loading design may be a little tricky to load, but it protects the print head from spills and helps your receipts print flat with no curling. These features make the printer an excellent choice for busy bars needing sleek hardware that can withstand splashes and spills.
This compact printer earned a rating of 4.20 out of 5 on our thermal receipt printer ranking system. The mC-Print3 scored well for POS compatibility and a variety of connection types. It lost points for some less favorable customer reviews and a less durable auto cutter than competitors.
For example, the mC-Print3’s sibling printer, the TSP143IV, is rated for 2 million cuts, but Star Micronics doesn’t disclose the mC-Print3’s cutter life span, which doesn’t instill confidence. While other printers on this list, like the Epson TM-T88VII, average 4.5 to 4.7 in online customer reviews, the mC-Print3’s average user rating comes in lower at 4.1 on sites like Amazon.
Check out Star Micronics mC-Print3
Square Terminal: Best Mobile Thermal Receipt Printer
Overall Score: 3.36 / 5
| RATING CRITERIA | Price | 5.00 out of 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Features | 1.25 out of 5 | ||
| Ease of Use | 3.50 out of 5 | ||
| Expert Score | 4.69 out of 5 |
Pros
- All-day battery life
- Fully mobile and Wi-Fi-enabled
- Connects to USB devices like cash drawers via a peripheral hub
- Purchasable with low monthly payments
Cons
- Slower print speeds and smaller paper rolls than other options on this list
- Warranty is only 1 year
- Only uses Square Terminal printer paper (57.5 mm width)
Pricing
$299 upfront (or $27 per month for $12 months)
The Square Terminal is not a traditional thermal printer; instead, it is a handheld POS terminal and card reader with an integrated receipt printer. It is fully mobile, operates via Wi-Fi, and has a battery that stays charged all day. This printer and terminal combo is a terrific fit for solopreneur service businesses that need to process payments in the field, mobile businesses that sell at traveling markets, and food trucks. It is also a great fit for retailers and restaurants that want to process sales and payments on the shop floor.
This device earned a 3.36 out of 5.00 in our evaluation, with a perfect score for price at just under $300 and offering an easy monthly payment plan. It lost some points for only operating with Square POS systems, while the competitors on this list integrate with a slew of systems. Additionally, it is not the fastest printer and only comes with a one-year warranty (competitors Star Micronics and Epson offer two years or more).
How to Choose a Thermal Receipt Printer
When choosing the best printer for your business, it might be tempting to just pick the device with the fastest printing speed or the most flexible connectivity. If these are your only criteria, though, you might end up with a device that’s overbuilt for your needs. Most printers cost several hundred dollars, and you could easily go above your budget if you’re not careful. You need to take other factors into account as well when choosing a thermal receipt printer.
Printing Speed
While higher printing speeds are good, you don’t want to end up with something excessively fast, as it would also likely be excessively expensive. Use your POS system to get an idea of the number of transactions you process per day and work with your staff to assess how long each transaction takes. This information can help you choose a printer with the appropriate speed. In general, high-volume businesses like busy restaurants will want faster printers, while smaller shops could get by with slower ones.
Connectivity
Different thermal printers will have different options for connectivity; as an example, the Square Terminal can only connect via Wi-Fi, while Star Micronics printers offer a whole slew of options including USB, Bluetooth, and printing via local or cloud-based server. Thus, the type of POS system you are using, as well as your actual or desired level of sales mobility, need to factor into your choice of printer.
Media Type & Size
Besides knowing what you need to print—receipts, labels, cards, price tags—you’ll also need to be certain of the print size you need. Thermal printers can usually only print within a fairly narrow range of widths, so you’ll need to be clear about whether the printer you’re considering can deliver what you need. For example, the Square Terminal uses its own smaller printer paper which you’ll need to buy from Square.
Physical Dimensions & Durability
It’s easy enough to figure out how much physical space in your store you can allocate for a printer, but you also need to consider durability. A receipt printer placed on the counter of a quick-service restaurant will need some resistance against liquid splashes and food spills, and printers that are crammed into small spaces, surrounded by other equipment, or churning out receipts all day will need to be able to tolerate heat buildup.
Customer Support
Finally, consider customer support availability when choosing a thermal receipt printer. This is important if you need to process transactions quickly for lots of customers, or if you only have one printer in your shop; in these cases, a device breakdown or malfunction without speedy customer support to get it fixed could tank your sales for the day, not to mention lead to impatient or irritated customers.
Methodology—How We Evaluated Thermal Receipt Printers
We compared a dozen popular and emerging thermal receipt printers based on qualities important to small shop and restaurant owners. We weighed the price, general features, and ease of use for each printer. We also considered our retail and restaurant experts’ opinions of each hardware option and any special use cases (like full mobility) that support different business types. Using the above criteria, the Star Micronics TSP143IV emerged as the best thermal receipt printer. This printer received the highest overall score according to our ranking system (4.70 out of 5). Based on our personal experience working in and with small businesses that use thermal receipt printers every day, the Star Micronics TSP143IV is also the top printer we personally recommend. Click through the boxes below for our full evaluation criteria:
Many small businesses will need to purchase several thermal receipt printers, so we looked for printers priced below $500 each. We awarded the highest marks to printers priced below $300.
We considered each printer’s print speed, connection types, and available POS integrations. We looked specifically for printers that can act as a power hub for mobile POS terminals. We also looked for features like auto cutters with a long life span and de-curl functions.
We looked at each printer’s user reviews across different platforms. We also looked for manufacturer’s warranties and awarded the highest scores to printers with warranties beyond one year. We considered the number of different network connection types each printer supports and looked for printers with a small footprint to streamline your POS setup.
Finally, we relied on our experts’ experiences with these printers and their evaluation of any standout features. We considered each printer’s popularity among small retail and restaurant businesses. We also considered whether each printer offered good overall value for its price.
Thermal Receipt Printers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A thermal printer is just a printer that uses precise heat application, rather than ink ribbons or cartridges, to create text or images on paper. Thermal printers work by either applying heat directly to a media base such as receipt paper (direct thermal printing) or heating ink or colored resin or wax and then depositing that onto the media base (thermal transfer printing).
Yes. Direct thermal printers are popular for printing receipts because they do not require ink cartridges for printing, eliminating a potentially large and continuous business expense. This lack of a need for ink makes thermal printers cost-effective for high-volume printing tasks like receipts for busy shops and restaurants.
Direct thermal receipt printers and only print text or images in grayscale on heat-sensitive paper. Because of this, their color options are limited. Thermal transfer printers can print in color; various types can print different numbers of colors. These printers tend to be used for special tasks like printing on fabric or plastic films, rather than printing basic receipts.
Bottom Line
When it comes to thermal receipt printers, it’s hard to find a bad one. But if you’re looking for the best thermal receipt printer available, you should try the Star Micronics TSP143IV. This printer combines an accessible price and respectable print speed with a durable print head and long-lived auto cutter.
The real ace up this printer’s sleeves are the CloudPRNT and PromoPRNT settings that allow you to print receipts and coupons directly from cloud-based applications like online ordering apps. To see if the TSP143IV is the right printer for your shop or restaurant, explore the printer for yourself.
Check out Star Micronics TSP143IV
