Receipt Paper: Everything You Need to Know About Thermal Receipt Paper

Receipt paper is a specialized paper used in point-of-sale systems, cash registers, and receipt printers. The most common type is thermal receipt paper, which uses heat-sensitive coating instead of ink to print text and images. Here is everything you need to know about receipt paper.

Types of Receipt Paper

There are two main types of receipt paper. Thermal paper uses a heat-sensitive coating that darkens when exposed to heat from the print head. It is used in most modern POS systems and does not require ink or toner. Bond paper is traditional paper that requires an ink ribbon to print. It is used in older cash registers and some kitchen printers.

Common Receipt Paper Sizes

The most common receipt paper widths are 80mm or about 3.125 inches used in most modern thermal printers, 57mm or about 2.25 inches used in portable and smaller printers, and 76mm or about 3 inches used in some older systems. Roll lengths vary from 50 to 230 feet depending on the paper thickness.

Why Receipts Fade Over Time

Thermal receipt paper is notorious for fading. Heat, sunlight, friction, and even the oils from your fingers can cause thermal paper to darken or fade. This is why important receipts should be photographed or digitized as soon as possible. Most thermal receipts will become unreadable within 1 to 3 years.

Going Digital With ProReceiptMaker

Instead of relying on fading thermal paper, create permanent digital receipts with ProReceiptMaker. Our free tool generates professional receipts with the authentic thermal paper look but in digital format that never fades. Download as PDF for permanent records. Visit proreceiptmaker.com to create digital receipts that last.