Kitchen Printer Ribbons
Ink ribbons for Epson TM-U, Star SP, Okidata, IBM, and other impact printers used in restaurant kitchens, automotive shops, and banking operations. In stock in black, black/red, and purple.
Shop All Ribbons Find My Ribbon →Choose your ink color
Most kitchen printer ribbons are available in three colors — select based on your operation's preference
Black
Standard for most kitchens. Clean, high-contrast tickets. Most common choice for kitchen order printing.
Black/Red
Two-color printing — use red for priority items, modifiers, or alerts. Popular in high-volume kitchens.
Purple
Standard for many Epson ERC models and time clock ribbons. Check your printer's ribbon specification.
Ribbons by brand & model
Select your printer brand to find the correct ribbon
| Ribbon | Colors | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| ERC-02 | Blk Pur B/R | 6-pk |
| ERC-03 | Blk Pur | 6-pk |
| ERC-05 | Blk Pur | 1-pk |
| ERC-09 | Blk | 6-pk |
| ERC-18 | Blk B/R | 6-pk |
| ERC-22 / ERC-23 | Blk | 6-pk |
| ERC-27 | Blk B/R | 6-pk |
| ERC-30 / ERC-34 / ERC-38 | Blk Pur B/R | 6-pk |
| ERC-31 / ERC-32 | Blk | 6-pk |
| ERC-43 | Blk | 6-pk |
| DFX-5000 / DFX-8000 | Blk | 1-pk |
| DFX-9000 | Blk | 1-pk |
| Ribbon | Fits | Colors | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| RC200B / RC200P | SP212, SP217, SP298, SP512, SP517, SP542 | Blk Pur B/R | 6-pk |
| RC700B / RC700P | SP712, SP717, SP742, SP747 | Blk Pur B/R | 6-pk |
| Printer | OEM # | Color |
|---|---|---|
| Okidata ML180 / ML182 / ML183 | 52102001 | Black |
| Okidata ML320 / ML321 | 52107001 | Black |
| Okidata ML390 / ML391 | 52102001 | Black |
| Okidata ML420 / ML421 | 52107001 | Black |
| Okidata Pacemark 3410 | 52107001 | Black |
| IBM 4610 SureMark | — | Black |
| IBM 9068 POS | — | B/R |
Printer → Ribbon compatibility table
Cross-reference your printer model to the correct ribbon and paper
| Printer Model | Industry | Ribbon Needed | Bond Paper | Colors Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson TM-U220 / TM-U220A / TM-U220B / TM-U220D | Restaurant / Kitchen | ERC-38 (most common) | 3" × 95' 2-ply white/yellow | Black · Black/Red · Purple |
| Epson TM-U230 | Restaurant / Kitchen | ERC-38 | 3" × 95' 2-ply | Black · Black/Red |
| Star SP700 / SP712 / SP742 / SP747 | Restaurant / Kitchen | RC700B / RC700P | 3" × 95' 2-ply white/yellow | Black · Purple · Black/Red |
| Star SP200 / SP212 / SP512 / SP542 | Restaurant / Retail | RC200B / RC200P | 3" × 95' bond | Black · Purple · Black/Red |
| Okidata ML180 / ML182 / ML183 | Office / Retail | OEM 52102001 | Various | Black |
| Okidata ML320 / ML321 / ML420 / ML421 | Office / Retail | OEM 52107001 | Various | Black |
| Okidata Pacemark 3410 | Office | OEM 52107001 | Various | Black |
| IBM 4610 SureMark | Retail / Banking | IBM-4610 | Various | Black |
| IBM 9068 | Retail / POS | IBM-9068 | Various | Black/Red |
| Panasonic KX-P2023 | Office | KX-P2023 | Various | Black |
| Panasonic KX-P3626 | Office | KX-P3626 | Various | Black |
Kitchen printer ribbon FAQ
Everything you need to know before ordering
What's the difference between the Epson ERC-30, ERC-34, and ERC-38?
They are interchangeable — the ERC-30, ERC-34, and ERC-38 are the same physical ribbon cartridge and fit the same printers. The most common is the ERC-38. All three are available in black, purple, and black/red. When in doubt, order ERC-38.
My kitchen tickets are printing light or faded — do I need a new ribbon?
Yes. A fading or streaking print is the first sign a ribbon is nearing the end of its life. Impact printer ribbons don't stop working suddenly — they gradually fade. Replace before print quality becomes an issue so kitchen staff can still read tickets clearly.
Can I use thermal paper in my kitchen impact printer?
No. Impact printers like the Epson TM-U220 and Star SP700 physically strike the paper through the ribbon to create an impression. Thermal paper has no ink layer and will produce blank output. You must use bond or carbonless paper with these printers.
What bond paper do I need to order with my kitchen ribbon?
The Epson TM-U220 and Star SP700 both use 3" × 95' 2-ply bond rolls (white/yellow). The white copy stays in the kitchen and the yellow copy goes to the server or is retained. We stock these alongside our ribbons so you can order both in one order.
Black vs Black/Red — which should I choose?
Black is the standard for most kitchens. Black/Red allows two-color printing — some POS systems use the red to highlight modifiers, allergen flags, or rush orders. Check your POS software settings to confirm whether two-color printing is supported before ordering Black/Red.
Call us or use the ribbon finder — we'll confirm the correct part number before you order.