Till Rolls Explained: Sizes, Types and How to Buy the Right Ones
Till rolls are the paper rolls that feed your till, receipt printer or card machine to print receipts and dockets. Most are thermal (heat-printed, no ink needed); some older machines use plain paper or 2-ply carbon rolls. The right roll comes down to three things: the type your printer takes, the size (width, diameter and core), and whether you need thermal, plain or coloured. This guide walks through all three, so you order the correct roll first time.
What are till rolls and what are they made of?
A till roll is simply a roll of receipt paper. The big distinction is how it prints. Thermal rolls are coated with a heat-sensitive dye: the print head warms tiny dots on the paper to form the text, so there is no ink, no ribbon and nothing to replace but the roll itself. That is why thermal is the standard for card terminals and almost every modern till and receipt printer, it is fast, quiet and sharp.
Plain (bond) paper rolls are ordinary uncoated paper and need an ink ribbon, used in older impact (dot-matrix) printers. 2-ply rolls are two layers that produce an instant carbon copy, common in kitchens and restaurants where one docket goes to the chef and one stays at the till. Knowing which of these your machine uses is the first step to ordering correctly.
Thermal vs plain paper till rolls: which do you need?
Use thermal rolls if your machine is a modern till, receipt printer or card terminal, they print with heat, need no ink, and give a crisp receipt. Use plain paper (bond) rolls only for older impact printers that take an ink ribbon, and 2-ply rolls where you need an instant copy, such as a kitchen docket. If in doubt, thermal is correct for the vast majority of tills today.
| Roll type | How it prints | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal | Heat, no ink or ribbon | Modern tills, receipt printers, card machines |
| Plain paper (bond) | Ink ribbon required | Older impact / dot-matrix printers |
| 2-ply / carbon | Two layers, instant copy | Kitchen dockets, restaurants, order pads |
For a side-by-side on print quality, cost and longevity, see thermal vs plain paper till rolls.
Till roll sizes explained
Till roll sizes are written as three numbers: width × diameter × core (in mm). Width is the paper width, diameter is how big the roll is, and core is the centre hole (usually 12.7mm). Match all three to your printer. The most common is 80 x 80mm for modern tills, 57 x 40mm for card machines, and 44 x 70mm for many older tills.
| Size (W × Dia × Core) | Type | Typically fits |
|---|---|---|
| 80 x 80 x 12.7mm | Thermal | Most modern tills & receipt printers (Epson, Star, etc.) |
| 57 x 40 x 12.7mm | Thermal | The standard card-machine / PDQ roll |
| 57 x 30mm | Thermal | Smaller / contactless card terminals |
| 44 x 70 x 12.7mm | Plain or thermal | Many older tills |
| 76 x 70mm (2-ply) | Carbon | Kitchen & impact printers |
Full size chart and how to measure an old roll: till roll sizes explained. If you only know your machine, our till roll compatibility guide matches rolls to till and printer brands.
How do I find the right till roll for my machine?
The quickest way is to check the box your last rolls came in, the size is printed on it. If you have no box, read the size off the printer or its manual, or measure the old roll's paper width and diameter. For card machines, the make and model (Ingenico, Verifone, Clover, SumUp, Dojo) tells you the roll, most take 57mm.
Three reliable routes, in order:
- The old box. Size is printed on it, just reorder the same.
- The machine. Many tills and printers list the roll size in the manual or on a label inside the paper bay.
- Measure it. Paper width across the roll, then the roll's diameter; the core is almost always 12.7mm.
Stuck on a specific terminal or till? Our how to find the right till roll for your machine and compatibility guide cover the common models.
Credit card and receipt rolls
Card-machine (PDQ) rolls are thermal and almost always 57mm wide. The second number is the roll length, 57 x 40mm is the common, longer-lasting roll, while 57 x 30mm suits smaller and contactless terminals. Match the width and length to your terminal and you are set.
See the full length range (25, 30, 40, 46, 50mm) and terminal fit on our credit card rolls page, or read the dedicated guide to card machine rolls.
Coloured and specialist till rolls
Beyond the standard white roll, a few specialist options solve specific jobs:
- Coloured thermal rolls (blue, green, pink, yellow) for branding, or to separate order types at a glance.
- 2-ply kitchen printer rolls for an instant carbon copy of each order.
- Tachograph rolls for digital tachographs in commercial vehicles.
- Wide-format and carbonless rolls for specific tills and order pads.
Browse the lot on the coloured thermal rolls and kitchen printer rolls pages.
Are thermal receipts safe, and do they fade?
Thermal receipts fade over time, typically staying legible for one to three years if kept cool and dark; heat and sunlight speed it up. On safety, some thermal paper still uses BPA as the developer, but BPA-free rolls are widely available and worth choosing if staff handle receipts all day.
Tip: for accounts or warranties, photograph or scan important thermal receipts, and store paper copies flat in a dark drawer. More detail in how long do thermal receipts last and is receipt paper safe.
How much do till rolls cost, and is bulk cheaper?
Till rolls are usually sold by the box (commonly 20 rolls), and the cost per roll drops sharply when you buy by the box or case rather than singly. For a busy till, one or two boxes a month is typical. Buying your standard size in bulk, with free delivery, is almost always the cheapest route.
Trade and bulk pricing is on every product page, and there is a full breakdown in how much do till rolls cost.
Where to buy till rolls in Ireland
Shop4Rolls is Ireland's dedicated till roll supplier, every common size in thermal, plain, credit-card, coloured and kitchen rolls, at wholesale prices with free delivery on qualifying orders from our Cavan warehouse.
Order your till rolls by the box
Thermal, plain, card-machine, coloured and kitchen rolls, every size, trade prices, fast Irish delivery.
Not sure which till rolls you need? Start with the thermal till rolls range, or use the compatibility guide to match your machine.
Frequently asked questions
What are till rolls made of?
Most modern till rolls are thermal paper, a paper coated with a heat-sensitive dye that darkens under the print head, so no ink or ribbon is needed. Plain (bond) paper rolls and 2-ply carbon rolls are still used in older impact and kitchen printers.
What is the difference between thermal and plain paper till rolls?
Thermal rolls print with heat and need no ink, giving fast, quiet, sharp receipts in most card terminals and modern tills. Plain paper (bond) rolls need an ink ribbon and suit older impact printers; 2-ply versions give an instant carbon copy for kitchens.
What size till roll do I need?
Match the roll to your machine: 80 x 80mm suits most modern tills and receipt printers, 57 x 40mm is the standard card-machine roll, and 44 x 70mm fits many older tills. The three numbers are width, diameter and core, check your printer or the old roll's box.
Do thermal till rolls contain BPA?
Some thermal paper still uses BPA as the developer, though BPA-free and phenol-free rolls are now widely available. If your staff handle receipts all day, or you want a greener option, ask for BPA-free thermal rolls.
How long do thermal receipts last before they fade?
A thermal receipt typically stays legible for around 1 to 3 years if kept cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Heat, light and contact with plastics or solvents speed up fading, so store important receipts flat in a dark place.
Where can I buy till rolls in bulk in Ireland?
Shop4Rolls supplies till rolls in every common size, thermal, plain, credit-card, coloured and kitchen, at trade prices with free delivery on qualifying orders across Ireland. Buying by the box (usually 20 rolls) lowers the cost per roll.