Till Rolls Explained: 80 x 80mm vs 57 x 40mm Sizes
By Discount Coffee | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: How-to Guides
Match the roll to the machine: 80 x 80mm thermal till rolls suit EPOS and receipt printers, while 57 x 40mm rolls fit most chip and pin card terminals. Here is how to check before you reorder.
Quick answer
Use 80 x 80mm thermal till rolls for EPOS systems, receipt printers and kitchen order printers, and 57 x 40mm thermal rolls for chip and pin card machines and PDQ terminals. Check the width and diameter printed inside your machine's paper compartment before ordering.
Why the two sizes are not interchangeable
The two formats serve different machines. An 80 x 80mm roll is the wider, longer roll used in EPOS and receipt printers, where a full-width customer receipt or kitchen docket is needed. A 57 x 40mm roll is the narrower, shorter roll used in card payment terminals, where the printer only produces a small slip.
Width is the first constraint: a roll that is too wide will not sit in the compartment, and one that is too narrow can feed unevenly or jam. Diameter is the second: a roll that is too large will not close the lid, while one that is too small may not sit firmly on the spindle. If your machine's label or manual does not state a size, measure the old roll's width and the outer diameter before you order.
When the standard size is not the right choice
Most UK retail, hospitality and food service setups use these two formats, but not every device does. Older or compact EPOS printers, handheld order pads and some payment terminals may take a different width or diameter, and the catalog records here do not list compatibility beyond the stated sizes. Treat the size on your machine as the deciding factor, not the product name.
Also consider how often each machine prints. A busy card terminal may use several 57 x 40mm rolls a week, while an EPOS printer running kitchen dockets can go through 80 x 80mm rolls faster than expected. Buying in packs of 20 keeps both machines stocked without a mid-service scramble.
How to choose and fit the right till roll
- Identify the machine that needs paper: Separate your EPOS or receipt printer from your card payment terminal. The EPOS printer is the one producing full-width receipts or kitchen dockets; the card machine is the one producing small payment slips. If one machine is down, check whether the other uses a different roll before ordering a single size.
- Read the size inside the paper compartment: Open the printer lid and look for a printed width and diameter, such as 80 x 80mm or 57 x 40mm. If there is no label, measure the old roll's width and outer diameter with a ruler. Do not assume the roll currently fitted is correct; a previous order may have been the wrong size.
- Match the width first, then the diameter: Choose the roll whose width matches the compartment and whose diameter fits under the closed lid. A correct width with an oversized roll will still prevent the lid from latching. If only one measurement matches, stop and check the machine specification rather than forcing the roll.
- Load the roll with the thermal side facing the print head: Thermal paper prints only on the coated side. Feed the paper so the coated surface faces the print head, usually the side that appears slightly smoother or glossier. A blank or faint receipt after loading usually means the roll is in the wrong way round, not that the printer is broken.
- Test print before the busy period: Run a test receipt or payment slip and check that the print is clear across the full width. Then note the size you used so the next order is a straight repeat. Keep a spare pack of each size on site so a roll change never interrupts service.
Product facts
- Thermal Till Rolls 80 x 80mm (Pack of 20) | EPOS & Receipt Printers: Thermal Till Rolls 80 x 80mm, supplied as a pack of 20. This is the format to reach for when your EPOS, receipt or kitchen order printer takes an 80mm-wide roll, and the pack size covers repeated daily printing.
Thermal Till Rolls 80 x 80mm (Pack of 20) | EPOS & Receipt Printers - Thermal Till Rolls for Chip & Pin Card Machines 57 x 40mm (Pack of 20): Thermal Till Rolls 57 x 40mm, supplied as a pack of 20. This is the standard-fit roll for most chip and pin card machines and PDQ terminals, so card payment slips keep printing through busy periods.
Thermal Till Rolls for Chip & Pin Card Machines 57 x 40mm (Pack of 20)
