Does Thermal Paper Fade?

Does Thermal Paper Fade?
| 2 mins

Thermal paper is a common type of paper used for the purpose of creating receipts, tickets, and labels. If you’re wondering how long the print stays on the paper and if thermal paper fades, the following provides the answers to these questions.

What is Thermal Paper?

Thermal paper is a special type of paper that is printed on not with ink but by using heat-sensitive chemicals. When exposed to heat, the chemicals will turn black and produce printed materials. This type of paper is used in thermal printers and often has a glossy appearance on one side. 

How Do Thermal Printers Work?

When you use thermal paper in thermal printers, the printer will use a thermal printhead that applies heat rather than ink or toner to the paper. When applied, the heat-sensitive paper turns black where the images appear on the thermal paper. Thermal printers are often quieter and faster during operation as compared to ink-based printers. 

Why Do Businesses Use Thermal Paper?

Businesses use thermal paper for a variety of reasons, such as for creating certain paper products, including receipts and labels. In addition, thermal paper is a commonly used paper product by businesses that want to produce printed materials in a quick, efficient manner. Using thermal paper also means that the business doesn’t have to buy, and frequently replace, printer ink to make copies. 

Benefits of Using Thermal Paper

There are quite a few benefits to using thermal paper in your business operations. Thermal paper is cost-efficient in that it’s used in thermal printers that don’t require ink or toner, which can be costly and have to be replaced often. Also, thermal paper printouts can be completed quickly and efficiently, which helps your business be more productive. In addition, since thermal paper is often used to create receipts, these are a vital part of daily operations for many businesses and a necessity for many companies. 

Does Thermal Paper Fade?

So, how does thermal paper compare to regular ink-based copies? Does thermal paper fade? When compared to ink-based documents, thermal paper printouts do tend to fade faster. In fact, thermal paper prints may fade weeks or months post-printing. This type of paper will fade more quickly when exposed to sunlight, heat, or friction. With this in mind, it’s often best to use thermal paper for temporary printings as opposed to long-lasting document storage needs. 

How Long Does Print Stay on Thermal Paper?

Thermal paper may start to fade within a few weeks of the printing. However, after a year or more, the print may become much less visible. If you’re looking to print documents that you want to keep around for a long time, and still be able to read the print, it’s best to look into other types of paper options when printing receipts.

Find Your Thermal Paper Solutions at Paper Planet

Thermal paper is an essential product for businesses that produce receipts, labels, and other printouts that don’t need to be archived for long periods of time. If you’re ready to put thermal paper to good use in your company, Paper Planet can help you with your supply orders. Our company offers a wide array of paper products, including thermal paper. We deliver right to your door, so you can stay focused on your business operations and leave the logistics up to us.


Check out the wide selection of thermal paper and other paper products on our website and place your Paper Planet order today!

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