When it comes to shipping, you may have heard the term thermal printer. You might even own one. What exactly is a thermal printer though? It may seem like a silly question, but understanding the basic function of a thermal printer can be beneficial for a couple of reasons. If you have an understanding of what a thermal printer is/does, it’s easier to troubleshoot what might be going wrong if it isn’t printing correctly. Plus, it’s easier to understand why a thermal printer might be a better fit for your label printing than a laserjet printer.
What is a thermal printer?
A thermal printer is a type of printer that doesn’t require ink to print but uses a special kind of paper that changes color when it’s heated. The type of thermal paper you’re most familiar with is the receipt you get from cash registers at stores or restaurants. While there are color thermal printers out there, the most common use is for printing in simple black and white.
Using a thermal printer offers a clear advantage for people and businesses that have to print simplistic things in high volumes, such as receipts and labels. The potential money and time savings delivered when you switch from a normal printer make thermal printing a worthwhile investment for any e-commerce business. For some of the most popular thermal printers, check out our guide.
Advantages of a Thermal Printer
Advantages of using a thermal postage printer over a regular printer include:
- Faster label printing
- No more purchasing ink
- Uses efficient rolls of thermal sticker paper for label printing
- Takes up less space than a regular printer
For more information on the benefits of thermal printing, check out our comparison blog to see how thermal printers measure up to laserjet printers.
Baillee Perkins
