Thermal paper is the paper most receipts are printed on. Every time you go to the grocery store or your favorite clothing store, a thermal printer shoots out a skinny receipt detailing your purchases. Just by looking at the smooth and shiny appearance of thermal paper, you can tell it's different from regular printer paper.



So, what exactly is thermal paper, and how does it work?

Like its name implies, thermal paper is paper that requires a heat transfer to activate it. Here's how it works:

1. Whenever a thermal printer is used, the printer head heats up

2. Depending on the words/numbers to be printed, certain pixels on the printer head are heated

3. This heat goes through the back of the printer ribbon

4. The ink/waxy substance on the ribbon then “melts” onto the thermal paper

Of course, this happens almost instantaneously, making the thermal printing process quick and efficient. It's also worth noting that thermal printers don't actually use ink. The ribbon often contains either wax, a mixture of resin and wax, or just resin. For business owners, this means big savings as you never have to buy ink ribbons or rollers.

Thermal paper comes in a wide range of sizes and is used for many different functions. The width of most thermal rolls ranges from 1 ½” to 4 9/32”. These rolls are used for credit card receipts, POS transactions, fax paper, and more.

When purchasing thermal paper, it's important to make certain you choose a quality product. Remember, not all thermal till rolls are created equal. Opting for the cheap, lower quality rolls will leave residues on your printer head and ribbon, causing parts to wear out more quickly and leading to costly repairs.

That being said, there's nothing wrong with shopping around online for a good deal on thermal cash register rolls. The internet is full of manufacturers and distributors, so there are certainly good deals to be had on thermal paper. The key is to make sure you order from a reputable company that actually has the product on hand. See, some companies don't keep a large thermal paper inventory, meaning they order it from their supplier once you place your order. This means long delays in shipping, leaving you without cash register paper in your daily operations.

You should also make sure the company offers a money-back guarantee on their products. This way, if you get a low grade roll that damages your printer or fades too easily, you can return it for a full refund.

So, now that you've learned all about thermal paper, are you ready to add it to your list of must have items for your small business? Save money by getting thermal receipt rolls today!