58 mm or 80 mm thermal printer: which one for your shop?
Both print receipts on a paper roll. They are different in width, in what they fit, and in where they work best.
The difference in one line
A 58 mm printer prints a narrow receipt, about 32 characters on a line. An 80 mm printer prints a wider one, about 42 to 48 characters on a line. The wider receipt can show long item names and more columns.
When 58 mm is enough
- A small counter with short item names
- A phone or tablet with a Bluetooth printer
- A simple bill with few columns
- A tight counter where space is small
When 80 mm is better
- Restaurants with long dish names
- GST bills with item, quantity, rate and tax columns
- A kitchen printer, where the cook reads the ticket from a distance
- Shops that print bills with many lines
How a printer connects
- Network (IP address): good for a kitchen printer shared by many devices
- USB: simple at the counter, one computer to one printer
- Bluetooth: good for a phone or tablet, but the range is short and pairing can be fussy
On Windows, a USB printer shows once it is installed on the computer. On Android, the RestroPod app scans for USB and Bluetooth printers.
Before you buy
- 1Count the charactersLook at your longest item name and your bill columns.
- 2Choose the connectionNetwork for the kitchen, USB at the counter, Bluetooth for a phone.
- 3Check the paperBuy the roll width that matches the printer. Keep spare rolls.
- 4Test printPrint one bill and one KOT before you set up the shop.
How RestroPod uses printers
- Thermal receipt printers, 58 mm and 80 mm, over the network, by USB or by Bluetooth
- Restaurant POS: each menu category can go to its own kitchen printer, for example drinks to the bar printer
- Store POS: barcode labels on a label printer, and A4 or A5 pages from a printer installed on your computer
- You can also save a print as a file in a folder
Questions
Which size is better for GST bills?
80 mm shows more columns and long names, so it reads better. 58 mm works for a simple bill.
Can I use a Bluetooth printer?
Yes. It works well with a phone or tablet. Keep it close, and pair it before you start.
Can I have a different printer for drinks?
Yes. In Restaurant POS you can send each menu category to its own printer, for example drinks to the bar printer.
Can I print on A4 paper?
Store POS can print A4 and A5 pages from a printer installed on your computer.