You can print a check on blank, plain letter paper, and a few banks will take it, especially for mobile or ATM deposit. But plain paper has no magnetic ink and no security features, so many banks refuse it, and it is a poor choice for large amounts, mail and anything a branch teller must handle. Blank check stock is the dependable alternative.
There are really two meanings of blank paper. One is ordinary 8.5 x 11 inch printer paper. The other is blank check stock, which is paper made for checks but without anything printed on it yet. This page is about the first meaning. For the second, see what is blank check stock.
What does a check on plain paper look like?
A plain paper check is a full check image printed on a standard sheet: payer name and address, bank name, check number, date, payee line, amount box, amount in words, memo, signature line and a line of routing, account and check numbers along the bottom. Because the sheet is letter size and the check is only 8.5 x 3.5 inches, the check sits near the top and you cut it off along a guide.
Check Writer 123's plain paper mode, for example, prints one complete decorated check at the top of the page with a dashed cut guide, with an optional back page that has an endorsement area. There are four designs and five decorative backgrounds to choose from. Decoration is cosmetic. It does not make the check any more or less valid.
Will a bank accept a check printed on plain paper?
It depends on the bank, and sometimes on the person at the window. A check is legally defined by what it says and who signed it, not by the paper, so a plain paper check can be a real, valid payment instruction. In practice, a bank may decline it because it cannot verify security features, because the MICR line is not magnetic, or because its own rules say so.
Two banks are involved: yours (the paying bank) and the payee's (the depositing bank). Either can raise a question. Never promise a recipient that a plain paper check will clear. Ask their bank in advance, or give them a way to choose another payment method. The general legal picture is in can you print your own checks.
What about mobile deposit and ATM deposit?
Mobile and ATM deposits work from an image of the check rather than the paper's magnetic properties, so a clean plain paper check is more likely to work there than at a teller. The usual rules still apply: the depositor typically photographs the front and back, signs the back, and writes a deposit restriction if the bank asks for one.
- Print the check in dark, crisp ink. Faded or gray text is hard to read in a phone photo.
- Print the back page with an endorsement area if your tool supports it, so the depositor knows where to sign.
- Cut along the guide cleanly. Ragged or tilted edges can fail automatic image checks.
- Tell the depositor to photograph it on a dark, flat surface with all four corners visible.
- Expect that some mobile deposit apps reject items that look self-made. The bank may hold or return the deposit.
When is plain paper acceptable and when is it not?
| Use | Plain paper | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Small payment to a friend who deposits by phone | Often fine if their bank permits | Ask them first |
| Rent handed to a landlord who goes to a branch | Risky | Blank check stock |
| Mailed payment to a company or government office | Not recommended | Blank check stock with a clean MICR line |
| Payroll | Not recommended | Blank check stock, as in the payroll guide |
| Large amounts | Not recommended | Blank check stock or a bank-issued check |
| Voided check for direct deposit setup | Usually rejected | A proper voided check or a bank form |
What are the risks of a plain paper check?
The first risk is rejection or delay. A bank that cannot process the item automatically may hold it or return it, which can leave the payee waiting and possibly charge a fee. The second is fraud exposure. Plain paper checks have no watermark, microprinting or void pantograph, so the paper itself cannot help a bank spot an altered or counterfeit item.
Keep a clear record of each plain paper check you issue, and reconcile your statement. If the same check image could be deposited twice, once by phone and once at a branch, you could be charged for a duplicate. Tell the recipient to mark the paper check as deposited, or ask them to destroy it after the funds clear.
How do you print a check on plain paper?
- Set up your bank details (name, routing number, account number) and check number in your check tool.
- Enter the payee, date, amount and memo, and confirm that the amount in words is right.
- Choose plain paper and print a test copy, so you can confirm the layout and the cut guide.
- Print the real check at 100 percent or Actual size, on US Letter paper, with headers and footers off.
- Cut along the dashed guide with a ruler and a sharp blade or scissors.
- Sign with a pen and record the check number in your register.
If you plan to do more than a few, graduate to blank check stock. The step-by-step is in how to print a check on blank check paper, and the paper options are compared in what kind of paper do you need to print checks.
Check Writer 123 supports plain letter paper as well as blank check stock and pre-printed stock, so you can start on plain paper and switch to stock later without changing tools. Bank acceptance of plain paper checks is up to the bank. There is a 14-day free trial with no card needed.
Putting it together
Plain paper is a stopgap for small, low-risk payments that will be deposited by image. For anything that goes through a teller, the mail or a business, spend a little on blank check stock. It costs a fraction of ordered checks, adds security features and carries the MICR line that banks expect. For a broader overview of formats, read types of blank check paper.