How to Choose a Thermal Printer for Your Shop
Before buying a thermal printer: 58mm vs 80mm compared, connection options, running costs, and how to make sure Arabic prints correctly.
The thermal printer produces the one thing your customer touches at the end of every purchase: the receipt. Choosing the right one saves you breakdowns and ink costs that should not exist — and, most importantly, gives you Arabic receipts that read clearly instead of broken characters. Here is everything to know before buying.
Why thermal in the first place?
Thermal printers print with heat on special paper — no ink, no ribbons. That means near-zero running costs: you only buy paper rolls. They are fast, fairly quiet and compact, which is why they became the standard in shops and restaurants everywhere.
Paper width: 58mm or 80mm?
| Criterion | 58mm | 80mm |
|---|---|---|
| Printer price | Usually cheaper | Slightly higher |
| Receipt space | Narrow, suits short receipts | Wider, clearer details and more lines |
| Best fit | Kiosk, stall, simple sales | Supermarket, restaurant, many items |
| Print speed | Adequate | Usually faster in higher tiers |
Rule of thumb: if your receipts carry many items or you want a logo and clear details, go 80mm. For very light use, 58mm can be enough.
Connection: USB, Bluetooth or network?
- USB: simplest and most stable for a single fixed till.
- Bluetooth: good for selling from a tablet or phone; watch out for range and re-pairing after power cuts.
- Network (LAN/WiFi): the right choice when several stations print to one printer, or the printer sits in a kitchen or storeroom away from the till.
Arabic printing: the point everyone ignores
This is where most buyers stumble: an excellent printer that outputs Arabic as disconnected letters, reversed text or empty boxes. The cause is that many printers rely on built-in fonts that cannot shape connected Arabic script or handle right-to-left text.
The fix is not in the printer but in the software: when the POS sends the receipt as a pre-rendered visual template — a ready image instead of raw text — Arabic (and Hebrew) print perfectly on virtually any thermal printer, whatever its internal fonts. Always test a real Arabic receipt from your actual POS before buying.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Does it support the paper width you need (58 or 80mm)?
- Does the connection type match your selling device?
- Have you printed a real Arabic receipt from your POS on it?
- Does it have an auto-cutter? It saves real time at rush hour
- Are paper rolls in its size available locally at a fair price?
- Is there a local dealer or repair service nearby?
Bottom line
A good thermal printer is a small investment that serves for years: no ink, minimal running costs. Choose the right width and connection, and never buy before testing Arabic output. Sahl POS prints receipts as visual templates with perfect Arabic and Hebrew on common thermal printers. See the Sahl sales screen and printing, and read how to choose a POS for your shop and what a POS system is.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 58mm and 80mm printers?
58mm printers are cheaper and suit short receipts and light use. 80mm gives more width for receipts with many items, a logo and clearer details — the better fit for supermarkets and restaurants.
Why does my thermal printer garble Arabic?
Built-in printer fonts often cannot shape connected Arabic script or handle right-to-left text. When the POS sends the receipt as a rendered visual template instead of raw text, Arabic prints correctly on virtually any printer.
Do thermal printers need ink?
No. Thermal printing uses heat on special paper with no ink or ribbons, so running costs are practically limited to paper rolls.