Two thermal paper rolls labeled 80mm x 80mm can have different prices because the same dimensions do not mean the same paper specifications. This article explains why two rolls of the same size can have different prices and what factors account for the difference.
On June 16, 2026, two customers visited our company. They came from different countries but spoke the same language, and they met each other at our office. Each brought their own sample and asked us for a quote. Here are the two rolls:
80mm x 80mm thermal paper roll A |
80mm x 80mm thermal paper roll B |
Price of thermal paper roll A: US$0.466 (paper cost per roll)
Price of thermal paper roll B: US$0.305 (paper cost per roll)
Both customers were puzzled: why did the same paper size come with two different prices?
Why would two 80mm x 80mm thermal paper rolls that look identical differ so much in price? As we talked, it became clear that neither customer knew much about thermal paper. From the outside, you cannot see any difference between these two thermal paper rolls, but they differ in many ways, and those differences explain the price gap. Take a look at the table below:
| Item | Unit | Roll A | Roll B | Notes |
| Basis weight | g/m² | 48 | 70 | |
| Smoothness | s (coated side) | ≥300 | ≥120 | Affects image development |
| Thickness | µm | 53±3 | 98±3 | |
| Roll length | m | 90.5 | 48.9 | |
| Roughness | µm | ≤3.0 | ≤2.0 |
First, the basis weight is different, so the base paper itself has a different price: the paper for roll A costs US$0.064 per square meter, while the paper for roll B costs US$0.0776 per square meter.
Second, the thickness is different. At the same roll diameter, this gives each roll a different length of paper: roll A holds 90.5 meters, while roll B holds 48.9 meters. So how do you measure the length of a paper roll?
1. Without any tools, you can simply unroll the paper along the floor, as shown below. Each of our floor tiles is 80 cm long, so the tiles let you measure the length of the roll. Many customers come to our factory to inspect their goods, and this is the most direct way we can show them.
2. We also use a professional formula to calculate the length of a paper roll:
L = π x (D² - d²) / (4 x h)
Where:
As shown in the diagram:
Paper thickness is measured with tools like these:
The paper cost of a roll is calculated as follows: L x W x wastage x base paper price per square meter ÷ number of finished rolls = paper cost per roll. See the figure below:
This gives the prices quoted above. However, that figure is only the cost of the paper used in each roll. Turning raw material into a finished roll takes more than paper. The roll needs a core (coreless rolls are also available), packaging, and cartons. It takes workers to produce it, and they need to be paid. It takes electricity. And every roll we sell is subject to tax. Only when all of these costs are added together do you get the real cost of the finished roll. On top of that comes the company's profit.
We have met many customers who push their suppliers' prices down very hard. To stay in business, we can give up our profit. But if the price does not even cover our costs, would you expect us to keep selling?
Different countries and different customers have different requirements for paper, which is why thermal paper comes in different grades and at different prices. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. (In another blog post, I will share how one of our customers was scammed because of an extremely low price!)
That is all for today. Our two customers came to understand our quotes, and in the end they became our friends as well as our customers. We hope that you, reading this blog, will become a friend of our company too!
