Many businesses use printers on a daily basis to create receipts or order tickets. While many business owners assume any old printer will do, the type of printer they choose can impact the speed, cost, and quality of the printing process.
Two popular types of printers are thermal printers and impact printers. Which one should you invest in if you want the best results? Let us examine the differences and similarities between these two types of printers so you have the information you need to make the correct decision for your business.
What Is a Thermal Printer?
A thermal printer is a type of printer that uses heat to produce an image on paper. It works by heating up coated thermal paper, which changes color in the areas where it has been heated. This creates the desired image or text on the paper without the use of ink or toner.
Thermal printers come in two main types: direct thermal and thermal transfer. Direct thermal printers use heat-sensitive paper and apply heat directly from the print head to create an image. Thermal transfer printers use a ribbon with wax-based or resin-based ink that melts onto the paper to create an image. Both types of thermal printers operate quickly and quietly, which makes them popular in the retail and hospitality industries.
What Is an Impact Printer?
An impact printer, also known as a dot matrix printer, works by hitting an inked ribbon against the paper to create an image or text. This produces a series of dots that combine to form letters and images. Impact printers are typically slower and noisier than thermal printers, but they can create multiple receipts at once.
There are two main types of impact printers: serial dot matrix printers and line dot matrix printers. Serial dot matrix printers use a single print head that moves back and forth across the page, producing one line at a time. Line dot matrix printers have multiple print heads that work together to produce the entire page in one pass.
Which One Is Better?
There is no clear winner between thermal and impact printers. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Here are some factors to consider when determining which one is better for your business:
Cost Considerations
Impact printers tend to have a slightly higher upfront cost than thermal printers. However, thermal paper is more expensive than impact printer paper. In the long run, thermal printers can be more cost-effective due to their lack of ink or toner cartridges and the ability to produce high-quality prints with minimal maintenance.
Printing Speed
Impact printers are typically slower than thermal printers due to the nature of their printing process. Keep in mind, though, that impact printers can print multiple receipts at once—thermal printers can only produce one at a time. Because of this, impact printers can actually be faster at high-volume printing.
Noise Level
If noise level is a concern in your business, then thermal printers are the better choice. They operate quietly and are less disruptive in a retail or hospitality environment. Impact printers can be quite loud and may not be suitable for a quiet workplace.
Print Quality
This is where it comes down to personal preference. Thermal printers produce clear and crisp prints, but the quality can degrade over time if exposed to heat or light. Impact printers have a more traditional look with their dot matrix prints, which some businesses prefer. However, they are prone to producing smudged or uneven prints.
Ink Color
Thermal printers can only produce black and white prints. Impact printers, because they use ink or toner, can produce color prints. If you need to print in color, you will need to invest in an impact printer.
Device Durability
Thermal printers have fewer moving parts than impact printers. As a result, they are less prone to breakdowns and require infrequent maintenance. Impact printers have more parts that can wear out over time, which can result in you paying more for repairs and replacements.
Operational Environment
Thermal printer paper is sensitive to heat. If you own a restaurant, you should not use a thermal printer for printing receipts and order tickets in the kitchen, as it could damage the paper. Instead, you will need an impact printer that can withstand the heat and humidity of a commercial kitchen.
How Many Printers Do You Need per Business Location?
Before you decide on a printer to invest in, consider how many printers you need for each business location. Retail businesses should invest in one printer for each check-out station so customers can receive their receipts quickly. Restaurants should have one printer for their check-out station, as well as a printer for each station inside the kitchen.
While a business can technically operate with just one printer, think about how slow and inefficient your operations would become if it breaks down. It is always best to invest in multiple printers for smooth and uninterrupted operations.
Consider these factors when mulling over which printer to invest in for your business. Both thermal printers and impact printers have their strengths, and your choice ultimately depends on your needs. Do you need a fast, quiet printer that produces high-quality black and white prints? Do you need color printing capabilities? Do you work in a hot environment that could impact the print quality? By assessing your needs and weighing the pros and cons of both printers, you can choose what’s best for your business and budget.
At Total Merchant Supply, we sell, repair, and maintain POS systems in Charlotte, NC. Our POS systems are high-quality and come with an array of features to help you effectively manage your business. They’re compatible with both thermal and impact printers for your convenience—you don’t have to settle for an option you are less than satisfied with just because it is the only one that will work with your POS system! Contact us today if you want to inquire about our POS systems. We can answer any questions you may have over the phone or set up an in-person demo for you to try our products.