How to Order Checks Online: A Buyer Guide for Personal and Business Use

If you're trying to order checks online for personal or business use, the process is more involved than most first-time buyers expect. You're handing a printer your bank account and ABA routing number, and asking them to produce a financial instrument US banks treat as legal tender under the Check 21 Act. There are hundreds of suppliers, dozens of format options, and security features that vary wildly between providers. This guide walks through where to order, what info you need, the difference between personal and business checks, how to vet a supplier before handing over your banking information, the security features that actually matter, and what to expect on timing and reorders.

Where can you order checks online

Three main paths.

Your bank. Easiest, because they already have your account on file. Checks ship through their internal vendor (often Deluxe or Harland Clarke). Trade-off: limited customization, slower turnaround (7 to 14 days), and a narrow design selection.

A direct check printer. Companies like Checkomatic, Compuchecks, Vistaprint, ChecksForLess, and Checks In The Mail print checks directly. You get more format options, custom logos, broader security choices, and shipping that lands in 5 to 7 business days for standard orders. Trade-off: you do the supplier vetting yourself and complete a verification step on the first order.

Big-box retailers. Costco Checks, Walmart Checks, and Sam's Club Checks all offer check ordering through their websites. Trade-off: design and security options are limited to what the retailer carries.

For most US buyers who order checks more than once a year, a direct printer is the better long-term option. Customization, format flexibility, and shipping speed all favor going direct.

Personal checks vs business checks

Both are legal under federal Check 21 Act processing and follow ANSI X9 banking standards. The structural differences:

Personal checks are smaller (usually 6 by 2.75 inches), sold in pads of 25 or in wallet-style books, customized lightly with a background design or a monogram. Used for personal AP, gifts, and one-off payments.

Business checks are larger (usually 8.5 by 3.5 inches), often with voucher stubs attached or three-per-page layouts. Customizable for logos, color, security tier, and accounting software compatibility (QuickBooks, Quicken, Sage). Used for vendor payments, payroll, and contractor pay.

You can't use personal checks for a business account or vice versa. The MICR line at the bottom encodes which account they belong to, and banks reject checks drawn on the wrong account type.

What information do you need to order checks

Same set of details whether you're ordering personal or business checks:

• Your name (personal) or business name and address as registered with your bank
• Your bank's ABA routing number, the nine-digit American Bankers Association number on the bottom-left of any existing check
• Your checking account number
• A starting check number (1001 for businesses, or wherever your last batch ended)
• A voided check or bank verification letter for new orders with a new supplier
• Authorized signer information for businesses with multiple signers

Personal check orders for new accounts may require a driver's license or other identity verification. Business orders require business address verification plus a voided check to prove account ownership.

How to order checks step by step

Five steps once you've picked your supplier.

1. Pick the format. Personal: single or duplicate. Business: voucher, three-per-page, manual, or wallet. Match to your software's print template if you're using computer-printed checks.
2. Enter your account holder and bank info. Name, address, ABA routing number, account number, and starting check number. Double-check every digit. The MICR line is encoded directly from these numbers in E-13B font, the magnetic ink font US banks have used since 1958. One typo and every check gets rejected at deposit.
3. Choose your security features. Basic check stock, or full high-security stock with all six features: microprint, heat-sensitive ink, chemical reactive paper, void pantograph, watermark, and tamper-evident backer.
4. Customize the design. Personal: background pattern, color. Business: logo upload (vector format), color, signature lines, address block.
5. Submit verification documents and place the order. Voided check or bank verification letter goes in here. Once you're verified, your checks enter production.

Here's the mistake we see almost every week: skipping the proof review. Most printers send a digital proof before printing. Read it carefully. Catch typos in your name or routing number now, not when 500 checks arrive in a box.

How to vet a check supplier before ordering

You're handing over your bank account number, so vetting matters. Three-minute checklist:

• Physical US business address (not a PO box)
• Operating for at least five years (founding year on the site or Better Business Bureau profile)
• Requires verification documents on first orders
• SSL certificate at checkout (padlock icon in your browser)
• Clear privacy and security policy explaining how they handle account information
• Real customer reviews on Google or Trustpilot, both the four-star and the one-star ones

ABA routing numbers and checking account numbers are extremely sensitive data. Any printer worth using treats them that way.

Security features that actually matter

Check fraud is the most common form of payment fraud against US businesses. The 2025 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey found 63% of US organizations experienced check fraud in 2024, mostly through washing (chemically erasing the payee or amount and rewriting) and counterfeiting. The features that actually deter both:

• Microprint along the signature line, too small for standard scanners to reproduce
• Heat-sensitive ink in a corner that disappears when warmed (wash detector)
• Chemical reactive paper that stains when bleach, acetone, or solvent touches it
• True watermark visible from both sides at an angle
• Void pantograph that prints "VOID" when the check is photocopied
• Tamper-evident backer that records erasure attempts

Personal checks for low-value transactions can get by with basic security. Business checks for payroll, vendor payments, or any meaningful amount should have all six. Our high-security laser checks include all of them as standard.

How long does it take to receive ordered checks

Online direct printers: 5 to 10 business days from order date. Bank-issued checks: 7 to 14 days because their print runs are batched. Big-box retailers: usually 7 to 14 days. Rush options exist at most direct printers. Checkomatic ships most rush orders in 2 to 3 business days from our Monroe, NY facility.

Always factor in verification time on first orders, which adds a day or two while the printer confirms your bank account information before production starts.

How to reorder checks

Reordering is the easiest part of the whole thing. Most online printers store your previous order. You log in, click reorder, update the starting check number, and confirm. Production usually takes 3 to 5 business days because verification was completed on the first order. Update the order if you've changed banks, moved addresses, or switched accounting software.

Closing

Ordering checks online is more straightforward than people expect once you know what to bring: bank account details, verification documents, the right format for your use case, and a supplier you've actually vetted before handing over sensitive information. Personal buyers can usually get by with basic security. Business buyers writing meaningful amounts should always order high-security stock. Checkomatic has been printing personal and business checks for US buyers from Monroe, NY since 1997. If you want help picking between formats or walking through your first order, our team can do it on a phone call.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order checks without a checkbook from my bank? 

Yes. You can order checks online from any reputable printer using your ABA routing and account numbers. A starter checkbook from the bank isn't required.

Is it safe to order checks online? 

Yes, with a verified supplier that uses SSL and bank-grade security. Avoid unknown printers with no operating history.

Do I need to give my Social Security Number to order checks? 

No. Reputable check printers don't need your SSN. They need your bank routing number, account number, and verification documents.

How long does it take to get checks ordered online?

 Standard 5 to 10 business days from direct printers, 7 to 14 from banks. Rush options can deliver in 2 to 3 business days.

Can I order checks for a business and personal account at the same time?

 Yes, but they need separate orders. Personal and business checks are tied to different account types and require different formats and verification.

Do all banks accept online-ordered checks? 

Yes. Under the Check 21 Act, all US banks process checks printed to ANSI X9 banking standards regardless of where they were ordered.