You can print a check without buying pre-printed checks by using blank check stock or plain letter paper. Software prints your bank name, account details, MICR line and the payment itself, so one paper stock can serve every account. You give up the convenience of ready-made checks and take on setup, alignment and storage.
This page explains the two options, what each one costs you in effort rather than in dollars, and the kinds of people it suits. For the step-by-step print procedure, see how to print a check on blank check paper.
What are pre-printed checks, and why avoid them?
Pre-printed checks arrive with your name, address, bank, routing number, account number and MICR line already on the paper. Your printer only adds the variable fields, which are the date, payee, amount, memo and signature. They are convenient and low-risk, which is why banks and printers sell them. Our guide to pre-printed check stock covers the format in detail.
People avoid them for practical reasons. Each box is tied to one account, so five accounts means five types of stock. A change of address, logo or account number means a new order and a wait. Ordering can also feel slow when you are out of checks and need one today.
What are your options?
| Option | How it works | Good for | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blank check stock | Software prints the entire check, including bank details and the MICR line | Regular check writers and anyone with several accounts | Setup time, an alignment test, and responsibility for storing the stock |
| Plain letter paper | Software prints a complete check you cut out | Occasional checks and mobile deposits | Perforations, security features and, depending on the bank, acceptance |
| Bank-ordered checks | The bank or a printer makes checks for you | People who rarely write a check | Reorder delays and a per-box cost |
How does printing on blank check stock work?
Blank stock is security paper with perforations that is not tied to any bank. A standard 3-to-a-page sheet carries one 8.5 x 3.5 inch check and two stub sections. Your software prints the payer details, bank name, routing and account number, the payment fields and the MICR line, all in one pass.
- Buy blank 3-to-a-page stock in the layout your software supports: top, middle or bottom.
- Enter your bank details once, including the routing number and account number. Compare each digit against a check you already have.
- Set the next check number so it continues your sequence.
- Print a test on plain paper and compare it with the stock against a light. Adjust the alignment until every field fits.
- Print the real check and let it dry before handling.
Blank stock is the option closest to a bank-ordered check, because it keeps the perforated edges and, on good stock, the security features. Read what is blank check stock for what to look for.
Can you print on plain paper instead?
Yes. Plain-paper printing creates a full check at the top of an ordinary letter-size sheet, which you cut out along a dashed guide. It costs only the paper you already own. Whether the check is accepted is up to the bank, and plain-paper checks tend to suit mobile or ATM deposits better than handing one to someone or mailing it.
A plain-paper check has no tear-off edges, security features or watermark. Some payees will not accept it for those reasons alone. Our article can you print checks on blank paper explains the risks and when to switch to real stock.
What do you give up when you skip pre-printed checks?
- Plug-and-print simplicity. Pre-printed checks need only the variable fields. Blank stock needs a layout test.
- Bank-supplied MICR. Pre-printed MICR is printed in magnetic ink by the supplier. Printing it yourself requires MICR toner for traditional bank processing, or your bank's agreement to accept alternatives.
- Built-in controls. Bank-ordered checks arrive in sequence and with account protection features. You are now your own control, so number checks in your software and lock the stock away.
- Printer risk. A jam can spoil a sheet. Keep a few spare sheets and void ruined ones.
What do you gain?
- One stock for every account. Switching accounts is a dropdown, not a new box.
- No reorder waits. You print the check you need today.
- Flexibility. A new logo, address or signature is a software edit.
- Stub detail. Software can print invoice or pay detail on the stubs, which pre-printed stock alone cannot produce.
- Possible savings. Compare the cost per check of blank stock plus printer supplies with the cost per check of ordered boxes using your own prices. See check printing software vs pre-printed checks for the trade-offs in depth.
Who is this approach for?
It suits a freelancer or small business that writes checks regularly, someone who manages more than one bank account, a landlord or treasurer who needs a check the same day, and anyone who has run out of pre-printed checks at the wrong time. It suits less well someone who writes one or two checks a year, someone without a printer, or someone whose bank refuses printed checks.
Does the bank have to accept it?
Banks decide what they accept, and the payee's bank decides too. Many accept properly printed checks that contain accurate routing and account numbers, but a few have their own rules. Ask your bank in advance, particularly about the MICR line, and never assume acceptance. If your bank has a strict policy, pre-printed or ordered checks remain the safest route for that account.
Check Writer 123 prints on blank check stock (with the MICR line), on pre-printed stock, or on plain letter paper from the same account, so you can try the blank-stock route without giving up the option of pre-printed checks. It has a 14-day free trial with no card needed. It is published by the same team behind this site, so compare it with other tools before choosing.
Next steps
Decide between blank stock and plain paper based on how the checks will be used, buy a small amount of stock, and run a plain-paper test. If you manage several accounts, see how to print checks for multiple bank accounts for how to keep them separate.