A common misconception is that printing checks requires a special check printer, magnetic ink cartridges, or a dedicated machine. In practice, any standard inkjet or laser printer you already own can print checks — what actually matters is the paper, the software generating the layout, and your printer settings.
What you actually need
- A standard inkjet or laser printer — no special model required
- Check stock (blank or pre-printed) or, in some cases, plain paper, depending on what your bank accepts
- Software that lays out the check fields and, ideally, the MICR line in the correct position
Step-by-step
- Load your check stock into the printer's main tray, oriented the way your printer expects for single-sided printing — run one test page on plain paper first to confirm the orientation.
- In your check software, set the print scale to 100% or "actual size." Never use "fit to page" or "shrink to fit" — this will throw off the alignment of every field, including the MICR line.
- Print a single test check on plain paper and hold it up against a real check stock sheet to check alignment before committing to your actual stock.
- Once alignment looks right, print your check stock and let the ink or toner dry fully before handling it.
Check Writer 123 is built around exactly this workflow — design your check once, then print it on your own printer, on blank or pre-printed stock, with the layout and MICR positioning handled for you.