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Print vs order

Print your own checks vs ordering them: which is better?

Ordered checks arrive preprinted with your details in a batch, after a wait and an upfront cost. Printing your own means buying blank check stock and using software to print your name, bank details, payee and amount as you need them. Printing on demand suits changing details and small volumes. Ordering suits people who want a box ready to use.

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Print only what you need. Free plan: 5 checks a month.

Why ordering checks can be frustrating

You pay for a large batch up front

Personalized checks usually come in boxes of dozens or hundreds. You cover the whole order before you write a single check, even if you will use only a few.

You wait for delivery

A new account, a new business name or a changed address can mean waiting days or weeks for a box. If you need a check today, an order does not help.

Changes leave you with unusable checks

Move, rename the business or switch banks, and the preprinted checks left in the drawer may be out of date. Some people end up shredding unused checks.

Layouts are fixed

A preprinted design is whatever you ordered. If you want a different layout, you order again.

How printing on demand works

Printing your own checks replaces the ordering step with a few clicks. Here is the usual setup.

  1. 1

    Buy compatible blank check stock

    Blank check stock is sold in sheets with the check area and a stub or voucher. Choose a layout that matches the app, such as one, two or three checks per page.

  2. 2

    Add your bank details once

    Enter the name and address on the account, routing number and account number. The routing number is checked for you.

  3. 3

    Run a free Test Print

    Print a watermarked test page on plain paper and hold it against a real check to check alignment before you use real stock.

  4. 4

    Print each check when it is due

    Enter the payee, amount and date, check the preview and print. The MICR line, check number and amount in words are filled in for you.

  5. 5

    Reorder only the paper

    When the stock runs low, you buy more blank paper. Your details do not change, so there is no custom order to place.

What you gain by printing on demand

Print only what you need

There is no large personalized batch to buy. You print checks as payments come up.

Change details easily

Update an address, business name or logo in the app, and the next check shows it. Old preprinted boxes do not tie you down.

Handle unexpected payments

When a payment comes up, you print it right away, without waiting on a new order.

Several layouts and bank accounts

Choose your layout and font style, and keep separate bank accounts for separate businesses or properties.

A flat monthly price

The Free plan covers 5 checks a month. Paid plans are $5.99 for 20 checks, $10.99 for 60 and $25.99 for unlimited.

An example: a landlord with a changing business name

A landlord renamed her small property company halfway through the year and had half a box of old preprinted checks left. The figures are an illustration, not a customer story.

After switching to printing her own, she updated the name in the app and printed the next checks on blank stock. Her costs became the stock, ink and a plan that fits her six checks a month, which is inside the Free plan's limit of 5 or the Occasional plan at $5.99.

An illustration with made-up figures, not a real customer.

12 reasons to print your own checks instead of ordering

These are the benefits people mention most:

  • Avoid ordering a large batch of personalized checks just to get started.
  • Print as soon as you have stock and a printer.
  • Avoid reordering preprinted checks.
  • Change payee, amount and date for each payment.
  • Handle unexpected payments without another order.
  • Avoid unused preprinted checks after a business change.
  • Use an available layout instead of ordering a different design.
  • Potentially keep less preprinted check inventory.
  • Prepare checks when you are ready to issue them.
  • Support different formats for different workflows.
  • Avoid design-order complexity with ready templates.
  • Test alignment before printing a batch.

When ordered checks are still the better choice

Ordering is a good fit if you write checks rarely, do not own a printer or want preprinted security features from a check printer. If you write only a handful of checks a year, a single box can last a long time.

The right answer depends on your volume, your printer and how often your details change. Compare the full cost, including blank stock, ink or toner and your time, with the cost of reorders and the checks you do not use. See printing checks vs ordering from a bank.

How do the costs compare?

Printing has a software price plus the cost of blank stock and ink. Ordering has a batch price plus reorder costs. A subscription can cost more than a box of checks for a person who writes very few. Use our cost of printing your own checks page to run your own numbers.

What it costs

One flat monthly price. Every paid plan has all check templates, batch printing and the check register. Logo, signature and cloud backup come with Mid Tier and Unlimited. You also pay for your own paper and ink.

Occasional Pack

$5.99

per month

20 checks a month

1 bank account

Mid Tier

$10.99

per month

60 checks a month

4 bank accounts

Unlimited

$25.99

per month

Unlimited checks

Unlimited bank accounts

A check counts when you press Print. Reprints and Test Prints are free. 30-day money-back guarantee on your first payment; see the refund policy.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to print your own checks or order them?

It depends on how many checks you write. Printing costs a software plan plus blank stock and ink, and ordering costs a batch price plus reorders. People with changing details or small volumes often find printing convenient. Compare your real yearly numbers for each.

Can I print checks with my bank's account details?

Yes. You enter the routing and account numbers, and the software prints them in the MICR line on blank check stock. Use compatible stock, run a Test Print and confirm the result with your own bank if you have any concern.

Do I need a special printer?

No. A regular inkjet or laser printer works with Check Writer 123. You buy blank check stock separately, or print on plain paper for deposits you make yourself.

What if my business name or address changes?

Update it in the app. The next check you print shows the new details, and you do not have to throw away or reorder a box of preprinted checks.

Can I use Check Writer 123 with checks I already have?

You can print on pre-printed stock from your bank if its layout matches. Run a Test Print and use the alignment tool to line the text up with your checks.

How much does Check Writer 123 cost?

The Free plan covers 5 checks a month with 1 bank account and needs no card. Paid plans are $5.99 a month for 20 checks, $10.99 for 60 and $25.99 for unlimited. There are no per-check fees.

Guides for people deciding between printing checks and ordering them

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Print checks when you need them

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