What kind of paper do I need to print checks?

Blank check stock is the standard choice. It is made for checks, usually has security features, and often comes in a 3-to-a-page layout with stubs. You can also print on pre-printed stock that already carries your bank details, or on plain letter paper for limited uses.

Can I use regular copy paper for checks?

You can print on it, but the result is less secure and may be refused by some banks. Copy paper has no watermark or microprinting and is lighter than check stock. It works for test prints and for small payments deposited by phone, not for most mailed or branch-handled checks.

What weight is check paper?

Check stock is often around 24 lb bond, roughly 90 gsm, compared with 20 lb or about 75 gsm for standard copy paper. Exact weights vary by product. Make sure the weight is within your printer's supported range, which is listed in its specifications.

Does check paper have to be special for laser or inkjet?

It helps. Laser stock needs to survive fuser heat without bad curling, and inkjet stock should absorb ink and resist smearing. Many products work with both. Read the packaging, and avoid using stock labeled for only one printer type in the other.

How many sheets of check paper should I buy?

With 3-to-a-page stock, one sheet usually produces one check, so the sheet count equals the number of checks plus extras for tests and misprints. Buy a small pack to test your printer first, then buy more once you know the stock feeds cleanly.

What Kind of Paper Do You Need to Print Checks?

To print checks you need blank check stock: sheets of paper made for checks, most often in the 3-to-a-page format where one third of the sheet is the check and the rest are stubs. It is heavier than copy paper, has security features, and is made for either laser or inkjet printers. Plain letter paper works only for limited uses.

Paper is the one purchase that decides how professional and secure your printed checks are. This page explains what to look for, what the specifications mean, and how to match the stock to your printer so the first sheet you load is not a wasted one.

What are the main types of paper for printing checks?

Paper type	What it is	Best for	Limits
Blank check stock, 3-to-a-page	Letter-size sheet with a check position and two stub sections, often perforated	Business and personal checks printed in full, payroll with stubs	Needs a printer that feeds it cleanly
Pre-printed check stock	Checks with your bank details and MICR already printed	Printing only the variable fields: date, payee, amount, memo	Account details are fixed, so each account needs its own stock
1-per-page stock	One check per sheet, sometimes with a voucher section	Low volume, simple feeding	Costs more per check
Wallet check stock	Small personal-size checks	Personal checkbook style	Hard to feed through home printers
Plain letter paper	Standard copy paper	Small deposits by phone, tests and drafts	No security features, no magnetic ink, may be refused

You can see the whole range in types of blank check paper. Most small businesses and households land on 3-to-a-page blank stock because one box handles every account and every payee. The layout is described in what is 3-to-a-page check paper.

What security features should check paper have?

Check paper is designed to make fraud harder and tampering easier to spot. Features vary by product, so read the packaging. These are the ones commonly found on quality stock.

Watermark: a faint pattern in the paper that is visible when held to light.
Microprinting: tiny text that looks like a line to the eye and is very hard to copy cleanly.
Void pantograph: a background pattern that makes the word VOID appear when a check is photocopied.
Chemical sensitivity: paper that stains if someone tries to wash off ink with solvents or bleach.
Fluorescent fibers or reactive paper: visible under ultraviolet light.
A padlock icon or a printed security notice that tells the person receiving it what the features are.

No paper makes a check fraud proof. The features help tellers and bank systems notice copies and alterations. Pair good stock with good habits, such as locked storage and a register of every number you use. What is blank check stock goes deeper on how to read the features.

How heavy should check paper be?

Paper weight is measured in pounds (lb) for US bond paper, and in grams per square meter (gsm) elsewhere. Ordinary copy paper is usually 20 lb bond, which is about 75 gsm. Check stock is often heavier, commonly around 24 lb bond, which is about 90 gsm, though products vary.

The extra weight gives the check a firmer feel and holds up better to handling and to being run through bank equipment. Do not go heavy for the sake of it. Printers have a stated paper weight range in their specs, and stock beyond that range jams or feeds crookedly. If the box and your printer manual disagree, trust the printer manual and buy a smaller pack to test.

Laser or inkjet: does the paper matter?

Yes. Laser stock must handle the heat of the printer's fuser without curling badly or melting coatings. Inkjet stock may have a surface that absorbs ink quickly and resists smearing. Many products say laser and inkjet compatible, and that is fine if the packaging says it clearly. Avoid putting stock marked for laser only into an inkjet or the reverse. See does check paper work with any printer for the compatibility checks.

Does perforation matter?

Many sheets are perforated so you can tear off a check or a stub cleanly. Perforations can make a sheet feed less smoothly in some printers. Feed one sheet at a time when you are testing, and use a rear or manual tray where available so the page takes a straighter path. Neat perforation should not leave rough edges on the check itself, and the edge should not run through any part of the MICR line.

How much check stock should you buy?

Estimate how many checks you print per month. A household might print a handful. A small business might print dozens.
On 3-to-a-page stock, one sheet holds one check, so the number of sheets equals the number of checks. Do not divide by three unless you are cutting and using each third separately.
Add a margin for test sheets and misprints, such as 10 to 20 percent for a new setup.
Start with a small pack to confirm your printer feeds it properly. Then buy in larger quantities if the price per sheet improves.
Store the extra stock in a locked drawer or cabinet. Count it when you load and unload.

The decision guide in how to choose the right check paper walks through printer, volume, bank and stub needs together.

What about plain paper?

Plain letter paper is useful for test prints, for drafts and in some cases for checks that will be deposited by phone. It lacks magnetic ink and security features, and banks may refuse it. Can you print checks on blank paper covers what to expect. As a rule, use plain paper for practice and for a few low-risk payments, and use check stock for everything else.

Mistakes people make when buying check paper

Buying pre-printed stock for the wrong bank account or an old account number.
Choosing wallet-size stock and discovering the home printer will not feed it.
Ignoring whether stock is laser or inkjet compatible.
Buying a year's supply before testing one sheet.
Picking top, middle or bottom positions without checking what your software expects.
Not locking up the stock once it arrives.

Check Writer 123 prints on 3-to-a-page blank check stock with the check at the top, middle or bottom of the sheet, on pre-printed stock, or on plain letter paper. Test Prints are free, so you can check alignment on plain paper before you load a single sheet of real stock.

Putting it together

For most people the answer is 3-to-a-page blank check stock that matches the printer type, with security features and a weight your printer lists as supported. Buy a small pack, test it, then stock up and store it safely. When you are ready to load it, follow how to print a check on blank check paper.