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Hardware solution

Square Terminal

A compact, battery-powered checkout station with receipts built in

Square Terminal gives a bakery counter, coffee bar, food truck, salon desk, or service checkout one compact device for taking tap, chip, and magstripe payments. Its built-in receipt printer and all-day battery support a tidy counter or mobile handoff, while Square Point of Sale software can be configured for different business workflows.

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Square Terminal product image

Built for your day-to-day

How it fits your business

It needs Wi-Fi or Ethernet for normal operation; Ethernet and USB accessories require the $39 Hub for Square Terminal. Offline payments can keep eligible card sales moving during a disruption, but they carry upload deadlines and merchant risk. The device is U.S.-approved hardware, and Square’s published pricing currently lists it at $299 before taxes and fees.

Key capabilities

What you can do

  • Accept the payment methods customers already use

    Terminal accepts EMV chip cards, contactless NFC cards and wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, plus magstripe cards. That covers tap, dip, and swipe at a single checkout point.

  • Print receipts without a separate starter printer

    The device includes a built-in receipt printer and uses 57 mm rolls up to 38 mm in diameter. That is useful for a fast counter handoff or a service visit where a customer wants paper immediately.

  • Move between counter and pickup point

    A built-in battery is designed for all-day use, and the 417 g device can be used cordlessly or plugged in. A countertop mount or other compatible camera-style mount can secure it where a fixed checkout is preferable.

  • Add the peripherals your operation actually needs

    With the optional Hub, Terminal can connect by Ethernet and support up to three USB accessories. Square’s U.S. compatibility listings include supported receipt and kitchen printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners.

  • Keep eligible sales moving during a short outage

    When offline payments are enabled in a supported Square POS mode, Terminal can store eligible card payments and upload them after reconnection. This is a continuity feature, not a guarantee that every offline payment will approve.

Explore the details

Product details

Plans, account, and setup requirements

Square Terminal includes Square Terminal software and works with Square Point of Sale. Square Free has no monthly subscription cost and charges processing fees when a payment is taken; Square Plus and Square Premium are optional paid plans with advanced features and lower published processing rates. An account owner or authorized team member can set up the hardware, but only an account owner can create and set up a Square account. Normal setup requires Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Captive-portal networks are not supported, so a café, airport, or guest network that requires a browser acceptance step is not a suitable connection.

Connectivity and software boundaries to plan around

Terminal can connect to a Square POS app as a buyer-facing display and payment point, but one POS app can connect to only one Terminal at a time. Square says Terminal cannot connect to mobile devices using the Square Appointments or Square Invoice apps. Offline payments also do not work when Terminal is connected through Terminal API as a buyer-facing payment point, and offline mode excludes manually entered cards, Afterpay, Cash App Pay, Square Gift Cards, Tap to Pay, and some other payment types.

Offline-payment risk is the merchant’s responsibility

For Square Terminal, Square recommends reconnecting within 24 hours and states that pending offline payments expire after 72 hours if they are not uploaded. Offline payments can be declined or disputed, and Square says the seller is responsible for expired, declined, or disputed transactions; refunds are unavailable until the payment has uploaded. Do not sign out, switch locations or modes, delete the app, or factory-reset while offline payments are pending.

Plan details

Pricing, fees & eligibility

Explore pricing

Square Terminal is listed at $299 before taxes and fees, or a displayed $27 per month for 12 months financing offer. Square Free has no monthly subscription cost; paid Square plans are optional and plan pricing/features can vary. The optional Hub for Square Terminal is $39 and is needed for Ethernet or USB accessories.

Upfront hardware (USD)$299
Monthly software (USD)$0

Fees & eligibility

  • In-person tap, dip, or swipe

    Published Square Terminal technical-specification rate; card-present payment on the standard rate shown by Square. Square’s plan page also shows lower in-person rates on some paid plans.

    2.6% + $0.15 per transaction
  • Afterpay

    When the customer pays with Afterpay; not an offline-payment method.

    6% + $0.30 per transaction
  • Custom processing pricing

    Businesses processing more than $250,000 per year may contact Square about eligibility for custom pricing and processing fees.

    Custom

Requirements

  • A Square account and compatible Square POS software are required for normal use.
  • Wi-Fi or Ethernet internet access is required for full setup and normal operation.
  • Ethernet connectivity and USB accessories require the $39 Hub for Square Terminal.
  • Use compatible 57 mm receipt paper for the built-in printer.
  • Financing is subject to credit approval and other factors; the published credit-sale plan is unavailable to merchants in AL, DE, MS, MO, NH, and TN, and sales tax may be due at checkout.

Square Terminal is intended for the U.S. market on this record; Square states that hardware is approved only for the country for which it is intended.

The $27 per month figure is a financing offer over 12 months, not a software subscription price; the product page separately lists $299 before taxes and fees.

Square’s published processing rates vary by plan and payment type. Confirm the applicable rate in the merchant’s Square account and agreement before purchase.

Offline payments are not guaranteed approvals. The seller bears responsibility for expired, declined, or disputed offline payments, and some payment types and app modes are excluded.

Compatibility is model- and connection-specific. Confirm the exact accessory in Square’s compatibility directory before buying; a compatible printer is not the same as a compatible sticky-label printer.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Does Square Terminal include a receipt printer and battery?

Yes. Square Terminal has a built-in receipt printer and an integrated battery designed for all-day use. It accepts tap, chip, and magstripe payments, and it can also remain plugged into power.

Can Square Terminal work without Wi-Fi?

It needs internet for normal operation and setup, using Wi-Fi or Ethernet through the Hub. If offline payments are enabled in a supported Square POS mode, eligible payments can be stored during a disruption, but Square requires timely reconnection and the merchant carries the risk of declines or disputes.

What do I need to add a cash drawer, scanner, or extra printer?

Add the optional $39 Hub for Square Terminal. Square says the Hub provides Ethernet and up to three USB accessory connections. Then choose a model listed as compatible with Square Terminal in Square’s U.S. accessory directory.

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