4 Best Thermal Receipt Printers for 2023
Meaghan has provided content and guidance for indie retailers as the editor for a number of retail publications and a speaker at trade shows. She is Fit Small Business’s authority on retail and ecommerce.
With more than a decade of hospitality experience, Mary has worked in some of the most celebrated restaurants in the world. Her expertise is featured across Fit Small Business in restaurant, retail, and starting a business content.
This article is part of a larger series on POS Systems.
Thermal receipt printers are tissue box-sized printers that connect to a cash register or point-of-sale (POS) system and print hardcopy receipts for sales transactions. Thermal receipt printers are the most common in small businesses because they print using heat on thermosensitive paper rather than expensive ink cartridges. Pricing for a solid thermal printer averages around $350. You can purchase them directly from retailers or via your POS system supplier.
Based on our evaluations, the best thermal printers 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
Price* | Print Speed | Connection Type | Warranty Length | Compatible POS Systems** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $288–$399 | 250 mm/s | AOA (Android Open Accessory), USB, USB -A, USB-C, LAN, WLAN, CloudPRNT | 2 years | Square, Lightspeed, TouchBistro, WineDirect, and more |
 | $355–$500 | 500 mm/s | USB, Ethernet, Serial, Powered USB, Wi-Fi | 4 years | Lightspeed, Revel, TouchBistro,Lavu, MICROS, and more |
 | $295–$365 | 250 mm/s | USB, USB-A, USB-C Bluetooth, WLAN, Ethernet, CloudPRNT | 2 years | Square, Lightspeed, TouchBistro, WineDirect, and more |
 | $299 (or 12 monthly payments of $27) | 100 mm/s | Wi-Fi | 1 year | Square POS, Square for Retail, Square for Restaurant |
*Prices vary based on connection type and vendor
**See individual provider sections for full list of compatible POS systems
Looking for more hardware? Check out our rankings of the best barcode label printers, best self-service kiosks, and best kitchen display systems for more options.
Star Micronics TSP143IV: Best Overall Thermal Receipt Printer
Star Micronics TSP143IV
Overall Score:
4.45 / 5
What We Like
- Small footprint
- Multiple connection types include Android Open Accessory (AOA)
- Powered USB connection to charge mobile POS terminals
- Digital receipt and promotions tools
What's Missing
- Not the highest print speed available
- Slightly lower user review ratings
Star Micronics TSP143IV Pricing
$288–$399 (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 powered USB connections to power POS tablets in addition to printing receipts.
The TSP143IV earned a 4.45 out of 5 on our thermal receipt printer scoring system. This printer scored well for its combination of print speed, multiple network connection types, warranty, and reasonable price. It lost some ground with user reviews, though. The Star Micronics TSP143IV averages 4.4 out of 5 on sites like Amazon. Other printers on this list—the Epson TM-T88VII—earned ratings above 4.5.
And while 250 mm per second is an excellent print speed, it is not the highest speed on this list; the Epson TM-T88VII eclipses it at 500 mm per second. So if you need speed for high-volume printing, you’ll be better served by the Epson offering.
Since our last update:
Star Micronics expanded our former top-rated printer, the TSP143II, by:
- Adding Android Open Accessory compatibility. This allows any Android tablet or mobile device to communicate with the printer while simultaneously charging.
- Supporting dual-band wireless connectivity, so the printer can use a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, depending on your business configuration.
Star Micronics TSP143IV Standout Features
- Easy setup
The TSP143IV has a “Push n’ Connect” button to find your POS network quickly. It also features an extra USB connector to power tablets and other mobile devices in a mobile POS setup. - CloudPRNT and PromoPRNT features
In addition to accepting print tasks from dozens of POS systems, your Star Micronics printer can accept print commands from cloud servers like third-party online ordering sites via Star Micronics’ CloudPRNT feature. When utilized, the AllReceipts function prints a QR code at the bottom of customer receipts. The accompanying PromoPRNT function allows you to create printable coupons and promotions in Star Micronics cloud platform and print directly to your TSP143IV. - Futureproof connectivity
With a slew of connection options—including cloud server connections to accept online orders from third-party platforms—this printer will be compatible with any software or hardware you can imagine using for retail or restaurants. - Two-year warranty
Star Micronics offers a two-year limited warranty on the TSP143IV. - Mass-compatibility
The TSP143IV is the higher-speed version of the popular Star Micronics TSP100 printer. Any POS system that lists the TSP100 as a compatible printer will work with the TSP143IV. This Star Micronics printer integrates with hundreds of popular retail and restaurant POS systems like Square, Lightspeed, TouchBistro, WineDirect, Vend, and many more (see full list below). The TSP143IV also integrates with online ordering platforms DoorDash, Grubhub, and UberEATS and reservation systems like SevenRooms and Tock.
Compatible POS Systems
- Acadia POS
- AccuPOS
- Accuvia Software Group
- Agiliron
- Agility
- Appetize
- Auto-Star
- Bindo POS
- Blaze
- Books POS
- Biztracker
- Budge
- Camaleon
- CashierLive
- CardFlight
- Celerant
- Cervelle
- Cleancloud
- CloudPOS
- Cohub
- connectPOS
- eMobilePOS
- eastOS
- Ebizmarts POS
- ECRS
- Erply
- eHopper
- RPAPOS
- Givex
- GreenBits
- Heartland
- Helios
- Hike
- Lightspeed
- Mojo POS
- Modisoft POS
- On the FLy POS
- NuShop POS
- Orocube
- Paladin
- ParsePay POS
- POSitive Software
- PopScrap
- Partake
- Poster
- QuidPOS
- PredictSpring
- Retailcloud
- Reji
- Rain Retail
- Retail Edge
- Revel Systems
- SalesVu
- Rhombus POS
- ScrapRight
- Scribble
- Sitoo
- Shoptree
- Shopify
- Softmogul
- SkyPOS
- SlimCD
- Springboard Retail
- Square
- SplitAbility
- Sudzy
- TallySoft
- Slatwall
- The General Store
- Tillpoint
- TouchBistro
- Tray
- Figure
- Vend
- Veras Retail
- Yodo
- YayValet
- Zuna
- Zuza
Check out Star Micronics TSP143IV
Epson TM-T88VII: Best High-speed Thermal Receipt Printer
Epson TM-T88VII
Overall Score:
4.43 / 5
What We Like
- 500 mm/s print speed is the fastest available
- Variable simultaneous connections allow you to print from a multitude of devices
- 4-year warranty
What's Missing
- Pricey
- When buying from a reseller, can be hard to tell what model you’re getting
Epson TM-T88VII Pricing
$355–$500 (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 speed, making them great for high-volume settings. They also integrate directly with tons of POS systems (see full list below).
The TM-T88VII earned a 4.43 out of 5 on our thermal receipt printer ranking. The printer earned high marks for its connectivity options; the TM-T88VII connects via ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi (via a wireless USB dongle). The printer also scores well with customers; average customer ratings range from 4.5 to 4.7 out of 5 on Google and Amazon.
The biggest drawback of this printer is the price. Brand-new TM-T88VII’s will run you around $400, the highest price on this list. You’ll be tempted to look for deals or buy used, but be careful—because various versions of the T88 have been around for so long, sellers on third-party sites like eBay can easily 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.
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.
Epson TM-T88VII Standout Features
- Superfast print speed
The TM-T88VII prints at an astounding 500 millimeters per second. This may be more than a small coffee shop needs, but it can be a lifesaver in a busy grocery store or high-volume bar. - Customizable connections
The T88VII’s multiple connection options support locally installed and cloud-based POS systems, mobile devices, and cloud servers. You can also print from web-based applications using Epson’s ePOS Print platform. Ghost kitchens and cloud kitchens can configure Server Direct Printing for online ordering tickets to print directly from the cloud to their kitchen. - Simultaneous connections
The TM-T88VII Omnilink can use multiple connection interfaces simultaneously. This means you can print from a USB-connected POS, Wi-Fi-connected mobile tablets, or cloud servers from the same printer. The TM-T88VII is the only printer on this list that supports simultaneous connections of different connection types. Like the two Star Micronics printers on this list, the TM-T88VII lets you print tickets and receipts directly from a web server without going through your POS. This is an excellent feature for ghost kitchens or shops that receive a lot of ecommerce orders. - Four-year warranty
Epson designed this printer for durability, which shows in the four-year manufacturer’s warranty. With the rugged design and long-lived auto cutter and print head, you’re unlikely to experience any issues for a couple of years. So the four-year warranty ensures that you’ll have coverage if something goes wrong years after your purchase. - Variable language settings
In addition to standard English characters, the Epson TM-T88VII includes 18 international characters and supports Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Korean characters.
Compatible POS Systems
- Agilysys
- All Point POS
- Appogee
- Aptos
- Blue POS
- Tavlo POS
- Crisp POS
- DigiPOS
- Cuboh
- Dine Direct
- Dining Tek
- Drive POS
- ECR
- Elavon
- Emagine POS
- Epicore
- Evergreen POS
- Focus POS
- FoodTec
- Gilbarco
- Heartland
- ICS
- Infor Restaurant Systems
- International POS
- IPos
- Katalyst
- Lavu
- Leapset
- Leebro
- Tekserve POS
- Lightspeed
- Linga
- MICROS
- Mojo POS
- Mobivity
- Nailsolution
- Netaphor
- Oracle
- OrderCounter
- Orderspot
- Ordermark
- Oregon POS
- PAR Technology
- Partner Tech
- Pathfinder
- Payfirst
- Payroc
- Performance POS
- Pinnacle Hospitality Systems
- Pittsburgh POS
- POSitouch
- POSLABS
- POS Plus
- Postec
- Reji
- ReSource POS
- Revel Systems
- Revention/ HungerRush
- Rpower POS
- Shift4
- SmartTab
- SnackPass
- Speedline
- SRS Pharmacy systems
- Talech
- First Data POS
- Toast
- Touch Dynamic
- TRUFL
- Vend
Star Micronics mC-Print3: Best Receipt Printer for Bars
Star Micronics mC-Print3
Overall Score:
4.20 / 5
What We Like
- Front-loading design withstands splashes and spills
- Compact size is great in small spaces
- Can connect via USB, Lightning, Bluetooth, LAN, and via the cloud through CloudPRNT and WebPRNT functions
What's Missing
- Frontloading printer paper can be tricky
- Auto cutter has a shorter life span than competitors
Star Micronics mC-Print3 Pricing
$295–$365 (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 that need 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.
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 others on this list like the Epson TM-T88VI average 4.5 to 4.7 in online customer reviews, the mC-Print3’s average user rating comes in lower at 4.4 on sites like Amazon.
Star Micronics mC-Print3 Standout Features
- Streamlined peripherals
The mC-Print3 is one part of Star Micronics mCollection—a set of compact POS products. These printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers, POS stands, and scales all have multiple connection options and a streamlined design that strives to be flexible to meet future POS needs. - CloudPRNT/ WebPRNT
Star Micronics CloudPRNT and WebPRNT features allow you to print tickets and receipts directly from the cloud or web-based applications. This feature is great for printing orders directly from an online ordering platform or ecommerce sites. Using these tools requires a strong, stable internet connection, though. - All connections included
Where printers like the Epson TM-T88 make you choose your connection type when you purchase each printer, the mC-Print3 includes all five connection types in each printer. So your mC-Print3 will grow with your business as you change POS partners or your business grows.
Compatible POS Systems
- Acadia POS
- AccuPOS
- Accuvia Software Group
- Agiliron
- Agility
- Appetize
- Auto-Star
- Bindo POS
- Blaze
- Books POS
- Biztracker
- Budge
- Camaleon
- CashierLive
- CardFlight
- Celerant
- Cervelle
- Cleancloud
- CloudPOS
- Cohub
- connectPOS
- eMobilePOS
- eastOS
- Ebizmarts POS
- ECRS
- Erply
- eHopper
- RPAPOS
- Givex
- GreenBits
- Heartland
- Helios
- Hike
- Lightspeed
- Mojo POS
- Modisoft POS
- On the FLy POS
- NuShop POS
- Orocube
- Paladin
- ParsePay POS
- POSitive Software
- PopScrap
- Partake
- Poster
- QuidPOS
- PredictSpring
- Retailcloud
- Reji
- Rain Retail
- Retail Edge
- Revel Systems
- SalesVu
- Rhombus POS
- ScrapRight
- Scribble
- Sitoo
- Shoptree
- Shopify
- Softmogul
- SkyPOS
- SlimCD
- Springboard Retail
- Square
- SplitAbility
- Sudzy
- TallySoft
- Slatwall
- The General Store
- Tillpoint
- TouchBistro
- Tray
- Figure
- Vend
- Veras Retail
- Yodo
- YayValet
- Zuna
- Zuza
Check out Star Micronics mC-Print3
Square Terminal: Best Mobile Thermal Receipt Printer
Square Terminal
Overall Score:
3.36 / 5
What We Like
- 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
What's Missing
- Slower print speeds and smaller paper rolls than others on this list
- Warranty is only 1 year
Square Terminal Pricing
$299 upfront (or $27 per month for $12 months)
The Square Terminal is a handheld POS terminal with an integrated thermal receipt printer. This device is fully mobile, operates via Wi-Fi, with a battery that stays charged all day. This printer and terminal 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.
The Square Terminal earned a 3.36 out of 5.00 in our thermal receipt printer scoring system. It earned a perfect score for price, coming in under $300 and offering an easy payment plan. Though it lost some points for only operating with Square POS systems when the competitors on this list integrate with a slew of systems. It is also not the fastest printer and only comes with a one-year warranty (competitors Star Micronics and Epson offer two years or more).
Square Terminal Standout Features
- All-in-one solution
The Square Terminal, unlike the other printers on this list, is a lot more than a printer. It is equal parts a POS screen, a card reader, and a printer. The terminal can ring in a sale, process a payment, and print a receipt all from the palm of your hand. - Fully mobile
The Square Terminal’s battery has a 24-hour battery life. It is rechargeable, and Wi-Fi enabled, so you can use it anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. - Offline Mode
The Square Terminal can also operate without Wi-Fi. If you lose internet connectivity, your terminal will store payment information for up to 24 hours and process the credit card transactions automatically when you regain internet access. - Easy payments
Getting started with the Square Terminal is as easy as opening a free Square account and purchasing the terminal. You can purchase the terminal directly from the Square website, for either $299 upfront or $27 per month for 12 months.
Compatible POS Systems
You can use the Square Terminal with a virtual terminal on your computer or laptop, without using a full-scale POS app. If you prefer a POS app, the Terminal seamlessly integrates with Square’s excellent small business POS line up:
Square Terminal does not currently support the Square Appointments app, but Square plans to roll out this feature in the future. All Square POS systems offer a free baseline subscription with no long-term contracts.
See what else Square has to offer by checking out our reviews of Square POS, Square for Retail, and Square for Restaurants.
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 (4.45 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:
20%
Pricing
30%
General Features
30%
Ease of Use
20%
Expert Score
20% of Overall Score
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.
30% of Overall Score
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 long life span auto cutters and de-curl functions.
30% of Overall Score
20% of Overall Score
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 an overall value for the price.
*Percentages of overall score
Thermal Receipt Printers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a thermal printer print receipts?
Direct thermal printers are popular for printing receipts because they do not require ink cartridges for printing. This makes them cost effective for high-volume printing tasks like receipts in shops and restaurants.
Do thermal receipt printers print color?
Most thermal receipt printers are direct thermal receipt printers and only print in grayscale on heat-sensitive paper. Their color options are limited because they quickly print images on heat-sensitive paper.
Another type of thermal printer—the thermal transfer printer—can print in color. There are various types of thermal transfer printers that can print different numbers of colors, usually by depositing colored resins or waxes to different types of paper or fabric. Thermal transfer printers tend to be used for special tasks like printing on fabric or plastic films. They are typically too expensive to operate for it to make sense to use thermal transfer printers to print 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 with 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.
