Check stock paper: what to buy
Check stock is blank, letter-size security paper with a perforated check on it. You print your bank details, the MICR line, the payee and the amount yourself. Choose the layout that matches your software (check on top, middle or bottom, or three per page), pick stock with security features, and print the MICR line with a good laser printer.
Layouts
| Layout | Good for |
|---|---|
| Check on top | Most small businesses: check plus two stubs for records |
| Check in the middle | Payroll and vendor payments with a stub on each side |
| Check at the bottom | Invoices or remittance details printed above the check |
| Three per page | Personal-style checks or high volume without stubs |
Security features worth having
- Void pantograph: “VOID” appears on photocopies.
- Microprinting: a line that looks solid but is tiny text.
- Chemical-reactive paper: stains if someone tries to wash it.
- Padlock icon and a list of features on the back, so banks know what to check.
- Heat-reactive ink or watermark on higher-end stock.
Paper and printing
- Standard check stock is 24 lb paper, a bit heavier than copy paper.
- Use a laser printer. Toner bonds to the paper and is harder to wash off than inkjet.
- MICR toner is not legally required, but banks scan the MICR line magnetically; regular toner can cause rejects at some banks. See MICR check printing.
- Do a test print on plain paper and hold it against the stock to check alignment.
Is it legal to print your own checks?
Yes. Banks accept checks you print yourself if the format meets the standard layout: the MICR line in the right place, the routing number, account number and check number, and a clear amount and signature. Keep blank stock locked away and track the numbers you use.
Prints on any check stock layout. CheckWriter.app supports check on top, middle, bottom or three per page, with the MICR line placed to bank standards. Free to print; Pro ($9 a month) adds a register, batch printing and positive pay export.
Print a checkQuestions
Can I print checks on plain paper?
Many banks accept checks on plain paper, but it has no security features and is easier to copy. Check stock is cheap and safer.
Do I need pre-printed checks from my bank?
No. Blank check stock lets you print checks for several accounts and banks on the same paper.
Where do I buy check stock?
Office supply stores and online check suppliers sell it in packs of 250 to 2,500 sheets. Make sure the layout matches your software.
Checked against ANSI X9 check layout guidance and supplier specifications, November 2026.