How Does a Thermal Printer Work? Everything You Need to Know

Comparing the pros and cons of a product often helps tremendously when making a buying decision. Consider these thermal printer advantages and disadvantages to help you decide if one is right for your needs.

Powerful and compact, thermal printers offer many advantages to businesses and individuals alike. Here are some  advantages to consider.

Like most things, thermal printers also have a few disadvantages. Here's what you should know about the negative side of thermal printers.

There are two main types of thermal printers. These include direct thermal printers and thermal transfer printers. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Both types of thermal printers feature a heated print head as described above. In the case of direct thermal printers, however, there is no ribbon involved. Instead, the print head prints directly onto the surface of the printing material (i.e. label, receipt paper, etc.). In these cases, the printing material itself is designed to react to the heat of the printer, changing color when heated to display what you are printing.

There is no ink or toner used in this process. This means that maintenance costs for direct thermal printers can be low compared to other types of printers. One drawback, though, as mentioned above, is that your printed items may be prone to fading over time. Additionally, you are only able to print in one color at a time when using this type of thermal printer, as the printing material itself is what determines the color.

Thermal transfer printers work in a slightly different way. Rather than printing directly onto the surface of the printing material, the print head presses a wax-coated ink ribbon (or ribbons) onto the surface of the printing material. The wax is melted, exposing the ink, which is transferred to the printing material and dries there.The key advantage of this type of thermal printer compared to a direct thermal printer is that prints are less likely to fade over time, and you can print in multiple colors at once (assuming your printer has multiple ribbons). That said, with the introduction of the ribbon, which needs to be replaced, long-term maintenance costs can be greater. And with more moving parts, these printers may be slightly more prone to operational issues—though they are still reliable and durable.
 

A little research and contemplation go a long way to ensuring you select the best thermal printer. Consider these questions to help you choose the right model for your business or personal needs    

Once you decide on the type of thermal printer you need, there are several different models to choose from — size is the primary differentiator here. When you know your printer's primary task, you can choose a thermal printer that meets and exceeds those needs. 

Mobile Printers

Mobile thermal printers are handheld models meant to be portable and wireless. Good mobile printers have easy-to-install software and should be able to print a variety of labels or receipts on the go. They are often meant for rough field environments or warehouses and have some level of durability. Some are even waterproof or temperature resistant. 

Choose this if you don't have time to print from a central location or need a sturdy but lightweight unit.

Desktop Printers

Desktop printers are slightly larger than their handheld counterparts but shouldn't take up too much of a footprint on a desk. These printers often come with wired or wireless connections and can handle a decent volume of label or receipt printing in a retail environment.

Choose this if you want a reliable, cost-effective printer that needs minimal maintenance.

Industrial Printers

If you know you'll be printing at a high volume, industrial printers will get the job done. Typically larger in size and ruggedized, industrial printers should be able to handle 24/7 print jobs like those needed for logistics or manufacturing. Top of the line models might even be equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) software for easier control. 

Choose this if you're running a huge operation with a need to print constantly and reliably.
 

Determine which features and benefits you cannot live without and go from there. Do you need speed the most? Are you printing so much that you'll need a higher printer duty cycle? Are you more concerned about quality of barcodes and labels for easy scanning? Do you want a wireless model and need reliable Wi-Fi connectivity? Will you be running any special software that requires memory card capacity? Not all printers are built the same, but you're bound to find a model that's superior in the area you need it for the most.

Thermal printers are common in many different industries. Here are some of the reasons your industry may be using thermal printers:

• Logistics and Transportation: shipping, receiving, inventory management, packing slips, return labels, etc.
• Manufacturing:  labels for compliance, maintenance or parts management, quality assurance, progress tracking and more.
• Healthcare: patient identification wristbands, lab or pharmacy sample lables, asset management, and more.
• Retail and Hospitality: price tags, POS or mobile POS receipts, guest cards or passes, ID badges, inventory management and more.
• Government: supply chain labels, emergency management, ID badges, system administration and more.

We hope this guide on how thermal printers work can help you to select the model that is best suited for your business needs. Take some time to research the features and browse through some thermal printer reviews as you choose a printer that will deliver convenience, speed and quality results.