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Reorder boxes, print checks yourself, or have us print and mail them. Which one fits depends on your volume and how fast you need the check. Boxes suit steady volume. Printing suits rush checks and account changes. Mailing suits faraway payees (delivery time applies).
Order or print: which route fits you?
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Steady volume, one account, no rush | Boxes | Nothing to set up, and the checks arrive ready to use. |
| Your account or routing number changed, or may change | Print on demand or mail | Blank stock carries no account details until you print, so nothing goes stale. |
| You need a check before a box could arrive | Print on demand or mail | No reorder wait. Mailed checks still depend on delivery time. |
| No laser printer or MICR toner on hand | Mail, or boxes | Mailing skips the printer. Buying a printer and toner only for a few checks rarely pays off. |
| The person you pay is far away | We print and mail the check, so you do not need to print or stamp anything. Fees apply. |
Not sure? Fill in the worksheet below and compare the totals.
What boxes cost besides the price on the box
- Minimums. A box of 500 lasts a little over four months at 120 checks a month, and some suppliers set a minimum order.
- The wait. Delivery time varies by supplier. Run low on Thursday with a bill due Monday, and a reorder will not arrive in time.
- Leftovers after a change. A new routing or account number can make old checks unusable, and a legal name change may. Ask your bank before using old stock after any change, and shred what you cannot use.
- A box on the desk. Unused checks carry your routing and account numbers. Keep them locked up.
How to order boxes online
Have these ready:
- Your bank routing number and account number, and the business name and address as they appear on the account.
- The starting check number, one higher than your last check.
- A voided check or a letter from your bank, if the supplier asks for one.
You can buy from your bank, a check printer, or an office supply store. Before you pay, compare shipping and add-on fees, ask whether you get a proof to approve, and ask about the delivery wait. Prefer not to wait on boxes? See how to order business checks online and print them when you need them.
What you need to print checks yourself
You need blank check stock, a printer, and a way to print the MICR line. Bank machines read that line. Magnetic ink is the standard for it, and a check printed without it can be slower to process or be rejected as non-conforming. Many still clear, but do not risk it on a supplier payment.
Before you print live checks, print one on plain paper to test alignment. Then print one marked VOID on real check stock and ask your bank to confirm it reads. Our guides explain the MICR line and printing checks in-house, and the blank check stock page covers the paper. We let you print on blank stock from a compatible printer, ideally a laser printer with MICR toner.
No printer? Skip this part. Check mailing prints and mails the check for you.
Cost worksheet: boxes vs. printing 1,440 checks a year
Say a parts distributor writes about 120 checks a month. Every number below is made up. Use the last column for your own invoices and quotes. Stock and toner prices vary by supplier, and these are not OnlineCheckWriter prices.
| Line | Pre-printed boxes (example) | Print on blank stock (example) | Mailed by us | Your numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checks sent per year | 1,440 | 1,440 | 1,440 | |
| Check stock | $360 (4 boxes of 500 at $90, including one extra box after an account change) | $60 (1,500 blank check forms at $0.04 each, including spoiled and test prints) | None, we print the check | |
| MICR toner | None | $150 (one cartridge) | None | |
| Plan and mailing fees | None | Your plan fee, see the pricing page | Plan fee plus a mailing fee per check, see the pricing page | |
| Total before printer and staff time | $360 | $210 plus your plan fee | Your quote | |
| Cost per check | $0.25 | about $0.15 plus your plan fee share | Your quote divided by checks sent |
The math: $360 divided by 1,440 is $0.25. $210 divided by 1,440 is about $0.15. That is a $150 gap a year, before the costs the example leaves out: the printer, your plan fee (see the pricing page), and staff time. If those add up to more than $150 a year, boxes win in this example.
We assumed one account change and charged the full toner cartridge to this year. That is harsh on boxes: some of the 560 unused checks get scrapped and the rest carry over.
Print or Mail Your Next Check
Print on blank stock from a compatible printer, or have a check printed and mailed for you. Fees apply.
6 steps to switch from boxes to printing
- Count your checks from the last 12 months. That is your volume.
- Fill in the worksheet for your current route and for printing.
- Check whether you have a laser printer and MICR toner. If not, price mailing instead.
- Set up your account, add your business bank account, and add your payees.
- Set the next check number one higher than your last one. If boxed checks are still in use, start printed checks in a separate number range so the two ranges do not overlap.
- Print the alignment test and the VOID test. Use up or shred the old boxes once the new routine works.
Protect your checks when you print them
Blank stock and toner are yours to protect. Lock them up and match every bank statement to your log.
- User roles. Give your accountant or a team member their own role, with an approval process. See user access.
- Positive Pay. If your bank supports Positive Pay, we can send it your check details automatically, and you review any flagged checks. See Positive Pay.
- QuickBooks. We connect to QuickBooks Online and Desktop, each with its own setup. You still match every statement to your log. See QuickBooks check printing.
- A simple log. Record check number, payee, amount, date, and invoice. The IRS explains how long to keep records, and your accountant sets the rule for your business.
Questions about ordering checks online
Do banks accept checks I print myself?
Yes, when the check has the required details and a readable MICR line, and your bank makes the final call. A laser printer with MICR toner is the usual setup. Show your bank one VOID test check before you print in volume.
What if a mailed check is late or lost?
Check your account to see whether it cleared, then ask your bank about a stop payment and contact OnlineCheckWriter support. Have the check number, amount, date, and payee ready. Your bank may charge a fee.
Do I have to buy checks from my bank?
No. You can buy from other check printers or print your own, as long as the check meets your bank’s format requirements, including your routing and account numbers in MICR format. If you are unsure, show your bank one VOID sample.
How many checks should I order at a time?
Divide last year’s check count by 12. Match that to a box size and any supplier minimum. Order no more than you will use before your account details might change.
OnlineCheckWriter.com – Powered by Zil Money, is a financial technology company and not a bank. Banking services are provided by our partner bank, Member FDIC. FDIC insurance applies only to eligible products associated with those that have funds held in accounts at the partner bank, subject to applicable limits and requirements.