To set up pre-printed checks for printing, choose the pre-printed stock mode in your check printing software, print a Test Print on plain paper, hold it against one of your real checks in front of a light, adjust the alignment until the fields line up, then load your pre-printed checks and print. The software fills in only the variable fields.
Pre-printed checks already carry your bank details and the MICR line, so the setup is mostly about alignment. This guide covers what pre-printed stock is, how to set up the mode, and how to fix the fields that land in the wrong place.
What are pre-printed checks?
Pre-printed checks are checks that already have your name, address, bank name, account details, check number and MICR line printed on them, usually ordered from your bank or a check printer. They come as boxes of sheets or sets. You print only the parts that change with each payment.
That is different from blank check stock, which has no bank details and relies on the software to print the whole check. For the full comparison, read pre-printed check stock explained.
| Paper | What is already on it | What the software prints |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-printed check stock | Your bank details, check number and MICR line | Date, payee, amount, amount in words, memo and signature |
| Blank check stock | Layout and security features only | The entire check, including the MICR line |
| Plain letter paper | Nothing | One complete check, with a cut guide |
When do pre-printed checks make sense?
- You already have a box of checks and want to use them up before switching.
- You prefer the look of checks printed by your bank or a check printer.
- You print only a few checks and want the bank line already done.
- You want a quick way to type payees and amounts without handwriting.
If you later decide to print the whole check yourself, check printing software vs pre-printed checks lays out the trade-offs.
How do you choose pre-printed mode?
In your check printing software, set the paper type for the bank account to pre-printed check stock. Choose the mode before you print anything real, because the page layout is different from blank stock. In Check Writer 123 the choice is part of the paper type setting. The software then prints only the date, payee, amount, amount in words, memo and signature.
Enter the starting check number so it matches the next number on your stock. Pre-printed checks arrive with numbers already printed, so keep your records in step with the stock.
How do you set up pre-printed checks, step by step?
- Add your bank account in the software, with the same name, address and bank details shown on your pre-printed checks.
- Set the paper type to pre-printed check stock.
- Enter a sample check. Use a real payee name and an amount with cents, such as $1,250.00.
- Press Test Print on plain US Letter paper. In your print dialog, choose Letter, scale 100% and headers and footers off.
- Take one of your real checks, lay the test page on top, and hold both up to a window or lamp.
- Note where each field sits against the boxes and lines on the real check.
- Open the alignment tool and nudge the page, then print another Test Print.
- When the fields sit in the right boxes, load the pre-printed checks and print one real check.
How do you compare a Test Print to a real check?
Hold the test page and the real check together, face to face, against a bright window or a lamp. Look at each field one by one.
- Date: it should sit on the date line, not above or below it.
- Payee: the name should start at the beginning of the pay to the order of line.
- Amount box: the number should fit inside the box without touching the edge.
- Amount in words: it should sit on the long line with its end near the word dollars.
- Memo: it should sit on the memo line, left of the signature.
- Signature: it should sit on or just above the signature line.
If a field is off by a small amount, measure the gap with a ruler. A small step in the alignment tool moves the page by a small amount, so you can work out how many steps you need. Plan to do this once for each bank account.
How does alignment work and what does it save?
The alignment tool moves the whole page left, right, up or down. In Check Writer 123 the nudges are saved per bank account, so another account with different stock can have its own settings. You do not repeat the setup every time you print, as long as you load the checks the same way.
If your printer feeds paper a little differently for each tray, test each tray you plan to use. For a deeper look at the process, see how to align a check on blank check paper, which uses the same method.
How should you load pre-printed checks?
- Keep the stock flat and in its box until you need it.
- Fan a few sheets so they do not stick together, then square the stack.
- Load the same side up and the same edge first as your test page went in.
- Mark your plain-paper test with a small pencil arrow before printing, so you can see which way the page entered the printer.
- Feed one sheet at a time for your first real check, then load a few.
- Let the page dry before you stack or fold it.
How do you fix common alignment problems?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Everything sits too high or too low | Page offset | Nudge the whole page down or up |
| Everything sits too far left or right | Paper edge guides or margins | Nudge left or right and keep the guides snug. See the horizontal alignment guide |
| Fields are too small or too large | Scale is not 100% | Reset scale to 100% and test again |
| Text lands off the line only on some prints | Inconsistent paper feed | Square the stack, use fewer sheets, test each tray |
| Text prints over the printed box edge | Small offset | Use the smallest nudge and retest |
If left and right are the problem, read check prints too far left: how to fix horizontal alignment. For a broader troubleshooting list, see how to fix check printing alignment.
What should you do with spoiled pre-printed checks?
If a pre-printed check jams or prints in the wrong place, write VOID across it, keep it with your records and note the check number in your register. A replacement should get a new number. Shred checks you no longer need, since they carry your account details.
Check Writer 123 is made by the publisher of this site. For pre-printed stock it prints only the date, payee, amount, amount in words, memo and signature. A live preview shows the finished check, a free Test Print on plain paper lets you compare against a real check, and nudges are saved per bank account. Every plan includes every feature, and the 14-day free trial needs no card.
Next steps
Run one Test Print against a real check now, adjust the alignment once, and save it. If you want to start from scratch with a new account, how to set up your first check takes you through the complete flow in about ten minutes. When your pre-printed supply runs low, you can decide whether to reorder or move to blank check stock.