Printer Paper Buying Guide
Epson Printer Paper Buying Guide
Epson makes two very different families of POS printers, thermal and dot matrix, and they don't take the same paper. Order the wrong type and it either won't print at all or won't fit. Here's how to find the right roll for your Epson model in under a minute.
Step 1: Is your printer thermal or dot matrix?
This is the fork in the road that determines everything else.
- Thermal printers print by heating the paper directly. There's no ribbon, no ink, and the paper has a slightly glossy, coated feel on the print side.
- Dot matrix (impact) printers strike an ink ribbon against plain bond paper, the same way an old typewriter works. If your printer uses a ribbon cartridge, it's an impact printer.
Quick check: if your printer has a ribbon cartridge slot, it's an impact printer. No ribbon slot means thermal.
Epson thermal printers: TM-T88, TM-T20, and M244A / M129 series
Epson's TM-T88 series (TM-T88II through TM-T88V), TM-H5000, TM-H6000, and TM-T20 all take 3 1/8" thermal paper. In our catalog, this shows up under two related paper families:
Roll length matters more than people think. A 273' roll holds noticeably more receipts than a 165' roll in the same 3 1/8" width, which means fewer roll changes during a rush. If your printer sits at a busy register, size up in length rather than reordering more often.
All of our Epson thermal paper is BPA-free.
Epson dot matrix printers: TM-U220 (M188) and TM-U200 (M119)
If your Epson has a ribbon, it's almost certainly a TM-U220 or TM-U200 series printer, and both take 3" bond paper rather than thermal:
- Epson M188 A/B/D paper fits the TM-U220A, TM-U220B, and TM-U220D, in 1-ply bond (3" x 165' or 3" x 150'), 2-ply carbonless (3" x 90'), and 3-ply carbonless
- Epson M119 series paper fits the TM-U200A, TM-U200B, and TM-U200D in the same range of ply options
1-ply, 2-ply, or 3-ply, what's the difference? 1-ply gives you a single white copy, fine for a straightforward receipt. 2-ply adds a canary copy underneath for a kitchen ticket or record copy without reprinting. 3-ply adds a third pink or yellow sheet, useful when three departments each need their own copy of the same order. Match the ply count to how many physical copies your workflow actually needs, since each additional ply costs more per roll.
Don't forget the ribbon
Every Epson dot matrix printer needs an ink ribbon, and running low mid-shift is one of the most common reasons a kitchen printer suddenly prints faded or blank tickets. The Epson ERC-30/34/38 ribbon fits the TM-U220 and TM-U200 series and is available in black indelible ink or black/red. Check whether your printer uses one-color or two-color printing before ordering. Browse the full range of Epson printer ribbons if you're not sure which cartridge fits.
Running an Epson TM-L90 for linerless labels?
If your setup includes an Epson TM-L90 for bag, cup, or container labeling rather than standard receipts, you're in linerless sticky media territory instead of standard thermal roll paper. See our Sticky Thermal Label Buying Guide for adhesive strength and width recommendations.
Quick reference
| Printer Family |
Paper Type |
Width |
Ribbon Needed? |
| TM-T88 II/III/IV/V, TM-H5000/6000 |
Thermal |
3 1/8" |
No |
| TM-T20 |
Thermal |
3 1/8" |
No |
| M129 series models |
Thermal |
3 1/8" |
No |
| TM-U220 (M188 A/B/D) |
Bond / carbonless |
3" |
Yes — ERC-30/34/38 |
| TM-U200 (M119 A/B/D) |
Bond / carbonless |
3" |
Yes — ERC-30/34/38 |
| TM-L90 |
Linerless sticky media |
Varies |
No |
Not sure which roll fits your printer?
PaperRolls-N-More has supplied Epson-compatible paper and ribbons since 1989. Send us the model number printed inside the paper compartment and we'll confirm the exact roll before you order. Contact us here.