Choosing the Right Solution for Your Box Office
Thermal ticket printers and ticket stock can strain budgets — prices can soar as high as $2,000. That’s why understanding how they work, what alternatives exist, and what to expect in terms of space, speed, security, and cost can save you from making an expensive mistake.
The good news? You have choices. Label printers and desktop laser printers can provide similar results for a fraction of the cost. Label printers are tiny, inexpensive, and a fantastic choice for small box offices. Desktop printers? They give you more room to play — literally — with a full 8.5" × 11" ticket canvas for ads, sponsor logos, or coupons for future events… all for under $500.
Space, Speed, Security & Cost — What to Consider
Space
Thermal printers can be as small as 7.7" H × 6.5" W × 8.25" L — perfect if you’re short on counter space or need multiple printers. These compact models skip the bulky ticket cabinet (once used for locking ticket storage), which is fine for most venues where ticket duplication isn’t a big concern.
Laser printers have also slimmed down over the years. They use standard letter-sized paper, so you can skip custom stock altogether — no extra boxes of specialty tickets cluttering your storage closet.
Speed
When the lobby’s full and the show’s about to start, print speed matters.
-
Thermal printers can churn out about 30 tickets per minute — and they don’t need a warm-up period after sitting idle.
-
Many laser printers match that page-per-minute speed, but they may take a minute or two to wake up if left unused for a while.
Security
Thermal ticket stock can include impressive anti-fraud features like thermochromic ink, UV ink, coin-activated ink, and holographic foils.
Laser paper isn’t far behind — you can get it with hidden images, watermarks, or fibers that glow under UV light. Either way, your tickets can be both secure and a nice keepsake for your guests.
Cost
With thermal printers, remember to factor in specialty stock, replacement print heads, and wear-and-tear parts like cutters.
Laser printers are cheaper to run on standard paper, but toner cartridges aren’t free — and maintenance can add up over time.
ThunderTix Makes It Easy
ThunderTix works seamlessly with the most popular thermal printers on the market and is just as happy generating print-ready tickets for a desktop printer. Big venue or small box office, we’ll help you pick the right printing method to keep your costs down and your lines moving.
Next Steps:
-
Weigh your space, volume, and security needs.
-
Compare thermal printer models — and remember, fast doesn’t always mean expensive.
-
Start your free ThunderTix trial and see just how easy ticket printing can be.