5 Things You Must Know About POS Printer Paper

If you think all point-of-sale printer paper is basically the same, think again. There are all kinds of styles and variations, and choosing the right one can make a huge difference for your business’ operations. A few important things to understand about POS printer paper, or receipt paper, include:

1. Thermal vs. Dot Matrix

When it comes to receipt printing, you’re likely using either a thermal printer or a standard impact printer. Thermal printers and thermal paper can be bought in a variety of sizes, colors and formats. It’s fast, quiet and easy to use. Plus the print is made entirely using heat – no ribbons or ink cartridges to mess with, making it extremely cost effective. Meanwhile, an ink printer might give you more control, text and photo color printing capabilities, etc., but you’ll want to use a high quality bond paper for printing receipts instead of thermal paper. Additionally, thermal paper is not an option in a hot environment, such as a register near a kitchen. Environmental heat can accidentally activate a thermal printer, so you want to consider a location before choosing thermal vs. ink.

2. Light Resistance 

Nothing is more frustrating than digging out an old receipt and discovering that it's faded to the point of being nearly illegible. UV light can rapidly fade many types of thermal printer paper, but there are styles that are designed to be resistant to this type of damage.

3. Water Resistance 

While there's no such thing as paper that's entirely waterproof, many types of receipt printer paper are designed to be highly resistant to moisture. Synthetic thermal paper works best in this regard, and it's even better when it is topped off with a water-resistant coating.

4. Multi-Ply Paper 

If cost is your top concern, you're probably going to want to stick with regular 1-ply printer paper. However, if you're more concerned about having receipt paper that's strong, durable and provides a copy for your customers and your business, 2-ply or 3-ply paper is the way to go. Different types of paper are available for both ink and thermal printers, so make sure you’re double checking if you need thermal paper or multi-ply bond paper.

5. Brightness 

POS printer paper is available in many colors. Not surprisingly, white is the most popular by far. White receipt printer paper comes in many different shades of brightness. The brighter it is, the more the images on it have contrast and stand out. Bright white POS printer paper tends to cost a bit more than darker shades, but the clarity makes it well worth it for many businesses.

PrinterStock.com offers a wide variety of thermal and bond papers to fit most receipt printing needs. If you’re looking for a special paper feature such as water resistance or a specific brightness that is not readily available on our site, contact our team at 866-748-8273.

No one wants to spend a fortune on printer paper, but there are advantages to paying a little more to get the features you need. While our paper prices are already affordable, there are plenty of ways to save on even the best types of thermal or bond receipt paper. By signing up for PrinterStock.com's My Rewards program, for instance, you can earn points that are redeemable for discounts on all kinds of supplies. You basically save 2 percent by being a member, and the program is easy to use. Sign up today!