Order Checks or Print Your Own?

The four options at a glance

Option	How fast	Cost	Best for
Order from your bank	Usually 1–2 weeks by mail	Varies; some accounts include free checks	A standard personal checkbook
Order from a check printer online	Usually 1–2 weeks, faster with paid shipping	Often cheaper per box than the bank	Designs, duplicates, business checks
Counter checks at a branch	Same day	Often a small fee per sheet	One or two checks in an emergency
Print your own	Minutes	Check stock (cents a sheet) plus software	Ongoing needs, several accounts, typing instead of handwriting

Prices and timing vary by bank and vendor, so treat these as typical, and check your own bank’s fees.

Ordering from your bank or a check printer

Ordering is the traditional route: you get a box of pre-printed, numbered checks with your name, address and bank details. It’s simple, but slow, and each box is tied to one account and one address. If you move, change banks or open a business account, you order again. If you write only a handful of checks a year, a box can outlast your details.

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Your first check is free, with no watermark, no account and no credit card.

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Counter checks: the same-day fallback

Many banks will print a few counter checks at a branch while you wait, often for a small fee. They work, but some payees hesitate to accept them because they may not show your name and address. They’re a stopgap, not a checkbook.

Printing your own checks

With blank check stock and a check printing app, you print exactly the checks you need, when you need them. Quick Check Writer adds your name or business, bank details, logo and signature, writes the amount in words and prints the MICR line laid out to the ANSI X9 standard. One app can hold several bank accounts and companies, so there’s no separate box for each.

Speed: print in minutes, from a phone or a computer.
Cost: check stock usually costs a few cents a sheet. Your first check is free; unlimited checks start at $1.99 a month.
Flexibility: change your address or bank in a minute, print for several accounts, use voucher stubs.
Records: every check goes into a register you can export.

Already have your bank’s checks and just hate handwriting them? Use the pre-printed checks mode to type onto them instead.

What you need to start printing today

A printer (laser is best; inkjet works).
Blank check stock from an office supply store or online.
Your routing and account number.
Quick Check Writer, in your browser.

Which should you choose?

If you write a few personal checks a year and don’t mind waiting, ordering a box is fine. If you need a check today, pay from more than one account, run a business, or simply prefer typing to handwriting, printing your own is faster and usually cheaper. Many people do both: a checkbook for the wallet, and printed checks for everything else.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get checks printed near me?

Your bank can order checks for you, usually delivered in one to two weeks, and many branches print counter checks the same day. You can also print your own at home on blank check stock in minutes.

How can I get checks the same day?

Ask your bank branch for counter checks, or print your own on blank check stock with a check printing app like Quick Check Writer.

Is it cheaper to print your own checks?

Usually, if you write checks regularly or for several accounts. Blank check stock costs a few cents a sheet, and Quick Check Writer starts at $1.99 a month after a free first check.

Can I print checks at an office supply store?

You can buy blank check stock at office supply stores. To print a check you need your bank details laid out with a MICR line, which a check printing app does for you on any printer.

Are counter checks accepted everywhere?

Not always. Because counter checks may not show your name and address, some businesses won’t accept them. Ask the payee first.

Related guides

Last updated October 29, 2026.

Order checks or print your own?