What is a receipt?

A receipt is a written acknowledgment that a specified amount of money, goods, or services has been received as payment. Receipts serve as proof of purchase for both businesses and customers, documenting transaction details such as items purchased, prices, taxes, payment method, and date. They play a crucial role in accounting, returns, warranty claims, and expense tracking.

Modern receipts typically follow a standardized format that includes the store name and contact information at the top, followed by an itemized list of purchases, subtotal, tax calculations, and the total amount. Many receipts also include barcodes for tracking purposes and personalized messages at the bottom.

Tool description

This receipt generator creates realistic-looking retail receipts with a classic thermal printer aesthetic. It allows you to customize every aspect of the receipt including store information, items with quantities and prices, tax rates, payment methods, and barcodes. The generated receipts can be downloaded as images or HTML files, or printed directly.

Features

  • Complete store customization: Add store name, address, city, and phone number
  • Flexible item management: Add unlimited items with name, quantity, and price fields
  • Automatic calculations: Subtotal, tax, and total are calculated automatically
  • Multiple barcode formats: Support for CODE128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC, CODE39, and ITF-14
  • Multi-currency support: Choose from a wide range of international currencies

Use cases

  • Prototyping and design: Create receipt mockups for POS system designs, retail app wireframes, or checkout flow presentations without needing actual transaction data.
  • Educational purposes: Teach students about retail mathematics, tax calculations, and business documentation in commerce or accounting courses.
  • Film and theater production: Generate realistic receipt props for movies, TV shows, or stage productions that require authentic-looking retail documents.

Options explained

Option Description
Store Name The business name displayed at the top of the receipt
Store Address Street address of the business
Store City City, state/province, and postal code
Store Phone Contact phone number
Receipt Number Unique identifier for the transaction
Cashier Name or ID of the employee processing the sale
Payment Method How the customer paid (Cash, Credit, Debit, etc.)
Tax Rate Percentage applied to the subtotal for tax calculation
Currency The currency symbol and formatting for all prices
Barcode Value The numeric or alphanumeric value encoded in the barcode
Barcode Format The barcode standard used (affects valid input characters)
Footer Lines Custom messages displayed at the bottom of the receipt

Supported barcode formats

Format Description Valid Characters
CODE128 High-density barcode for alphanumeric data All ASCII characters
EAN-13 European Article Number, 13 digits Numeric only (12 digits + check digit)
EAN-8 Compact version of EAN-13 Numeric only (7 digits + check digit)
UPC Universal Product Code, 12 digits Numeric only (11 digits + check digit)
CODE39 Alphanumeric industrial barcode A-Z, 0-9, and special characters
ITF-14 Packaging and shipping barcode Numeric only (14 digits)

Tips

  • Leave the barcode value empty if you don't want a barcode on the receipt
  • Use realistic item names and prices for more authentic-looking receipts
  • The tax rate field accepts decimal values for precise calculations (e.g., 8.25)
  • Download as PNG image for best compatibility when sharing or printing externally
  • The receipt automatically uses the current date and time when generated

FAQ

Can I add a store logo? Currently, the generator creates text-based receipts similar to thermal printer output. Logo support may be added in future updates.

Why does my barcode show an error? Different barcode formats have specific requirements. EAN-13 requires exactly 12 numeric digits, while CODE128 accepts any text. Check the supported formats table for valid characters.

How is tax calculated? Tax is calculated by multiplying the subtotal (sum of all item totals) by the tax rate percentage. The formula is: Tax = Subtotal × (Tax Rate / 100).