You can print checks without a checkbook if you know your bank's routing number and your account number. Enter them in a check printing tool, then print on blank check stock if you can get it, or on plain paper for deposits where the recipient's bank allows it. If you need to pay someone today and have no stock, there are faster options too.
People end up here for ordinary reasons: the last check was used, a reorder is still in the mail, the account is new and the checks have not arrived, or a bank closed a branch. This page walks through what to do in the next hour, the next day and the next week, so you can pick the path that fits your deadline.
What do you need to print a check without a checkbook?
A checkbook is only a stack of preprinted paper. The details that matter are all on your bank account, so you can collect them without any checks in hand.
- Your bank's name.
- The nine-digit routing number. Your bank's website or app lists it, usually under account details.
- Your account number, from the same place.
- A check number to start from. If you have no history, choose a starting number such as 1001. If you have written checks before, continue from your last number so your records stay in order.
- The name and address as the bank has them for the account.
- A printer and a way to lay out the check, such as a check printing tool.
Be careful with the routing number. Banks can have different routing numbers for different regions or for wires, and the one for paper checks is the one printed on your own checks. If you are unsure, check with your bank or read what is a routing number.
What are your options if you need to pay someone today?
Before you print anything, ask whether a check is really required. Many payments that used to need a check can go through another route that is faster and arrives without paper.
| Option | Speed | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online bill pay or transfer from your bank | Same day to several days | Regular bills, landlords who accept it | Some payees only take paper |
| Cashier's check or official check from your bank | Same visit, if you can get to a branch | Large or one-off payments | Bank may charge a fee |
| Money order | Same day at many retail locations | Small amounts | Fees and amount limits |
| Print a check on blank check stock | A day or two to get stock, then minutes | Ongoing check writing | Needs a supply of stock |
| Print a check on plain paper | Minutes | A friend or small payee who deposits by phone | Banks may refuse it |
| Reorder checks from your bank | Often days to weeks | Returning to a standard checkbook | Shipping times vary |
How to print a check without a checkbook, step by step
- Find your routing number and account number in your online banking or on a bank statement. Write them down exactly, then verify the routing number with the lookup in your check printing tool if it has one.
- Create your account in the check printing tool with your name, address and bank details.
- Choose a starting check number. If you used to have a checkbook, continue after the last number you wrote.
- Enter the payee, date, amount and memo for the check you need.
- Pick your paper. Blank check stock gives the most complete result. Plain paper prints one decorated check at the top of a letter page with a cut guide.
- Print a test copy on plain paper first, then print the real check.
- Sign it, record the check number and amount in your register, and deliver it.
Where do you get blank check stock?
Blank check stock is sold by office supply retailers, online stationery sellers and check printing vendors. Typically you buy it in packs of 100 or more sheets, and the most common format is 3-to-a-page, where one third of the sheet carries the check and the rest are stubs. If you want to compare formats, see what is 3-to-a-page check paper.
When you buy, match the stock to your printer type (laser or inkjet) and ask whether it has security features such as microprinting or a watermark. How to print a check on blank check paper covers loading and alignment once it arrives.
Can you print on plain paper in the meantime?
Sometimes. A plain paper check can be enough when the person you pay deposits with a phone or an ATM and their bank accepts it. It is a weaker choice for hand deliveries to a landlord or business, for large amounts, and for anything mailed to an institution. Whether it works depends on the payee's bank, so ask them. The details are in can you print checks on blank paper.
Mistakes to avoid when you have no checkbook
- Guessing at the routing number. A wrong digit sends the check to the wrong bank or gets it rejected.
- Restarting check numbers from 1 when you have already written checks. Duplicate numbers confuse your records and the payee's.
- Printing more checks than you can track. Keep a register from the first one.
- Leaving blank stock lying around once it arrives. It should be locked up.
- Using an old address or name the bank no longer has on file.
Check Writer 123 works in a browser, so you can start without a checkbook: enter your bank details, choose plain paper or blank stock, and print. Its routing number lookup validates the checksum and suggests the bank name. The 14-day free trial needs no card.
Next steps
For a one-off, either a bank-issued cashier's check or a plain paper printout may solve your problem today. If you expect to write checks regularly, order blank check stock and set up for good. How to print a check without buying pre-printed checks lays out the trade-offs, and how to print checks at home shows the full setup.