Print Personal Checks at Home, on Any Printer

We’ve processed over 20 million checks. Every check is designed to meet standard bank requirements.

A personal check is a paper check tied to your own checking account, not a business account. You use it to pay rent, pay a contractor, send a gift, or cover a bill when the person or company you are paying wants a paper check instead of a card or bank transfer. A business check works the same way, but it draws from a company’s bank account and usually lists the company name and logo instead of your name.

Parts of a Personal Check

• Routing number: the 9-digit code at the bottom left that identifies your bank.
• Account number: the number next to the routing number that identifies your specific account.
• Check number: the number in the top right corner, repeated at the bottom, used to track each check you write.
• MICR line: the row of numbers along the bottom, printed so bank scanners can read it.
• Memo line: the small blank line for a short note, like “rent” or “birthday gift.”
• Signature line: where you sign to make the check valid.

1. Write today’s date on the line in the top right corner.
2. Write the name of the person or company you are paying on the “Pay to the Order of” line.
3. Write the payment amount in numbers in the small box, then spell it out in words on the line below.
4. Sign the check on the bottom right signature line.
5. Add a note on the memo line if you want one, such as an invoice number or the reason for payment.

Want a full walkthrough with pictures? See our guide on how to write a check.

You have two ways to get personal checks: order pre-printed checks from your bank or a check printer, or print your own on blank check stock at home. Here is how they compare.

MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. It is the special ink or toner that prints the routing and account numbers along the bottom of a check so bank scanners can read them automatically. Some banks ask for MICR ink or toner on printed checks, while others accept plain black ink as long as the numbers are clear and readable. Check with your bank if you are not sure, or use MICR toner to stay on the safe side. Learn more in our MICR line guide.

You can choose from different check designs when you print, from plain and simple to more decorative styles. A gift check uses a design made for occasions like birthdays, graduations, or holidays, so the check itself feels more like a card. You still fill it out the same way, with the payee, amount, date, and signature, but the design makes it a better fit for a gift than a plain check.

If you make a mistake writing a check, write “VOID” in large letters across the front, including over the signature line, so it cannot be used or deposited. Keep a record of the check number so you know it was voided, not lost. To track checks you have written, keep a simple log with the check number, date, payee, and amount, or use your check-printing platform’s history to see everything in one place. See our guide to voiding a check for more detail.

Personal Check FAQs

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