To print a check on blank check paper, choose whether the check sits on the top, middle or bottom third of the sheet, load the stock with the correct face and edge, print a test copy on plain paper and compare it with the real stock, adjust the alignment, then print the final check with its MICR line. Blank stock lets your software print every part of the check.
This page is the working procedure. For background on the paper itself, see what is blank check stock. For an alignment deep dive, see how to align a check on blank check paper.
What is blank check paper, and how does it differ from pre-printed?
Blank check stock is paper with security features and perforations but without your bank name, account number or MICR line. Your software prints all of that. Pre-printed stock arrives with those details already on it, so the printer only adds the date, payee, amount and signature. Blank stock gives one box of paper for any account; pre-printed gives less to go wrong at print time.
The most common blank format is 3-to-a-page: an 8.5 x 11 sheet holds one 8.5 x 3.5 inch check and two stub sections. The stubs are used for records such as an invoice list or pay details. The check can sit on the top, middle or bottom third of the sheet.
Which position do you choose: top, middle or bottom?
| Position | Where the check sits | Stub layout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Upper third | Two stubs below | The most common layout |
| Middle | Center third | One stub above, one below | Matches stock formatted with a middle check |
| Bottom | Lower third | Two stubs above | Needs the paper to feed correctly across the full sheet |
Choose the position that matches the stock you bought. If your software has a layout setting, it must match the paper exactly, or every field will print in the wrong third. The full comparison is in top check vs middle check paper.
What do you need before you start?
- Blank 3-to-a-page check stock, enough for a test sheet or two.
- A printer, preferably a laser if you plan to use MICR toner.
- Software that prints a full check layout and the MICR line.
- Your payer details, the bank name, the 9-digit routing number and the account number.
- A ruler and a window or lamp for alignment checks.
How do you print the check, step by step?
- Enter your bank account in the software: payer name and address, bank name, routing number, account number and the next check number. Use a check you already have to confirm every digit.
- Choose the check position (top, middle or bottom) to match your stock.
- Enter the date, payee, amount and memo. Confirm the amount in words matches the numbers.
- Open the print dialog and select US Letter, a scale of 100% or Actual size, and no headers or footers. Never use Fit to page.
- Print a test copy on a plain sheet of paper, not on check stock.
- Lay the test sheet on top of a blank check sheet and hold both to a window or lamp. Each printed element should sit inside its matching box or line on the stock.
- Measure any gap with a ruler in fractions of an inch. If the date sits an eighth of an inch too high, move the page down an eighth of an inch in the software and print another test.
- Repeat until the test lines up. Save the alignment so later checks reuse it.
- Load a sheet of check stock face up or face down as your printer requires. If unsure, mark a plain sheet with an X on one side, print the test, and see which side the print lands on.
- Print the real check, then leave the sheet to dry or settle for a minute before touching it.
- Tear along the perforation, sign the check if it is not already signed, and file the stubs.
How do you load the paper the right way?
Printers differ on which face prints and which edge leads, which is why the marked-sheet test is worth doing once. Print a test copy on plain paper with a small mark in one corner, then see where the mark ends up. Copy that orientation when you load the stock.
- Load a single sheet or a small stack at first. Fan the stack so sheets do not stick together.
- Use the manual feed or rear tray if your printer has one. It gives a straighter paper path.
- Do not load more than the tray's weight limit, and check that perforated edges are not curled.
- Keep the stack flat. Curled stock feeds at an angle and prints crooked.
What about the MICR line?
The MICR line is the row of numbers at the bottom of the check. It holds the routing number, account number and check number in the E-13B font. Your software prints it as part of a full check on 3-to-a-page stock. Traditionally the line is printed with magnetic ink or MICR toner on a laser printer, because bank equipment can read the magnetic signal.
Ordinary inkjet ink is not magnetic. Many banks now process checks mostly as images, and some accept non-magnetic printed checks, but acceptance varies by bank and by the payee's bank. Ask your bank before printing in volume, and read what is MICR and why is it used on checks for the full line layout.
Common problems and fixes
- Everything prints too high or too low. Check that your layout position matches the stock, then nudge the page vertically. See how to fix check printing alignment.
- Everything is shifted sideways. Adjust the horizontal offset a fraction of an inch at a time.
- The MICR line is off or touches the edge. Adjust the MICR line separately from the rest of the page if your software allows it.
- The stock jams. Reduce the stack, flatten curls, and try manual feed.
- Ink smears. Allow longer drying time, especially on inkjets.
In Check Writer 123 you pick the check position (top, middle or bottom), then use the alignment tool to nudge the whole page left, right, up or down, and move the MICR line separately. Adjustments are saved per bank account, and Test Print is free and is never counted against your plan.
Putting it together
Good results come from a repeatable routine: match the position to the stock, print a plain-paper test every time you change printers or paper, save your alignment, and keep the stock locked up. Once the alignment is saved, each additional check is a short job. For more on the stock itself, see what is 3-to-a-page check paper.