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Before printing technology reached its current state, transferring stencils could be very difficult. Tattoo artists would have to rely on tracing by hand, leading to extra effort and potential errors. Nowadays, tattoo artists can transfer designs in seconds with a thermal printer – no toners, inks or mess required. Thermal printers work by heating a thermal head, which then heats sections of dye-impregnated paper to produce marks. But how do you know which machine to buy? We’ve tested tattoo stencil printing machines from across the market to find the best machine for you, focussing on the areas that matter; speed, price, quality and portability. Here are our choices for the best thermal printer for tattoo stencils available in 2022.
Product Comparison Table: Best Thermal Printer for Tattoo Stencils
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Jconly Tattoo Printer Machine Kit | $$ | 4.0 stars | Best value | Amazon |
 | S8 Tattoo Stencil Printer AirPrint Kit | $$$$ | 4 stars | Best print quality | Amazon |
 | Thermofax BMX Tattoo Stencil Machine | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best warranty | Amazon |
 | Brother PocketJet PJ773 Direct Thermal Printer | $$$ | 4 stars | Best premium | Amazon |
 | Life Basis Tattoo Stencil Transfer Thermal Printer | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best overall | Amazon |
Jconly Tattoo Printer Machine Kit
The Jconly Tattoo Printer Machine Kit is a simple, reliable machine well suited to the needs of tattoo artists. The main housing is made out of a sturdy, environmentally safe and durable ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic, meant to withstand long term use and high levels of heat. The thermal head is capable of printing on tattoo transfer printing paper and thermal paper, at sizes from A4 to B5, and a resolution up to 200dpi. It can print, as well as mirror and regular copy. Printing is fast and quiet, with no loud sounds to disturb your work. The box includes 100 free sheets of high-quality purple-colour transfer paper, as well as several needles and other accessories.
Pros
- Sturdy construction
- Supports a number of sizes
- Quiet and efficient
- Comes with paper and accessories
Cons
- Struggles with more detailed designs
Verdict
The price of the Jconly Tattoo Printer Machine Kit is not the lowest on paper, but, considering how much you save on paper, accessories and other included items, this comes out at the best value option. The machine is very functional, and more than meets the requirements of most artists on a budget. Due to the low resolution, however, this is mainly an option for artists just starting out who won’t be needing to transfer more complex or intricate designs.
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S8 Tattoo Stencil Printer AirPrint Kit
The S8 Tattoo Stencil Printer AirPrint Kit is made with artistry in mind. It’s compact and battery powered, allowing you to carry it around with you during consultations. Plus, it allows wireless printing from iPads and iPhones, which is a definite boon considering most artists nowadays work on tablet devices for digital drawing. If you don’t have AirPrint capability, you can also connect with a USB cable. The resolution reaches a maximum of 300×300 dpi – the same as some inkjet printers, for comparison – allowing you to print even intricate designs. As for paper handling, the automatic feeder prevents jams and blockages. The kit comes with 50 sheets of red-color transfer paper (as opposed to the typical purple), for high visibility on light and medium skin tones.
Pros
- High resolution for intricate designs
- Wireless printing and AirPrint compatibility
- 50 sheets of red transfer paper
Cons
- Very expensive
Verdict
If you’re an artist who works with highly detailed designs, the S8 Tattoo Stencil Printer is created with you in mind. No other printer on this list provides this level of print fidelity, and easy connection to the software and operating systems that most artists prefer. However, it is extremely expensive – up to six times the price of the cheapest models on this list.
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Thermofax BMX Tattoo Stencil Machine
The Thermofax BMX Tattoo Stencil machine is very similar to a lot of other machines on this list. It is lightweight and small (weighing only 1.6 kg or 3.5lb) so it is portable and easy to transport. There are no bulbs, cylinders or heating elements, and it can be used at a voltage of 100-240v. It is quiet, not hot to the touch, has reliable performance, and offers two copy settings: standard copy, and mirror copy. It handles sizes up to A4 with ease. However, what sets this thermal tattoo transfer printer apart is its excellent extended warranty; if you are unhappy with the product, you can take advantage of a 90-day money back guarantee. Plus, there’s an 18 month warranty too if you’d rather just receive a replacement machine.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Multiple copy settings
- 10 free thermal sheets
- Extended warranty period
Cons
- Struggles with shadowed designs
Verdict
If you’re only just making the switch from hand-tracing to thermal copying and aren’t sure you’ll stick with it, the Thermofax BMX Tattoo Stencil Printer allows you a huge amount of flexibility. Take advantage of all the features common to most machines on this list, and simply use the warranty and guarantees if you find this isn’t the printer for you. The main issue with this one, however, is with print quality; it struggles with shadowed or more complex designs.
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Brother PocketJet PJ773 Direct Thermal Printer
The Brother name guarantees a level of premium quality and reliability, which the Brother PocketJet PJ773 Direct Thermal Printer definitely lives up to. With a maximum print speed of 8 A4 pages per minute, this printer will get the job done fast and efficiently. A sophisticated thermal head dispenses high resolution 300dpi print technology, for excellent results even on more intricate or detailed designs. Plus, a high-capacity Lithium ion battery allows you to print even when you’re away from power sources. It supports an enormous range of operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and Citrix; this means that you can print from any desktop computer, phone or tablet. Best of all, you can connect wirelessly or by Bluetooth. You can even connect via USB if you need to.
Pros
- Fast printing speed
- High dpi for intricate designs
- Battery powered and portable
- Wireless connectivity and multiple OS support
Cons
- Expensive to buy
- Doesn’t come with transfer papers
Verdict
The Brother PocketJet PJ773 Direct Thermal Printer is our number one premium option for thermal tattoo stencil printing. It comes with the full range of features you’d expect at this price point, plus a sleek design and the added peace-of-mind that comes with established brand names. The lack of free included papers will push the price up further, though. This is a great choice for artists that produce a lot of custom work on iPads or other digital drawing platforms.
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Life Basis Tattoo Stencil Transfer Thermal Printer
Life Basis offers a tattoo stencil transfer thermal printer with all the extra features, at an affordable price. It only weighs 1.17kg for easy portability, but still handles papers up to A4 size. Printing resolutions reach a maximum 200×200 dpi, which is not far below a conventional inkjet resolution. Most importantly, this stencil printer has no bulbs, cylinders, or heating elements to avoid heavy consumption of electricity. An overheating warning is included; one light blinks on working, and the other blinks as a fault sign. Mirror copy and normal copy functions are available, as well as two deepness settings (deepness I for fine line, and II for heavy line). You even get ten thermal paper sheets and 600 digital prints as a bonus on purchase. Plus, you can demand a replacement if the stencil printer doesn’t work, within the two year warranty.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Multiple settings and functions
- Free thermal sheets
- Two year warranty
Cons
- Not compatible with iPads and tablets
- Small wait time in between prints (2-3 minutes)
Verdict
The Life Basis Tattoo Stencil Transfer Thermal Printer has all the features you need to quickly produce clear, precise stencil transfers – without breaking the bank. The included sheets and two year warranty are a real bonus. It may not be compatible with iPads and tablets, and there is a small wait time for the head to cool, but these are problems that affect most printers. This is our choice for the overall best thermal printer for tattoo stencils in 2022.
