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Send checks without the mail

How to email a check

To email a check, you fill in a check with check-writing software, save it as a PDF and attach it to an email. The payee prints the PDF and deposits it like any other check. No envelope, no stamp, and no waiting days for the mail.

Write your first check free

Why people stop mailing checks

Mailing a check means buying stamps, finding envelopes, a trip to the mailbox and then several days in transit. Checks get delayed, lost or stolen from mailboxes, and you have no idea when one arrives. Emailing a printable check removes the mail from the process: the payee has the check in their inbox within seconds, and you keep a record of when you sent it.

How to email a check, step by step

  1. Open your check writer. In Quick Check Writer, add your company or personal name and your bank details once. They stay on your device and are never uploaded.
  2. Fill in the check. Enter the payee, amount, date and memo (an invoice number is ideal). The amount in words fills itself in.
  3. Sign it. Add a saved signature (drawn, uploaded or typed in a handwriting style), or leave the line blank if you prefer the payee to receive an unsigned check. See the safety tips below.
  4. Tap Share. Choose Share as PDF. On a phone, your share menu opens with your email app, WhatsApp, Messages, Google Drive and anything else you have installed. On a computer without a share menu, choose Download PDF and attach the file to an email.
  5. Send it to the right address. Double-check the recipient, add a short note ("Check #1042 for invoice 2041 attached"), and send.

The PDF is an exact copy of the printed layout, including the MICR bank line in the E-13B font, built right on your device. Every check you print or share is logged in your check register. Prefer WhatsApp or text? Read how to send a check by WhatsApp or text.

How the payee deposits an emailed check

The payee prints the PDF, ideally on blank check stock with magnetic (MICR) toner, though many banks accept checks printed on plain paper with regular ink. Then they deposit it at a branch, an ATM, or by mobile deposit if their bank allows printed checks. To the bank it is simply a check printed on paper, so they endorse the back as usual. If you're not sure their bank will accept it, suggest they ask the bank or deposit at a teller the first time.

Write your first check free

No download and no credit card. Add your bank once, fill in the check, print or share it as a PDF.

Write your first check free

Is it safe to email a check?

An emailed check carries your routing and account number, just like a paper check you hand to someone. That's normal (every check you have ever written showed them), but treat the PDF like cash:

  • Send it only to someone you know. Confirm the email address, especially for a new vendor or an address that "changed" recently. Payment-redirect scams often start there.
  • Use a memo. An invoice or reference number links the check to what it pays for.
  • Keep a record. Your check register shows the check number, payee and amount; mark a check void if it is never used.
  • Watch your account. If your bank offers positive pay or alerts, turn them on so you see every check that clears.
  • Consider leaving the signature blank for large amounts and mailing or handing over the signed original instead.

More on this in is it safe to print checks at home?

Emailed check vs. eCheck vs. Zelle

An emailed check is still a paper check, just delivered as a file. An eCheck is an electronic ACH debit that a payment service pulls from your account, usually for a fee. Zelle and Venmo move money instantly, but only between people who use them, and many landlords, contractors and businesses still ask for a check. Compare them in eCheck vs paper check.

What it costs

Many online payment services charge per emailed check (one popular service lists $1.00 per email check plus a minimum account deposit). In Quick Check Writer, the first check is free, and plans start at $1.99 a month for unlimited checks, whether you print them or share them as PDFs. See pricing.

When to print instead

Some payees won't take a printed PDF, and some banks are strict about mobile deposit of printed checks. In that case, print the check at home on check stock and hand it over or mail it. Same check, same register entry.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to email a check?

Yes. You can create a check as a PDF and email it. The payee prints it and deposits it like a regular check. Acceptance is up to the payee's bank, so a first-time payee may want to check with their bank.

How do I deposit a check that was emailed to me?

Print the PDF, preferably on check stock, endorse the back and deposit it at a branch, ATM or through mobile deposit if your bank accepts printed checks.

Is emailing a check safe?

It is as safe as handing someone a paper check, as long as you send it to the right person. The check shows your routing and account number, so treat the PDF like cash, confirm the email address and monitor your account.

Can I email a check from my phone?

Yes. In Quick Check Writer, fill in the check, tap Share, choose Share as PDF and pick your email app, WhatsApp or Messages.

How much does it cost to email a check?

Some payment services charge about $1 per emailed check. Quick Check Writer's first check is free and unlimited checks start at $1.99 a month.

Related guides

Sources: OnlineCheckWriter pricing (email check $1.00), checked Oct 27, 2026

Last updated October 27, 2026.