MICR Font for Checks (E-13B) Explained

What MICR and E-13B mean

MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. In the 1950s US banks agreed on a way for machines to read checks: a line of numbers and four special symbols printed in a font designed so that each character has a unique shape, and ideally a unique magnetic signature. That font is E-13B. It’s still the standard for checks in the United States, Canada and many other countries.

E-13B has only 14 characters: the digits 0 to 9 and four symbols.

Symbol	Name	What it marks
A	Transit	Surrounds the 9-digit routing number
C	On-us	Ends the account number field (and often the check number)
B	Amount	Brackets the amount, added by the bank when the check is deposited
D	Dash	Separates parts of a number in some account formats

Where each number goes on the MICR line

The MICR line isn’t just a font. Each field has a fixed place in the bottom 5/8 inch of the check, counted from the right edge:

Check number on business checks often comes first, on the left (the auxiliary on-us field).
Routing number (transit field) sits in the middle, between two transit symbols. Read more about the routing and account numbers on a check.
Account number follows in the on-us field, ending with the on-us symbol. Personal checks usually put the check number here, after the account.
Amount field on the far right is left blank. The bank where the check is deposited encodes the amount there.

Characters are spaced at 8 per inch, and the clear band must stay free of other printing, signatures and stray marks. That precision is why a check typed into a word-processor template often gets rejected by the bank’s reader.

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Do you need to download a MICR font?

Not with Quick Check Writer. The app includes a free E-13B font and places every character for you: E-13B at 8 characters per inch, positions measured from the right edge, the routing number between its transit symbols, the account number in the on-us field, and the amount field left blank for the bank. That follows the ANSI X9 layout US banks use. Nothing to install, nothing to line up by hand.

If you’re building checks in other software, you would need to install an E-13B font, set the exact point size, and position each field yourself. It can be done, but it’s fiddly and easy to get wrong by a fraction of an inch.

MICR font vs MICR toner

These are two different things. The font is the shape of the characters. The toner (or ink) is what they’re printed with. Magnetic MICR toner contains iron oxide so readers can sense each character magnetically. Today most check processing works from images, and many banks accept MICR lines printed in regular black laser toner. Some still require magnetic toner, particularly for business accounts or high volumes. Our guide do you need MICR ink? covers how to ask your bank.

Tips for a clean MICR line

Print at 100% scale. “Fit to page” shrinks the font and throws the spacing off.
Use a laser printer if you can; toner gives sharper, darker edges than most inkjets.
Run the alignment test once per printer so the line lands in the clear band.
Keep the bottom 5/8 inch free of signatures, stamps and folds.
Do a test deposit before printing a batch.

Frequently asked questions

What font is used for check numbers?

The numbers on the bottom line of a US check are printed in the E-13B MICR font, a 14-character font with the digits 0 to 9 and four special symbols (transit, on-us, amount and dash).

Is there a free MICR font?

Yes, free E-13B fonts exist. Quick Check Writer already includes one and positions every character for you, so you don’t need to download or install anything.

What size should the MICR font be?

E-13B characters are printed at 8 characters per inch, inside the bottom 5/8 inch of the check, with each field a set distance from the right edge. Printing at 100% scale keeps that spacing correct.

Can I print the MICR line with a regular printer?

Yes. Many banks accept a MICR line printed with regular black toner, though some require magnetic MICR toner. Print one check and confirm with your bank.

What are the symbols on the bottom of a check?

They are E-13B control symbols. The transit symbol surrounds the routing number, the on-us symbol ends the account number, and the amount symbol brackets the amount the bank adds when the check is deposited.

Related guides

Last updated October 29, 2026.

MICR font for checks: E-13B explained