PAPER SIZE
2-inch or 3-inch?
Almost all billing printers are thermal - they print with heat, so there is no ink or ribbon to buy, only paper rolls. The main choice is the paper width.
2-inch (58 mm) printer
₹2,500 – ₹4,500
Small and light. Portable models run on a battery and connect to your phone over Bluetooth, so you can print a bill anywhere.
- Lowest price, fits on any counter
- Battery-powered models go anywhere
- Cheapest paper rolls
Best for: Small shops, cafés, table billing, delivery and field sales
3-inch (80 mm) printer
₹3,500 – ₹7,000
The standard counter printer. The wider bill fits more detail per line, so GST invoices with item names, HSN codes and tax break-up are easy to read.
- Clear, professional GST bills
- Fast printing and auto-cutter on most models
- Can open a cash drawer automatically
Best for: Grocery, pharmacy, supermarket, garment and restaurant counters
| 2-inch (58 mm) | 3-inch (80 mm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Paper width | 58 mm (2 inch) | 80 mm (3 inch) |
| Price | ₹2,500 – ₹4,500 | ₹3,500 – ₹7,000 |
| Characters per line | About 32 | About 48 |
| Print speed | Slower - about 50 - 90 mm/sec | Faster - about 200 - 300 mm/sec |
| Paper cutting | Tear by hand | Auto-cutter on most models |
| Battery option | Yes - portable models | Rare - usually mains powered |
| Cash drawer port | Rare | Common |
| Best for | Short bills, portability | Long GST bills, busy counters |