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These are the thermal receipt printers we’ve tested with Digital Florists Connect — all from Star Micronics and Epson, the two industry-standard brands for hospitality and retail. Connect picks the right way of talking to each printer automatically, so once it’s plugged in there’s nothing else to fiddle with. For receipt content, logos, and fonts, see Receipts.
Not sure what to buy or how much to spend? Have a look at our POS hardware buying guide for current recommendations and approximate UK pricing.

What to buy

Two specific picks that work reliably with Connect and are easy to source in the UK in 2026:

Star TSP143IV LAN

Mid pick — around £270. Current Star flagship with built-in Ethernet. If stock is tight, the older TSP143III LAN is still a perfectly good fallback.

Epson TM-T20IV (Ethernet)

Budget pick — around £200. Current model. Ethernet plug-in means no Windows driver faff. Reliable, widely stocked at UK POS suppliers.

Where to buy

Two UK retailers we point shops at:
Use Ethernet, not USB, on Star printers. Star USB receipt printers on Windows require a one-time driver swap (via a tool called Zadig), which Windows Updates can occasionally undo. The Ethernet variant of the same model costs around £20–40 more and avoids this entirely. Choose Ethernet where you can — if USB is your only option, we’ll walk you through the driver setup.

Supported models

Each model below is recognised by name and matched to a profile with the correct paper width and cash-drawer settings.
BrandSeriesModelsPaper width
Star MicronicsTSP143TSP143IV (current), TSP143III, TSP143IIIW, TSP143IIILAN, TSP143IIIBI, TSP143IIIU80mm
Star MicronicsTSP100TSP100IV (current), TSP100III, TSP100IIIU80mm
Star MicronicsmC-Print3MCP31, MCP31C, MCP31CI, MCP31CBI80mm
Star MicronicsmC-Print2MCP20, MCP2158mm
EpsonTM-T20TM-T20, TM-T20II, TM-T20III, TM-T20IV (current)80mm
EpsonTM-T88TM-T88V, TM-T88VI, TM-T88VII (current)80mm
EpsonTM-m30TM-m30, TM-m30II, TM-m30III (current), OmniLink TM-m30III80mm
Connect picks the right command set automatically based on the model. We test the current generation (the model marked “current”) end-to-end; older models in the same series are still recognised but receive less testing. Other generic thermal receipt printers may print fine, but only the models above are supported.
The Star mC-Print2 is the only certified 58mm receipt profile. Pick this only if you specifically want 58mm receipt paper — every other certified model is 80mm.

Connection methods

Receipt printers can be connected four ways. Connect treats them the same once they’re set up.
MethodHow it works
Network (Ethernet/Wi-Fi)Printer plugs into your router or joins your Wi-Fi. Connect finds it on your network, or you can type the IP address in manually.
USB directPrinter plugs straight into the computer’s USB port. On Windows, Star printers may need a small printer driver tool Connect helps you install.
Via Windows or macOSConnect prints through your computer’s own printer list, using the driver you’ve installed.
Star virtual COM portFor Star printers paired over a Star-specific virtual COM port (often COM5 or similar). Enter the port name manually when prompted — use default to let Connect pick the most likely port. Rare; only use this if Connect couldn’t detect your Star over the other methods.
If Connect can’t auto-detect your printer, you can also use Manual printer entry to type the IP address and port directly. The dialog appears as a fallback inside the setup wizard.

Printer-status banner

If a saved printer goes offline or its driver name changes, Connect shows an amber banner at the top of the Printers tab. Tap it to re-link or remove the offline printer.
For Star printers, choose the Ethernet (LAN/WLAN) variant rather than the USB-only one. USB Star printers on Windows need a one-time driver swap that’s fiddly to support remotely — the Ethernet model just plugs into your router and works.

Cash drawer support

Cash drawers don’t plug into your computer — they plug into the back of your receipt printer, and Connect fires them through the printer when a payment is confirmed. See Cash drawer for wiring and which printers can drive a drawer.

What’s not supported

A few things to watch out for when shopping:
  • Bluetooth-only printers — Connect talks to printers over USB or network. Bluetooth-only models won’t work.
  • Inkjet, laser, and consumer photo printers (HP DeskJet / OfficeJet, Canon PIXMA, Epson WorkForce, Brother laser, etc.) — Connect is thermal only.
  • Star USB printers on Windows without the small printer driver tool installed — Connect helps you install it during setup. Without it, fall back to a network connection.
  • Older Star and Epson models — earlier Star TSP100 series and older Epson TM-T20 / TM-T88 / TM-m30 generations are still floating around the second-hand market. They may print, but we don’t test them — buy a current model for a new till.

Receipt content and customisation

Once a receipt printer is connected, you can upload a logo, pick a font, and tailor what appears on the receipt itself. See Receipts for the full walkthrough, including paper-width specifics.

Common questions

Yes, if it’s on the network (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). Install Connect on each computer and point each at the same printer IP address.
It might. Most generic thermal receipt printers print fine, but only the models above are tested. If you’re unsure, email us the model number before buying at hello@digitalflorists.com.
Standard thermal receipt rolls — 80mm × 80mm, which is what every model above uses. Make sure you get thermal rolls, not bond/ink rolls.

What’s next?

Receipts

Receipt content, logo, and font customisation.

Cash drawer

Wire your drawer through the receipt printer.

POS Hardware Guide

What to buy, approximate prices, where to order.
Last modified on May 14, 2026