Side Tear Checks: What They Are and Why People Choose Them

What Side Tear Checks Are

Side tear checks are personal checks where each check is perforated along its left edge rather than along the top. When you remove a check from the pad, you pull it away from the left side of the book. The action is similar to tearing a page from a spiral-bound notebook from the side rather than from the top.

In every functional respect, side tear checks are identical to standard personal checks. They use the same check dimensions, the same security paper, the same MICR line encoding at the bottom, and the same banking compatibility as any other ABA-compliant personal check. No bank distinguishes between a check torn from the top and a check torn from the side during processing. The check clears identically regardless of which edge it was perforated along.

The only differences between side tear and top tear checks are physical: where the perforation sits on the pad, how the check leaves the book when removed, and where the stub stays after the check is torn out. These are user experience differences, not functional or security differences.

How the Side Perforation Works on Left Side Perforated Checks

A standard personal check pad, whether top tear or side tear, is a bound collection of check blanks. The checks are bound together along one edge so they stay organized and in order. A perforation runs along the edge where the check will eventually separate from the pad.

On a top tear check, the perforation runs horizontally across the full width of the check at the top edge, typically the full 6-inch width of a standard personal check. You pull the check up and forward to tear it free, with the perforation running the length of the check's wider dimension.

On a side tear check, the perforation runs vertically along the left edge of the check, the shorter 2.75-inch height dimension. You pull the check to the right to separate it from the pad, with the perforation running the length of the check's shorter dimension. The stub, the record area where you write the check date, payee, amount, and balance, stays bound to the left of where the check was sitting. After the check tears away, the stub remains in the book with the binding on the left.

Because the side tear perforation covers only about 2.75 inches rather than the approximately 6 inches of a top tear perforation, the mechanical action of removing the check involves a shorter tear path. This is the physical basis for the claim that side tear checks tear more cleanly and with less risk of accidental damage to the check face itself.

Side Tear vs Top Tear: The Practical Differences

Both formats are perforated personal checks with the same dimensions and the same ABA-compliant security features. This check format comparison covers only the practical experience differences that lead buyers to choose one over the other.

Tear Length and Accidental Rip Risk

A top tear check requires separating the check from the pad along the full 6-inch width of the check. A side tear check requires separating it along the 2.75-inch height of the left edge. The shorter tear path on a side tear check means there is less perforation to navigate, and the area exposed to accidental tearing is smaller.

The practical benefit of the short perforation on the left side is that side tear checks are less likely to experience an accidental rip that extends into the check face. A top tear check that catches on something inside a purse, wallet, or checkbook cover can tear partially across the check face if the accidental force hits the upper portion of the check. A side tear check is more protected in this regard because the vulnerable perforated edge is along the short left side rather than across the full top.

CheckAdvantage describes this directly: the shorter left-side perforation makes for a quick, clean tear (trouble-free tear) without accidental rips. This is the primary practical reason people switch from top tear to side tear format.

Stub Position

On a standard top tear personal check (no stub, just the check sheet in a pad), no stub remains after the check is torn out. The record space in a basic checkbook is typically a separate check register booklet included with the checks.

On a side tear format with a built-in stub, the stub sits to the left of the check and remains in the book after the check tears away. Writing on the stub before tearing creates a built-in record of each payment. The stub stays anchored on the left side of the pad in sequence, building a permanent payment record as you work through the box.

Checkbook Orientation

Top tear checks open and remove from the top, so the natural orientation for writing is with the checkbook lying flat and the opening facing up. Side tear checks open from the left, so the natural orientation is with the book lying flat and the opening on the left. Some users find the side tear orientation more natural when writing with the book resting on a surface; others prefer the top tear orientation they have used for years. Preference here is genuinely personal and varies by individual habit.

Side Tear vs Top Stub Checks

Top stub checks are sometimes confused with top tear checks, but they are a meaningfully different format. Understanding the distinction helps buyers choose the right format for their record-keeping preference.

A top stub check has the stub above the check rather than below it. The book is spiral-bound with wire rings at the top, creating a spiral bound book. The stub perforates away from the check rather than the check perforating away from the pad. When you write on a top stub check, you fill in the stub first (recording the date, payee, amount, and balance forward), then fill in the check itself below it, then tear the check down and out from the bottom of the stub. The stub remains in the spiral-bound book above, indexed from top to bottom as you work through the pad.

The top stub format gives you the most writing room for your payment record because the stub is a full check-width panel above the check. Many buyers find the top stub format the most organized and convenient for detailed record-keeping because the stub is prominently positioned right above the check you are filling out, making it natural to complete both at once.

Side tear checks typically have a narrower side stub rather than a full-panel stub. The side stub has room for date, payee, and amount entry, but the space is more limited than the top stub format because the stub is constrained by the check's shorter dimension (about 2.75 inches wide on the stub rather than 6 inches wide).

For buyers who write checks frequently and want detailed per-payment records, the top stub format at Checkomatic's personal top stub checks provides more stub space per check and a more organized spiral-bound record. For buyers who primarily want an easy-tear format with a basic side record or no stub at all, side tear is the right choice.

Why People Choose Side Tear Over Top Tear

The side tear format has a devoted user base that consistently prefers it over standard top tear checks. Their reasons tend to cluster around a few consistent themes.

Cleaner, More Controlled Tear

The most commonly cited reason people prefer side tear checks is the tearing experience itself. A 2.75-inch left-side perforation is short enough that a single clean pull removes the check without the accidental wandering that sometimes happens on a 6-inch top tear. Users who have experienced checks that tore partially into the writing area on a top tear format often switch to side tear and stay with it permanently.

Better Fit for Certain Purses and Wallets

Some purses and wallets have checkbook compartments that are oriented for side access rather than top access. A side tear checkbook fits more naturally in these compartments and the tear direction aligns with the compartment opening. Buyers whose carry organizer uses a left-side opening for checks often find side tear checks the obvious format choice once they are aware it exists.

Habit and Familiarity

Many side tear check users first encountered the format through a bank-issued checkbook that happened to be in side tear format and have used it ever since. Once a person is comfortable with a particular checkbook format, switching to a different physical format requires relearning the muscle memory of check writing and removal. People who like side tear typically want to stay with side tear.

Visual Preference

A smaller group of users simply prefers the visual appearance of a side tear checkbook. The spiral binding runs along the left rather than across the top, which some buyers feel gives the book a cleaner look when held open for writing. This is a minor factor but a real one for buyers who pay attention to how their checkbook presents when they are writing a check in front of a vendor or business.

Single vs Duplicate Side Tear Checks

Side tear checks are available in both single and duplicate format, and the choice between them is the same trade-off as with any personal check format.

Single Side Tear Checks

Single side tear checks are one-part: each check is a single layer of printed check stock, and when you tear it from the pad, nothing remains in the pad to show what was written. You need to record each payment separately in a check register, either the register booklet included with your checks or a separate ledger. Single checks cost less than duplicate format and have a slimmer pad profile, which makes them more compact in a purse or wallet.

Duplicate Side Tear Checks

Duplicate side tear checks add a carbonless copy behind each check in the pad. When you write on the check, the pressure of your pen transfers the date, payee, and amount onto the copy beneath through the carbonless paper. The copy stays in the pad when you tear the original check out from the left side. The carbonless copy acts as an automatic record of every payment without requiring a separate entry in a check register.

Duplicate format costs slightly more than single format per box. The pad is also slightly thicker because each check position has two layers rather than one. Buyers who miss entering transactions in their register, or who want an additional verification layer when reviewing statements, typically find duplicate format worth the additional cost. Our complete comparison of single versus duplicate checks, with the specific considerations for each use case, is in our types of checks guide.

Standard Dimensions of Side Tear Personal Checks

Standard personal checks in the side tear format are the same dimensions as standard top tear personal checks. The detached check measures approximately 6 inches wide by 2.75 inches tall. These are the dimensions that match standard double-window check envelopes, fit standard check processing equipment at banks and retail counters, and are recognized as the personal check size throughout the US banking system.

The stub attached to the left side of the check before it is torn free is narrower than the check itself, typically about 1.5 to 2 inches wide. The stub is bound on its left edge and remains in the book after the check is removed. The full pad, stub plus check, is approximately 7.5 to 8 inches wide before the check is torn out.

These dimensions are consistent across all personal check manufacturers producing side tear format. Checkomatic's side tear personal check format matches these standard dimensions. The detached check fits identically in the same envelopes and processes identically through the same banking equipment as any standard personal check.

Side Tear Checkbook Covers: Checkbook Cover Side Tear Requirements

A standard top tear checkbook cover holds the check pad with the opening at the top. When you switch to a side tear format, the standard cover orientation does not work correctly because the checks need to be accessed and torn from the left side rather than the top.

Side tear checks require a side tear checkbook cover, which opens from the left edge rather than the top. These covers are designed with the check pocket oriented for left-side access. When closed, the cover protects the checks the same way a standard cover does. When opened, the checks are accessible for writing and removal from the left side, matching the side tear perforation direction.

Some manufacturers sell a side tear checkbook cover converter, a simple insert accessory that adapts a standard top-opening cover to hold side tear checks. This is a lower-cost option for buyers who already have a checkbook cover they like and do not want to replace it entirely when switching to side tear format.

If you are ordering side tear checks for the first time and currently use a standard top-opening cover, ordering a matching side tear cover or converter at the same time saves you from having to make a second order once the checks arrive. The checkbook cover does not affect the banking compatibility or security features of the checks; it only determines how you carry and access the checkbook.

Security Features on Side Tear Checks

Side tear checks from a CPSA-certified manufacturer ship on the same ABA-compliant security paper as all other personal checks. The format of the check, whether top tear, side tear, or top stub, does not affect the security paper properties. The six check security features (fraud deterrent features) are present on every ABA-compliant check regardless of format.

Those six features are chemically reactive paper (which produces a visible stain when washing solvents are applied, protecting against check washing), a genuine foundry watermark embedded in the paper fiber (visible when held to light, impossible to replicate on plain paper), microprinting along the signature line (resolves as text under magnification, cannot be reproduced by copiers or scanners), heat-sensitive thermochromic ink (disappears when warmed, confirming authenticity in seconds), a void pantograph background pattern (reveals VOID when photocopied or scanned, detecting check cooking attempts), and UV-reactive fluorescent fibers (glow under ultraviolet light, distinguishing genuine security paper from plain paper counterfeits).

For a complete explanation of each feature and how it prevents specific fraud types, see our check stock paper guide and our check validity and fraud prevention guide.

Every Checkomatic personal check order, including the side tear format, ships on ABA-compliant security paper with all six features included at the base price. No security upgrade is needed and no add-on purchase is required to receive the full security paper baseline.

Other Personal Check Formats to Consider

Side tear checks are one of four main personal check formats. Understanding all four personal checkbook formats helps you confirm whether side tear is the best match for your check-writing habits or whether a different format might serve you better.

Standard Top Tear Personal Checks

The most widely available personal check format. Perforated across the full top edge. No built-in stub. Works with any standard top-opening checkbook cover. Typically the lowest per-check cost of all personal formats. If you write checks occasionally, do not need a built-in payment record, and prefer the most common and easily replaced format, standard top tear is the default choice. See our full personal checkbooks range.

Top Stub Personal Checks

Spiral-bound with the stub above the check. The stub stays in the book after the check is torn down and out. Full-width stub panel gives the most writing space per payment record of any personal check format. Best for buyers who write checks regularly and want the most detailed, organized stub record. Available in four styles at Checkomatic's personal top stub checks page.

Personal Deskset Checks

Larger format designed for desk use. More writing room and a larger stub section. Not designed for portability in a purse or wallet. Best for home-based frequent check writers or small business owners who write personal account checks at a fixed desk. Available at personal deskset checks.

Secretary Deskbook Checks

Extended record format with the most detailed stub of any format Checkomatic offers. Best for very high-frequency personal check writers who need maximum record space. Available at secretary deskbook checks.

What to Order at Checkomatic for Side Tear Format

Checkomatic's side tear personal checks are available through the personal top stub checks product page, which covers the spiral-bound side-accessible format in four styles. These are the Checkomatic personal checks with the left-side bound, side tear orientation.

The four styles available cover different background and color preferences. All four styles support the same customization options: your name and address as you want them printed, starting check number, color and background style, free black and white logo printing on every order, color logo printing for a small additional charge, single or duplicate format, and ABA-compliant security paper as standard.

If you are not sure whether side tear or top stub is the right format for your record-keeping style, the key question is: do you want the stub above the check (top stub) or to the left of the check (side tear)? Both provide a built-in payment record. The top stub gives more stub space. The side tear gives a shorter, cleaner tear path. Either works for the same banking purpose.

How to Order Side Tear Checks

Ordering side tear checks from Checkomatic follows the same process as any personal check order. Have your routing number, account number, and starting check number ready from the MICR line of an existing check before you start. Our ABA routing numbers guide covers exactly how to find and read these numbers.

Select the personal top stub checks product and choose the style that matches your color and background preference. Select single or duplicate format and choose your quantity. Enter your name and address exactly as you want them printed. Enter your routing number, account number, and starting check number. If you want a logo on your checks, upload your logo file at checkout (vector files or high-resolution PNG at 300 DPI). Black and white logo printing is included free. Color logo printing incurs a small additional per-order fee.

Review the digital proof before approving production. The proof shows your chosen background style, color, name, address, logo placement, and MICR line. Verify your routing number and account number digit by digit before approving. Standard orders ship within 3 to 5 business days from proof approval. Rush delivery is available at checkout.

For a complete step-by-step ordering walkthrough, see our how to order checks online guide.

Why Order Side Tear Checks From Checkomatic

Checkomatic has manufactured personal and business checks in Monroe, NY since 1997. That Monroe NY facility produces every check in-house. The in-house manufacturing model means your side tear check order is produced at the Checkomatic facility and shipped directly to you, with no fulfillment partner transmission step and no reseller margin between the manufacturing cost and the price you pay.

Four Styles Available

Checkomatic's personal top stub checks in the side tear format come in four distinct styles, giving buyers a meaningful choice of look and feel beyond a single default option.

Free Logo Printing on Every Order

Free black and white logo printing is included on every Checkomatic personal check order with no setup fee. Color logo printing is available for a small additional charge. Banks do not offer logo printing on personal checks at all. For buyers who want their name, small business mark, or personal logo on their side tear checks, Checkomatic's direct model delivers that at no added charge on the base order.

ABA-Compliant Security Paper Standard

Every Checkomatic side tear personal check ships on ABA-compliant (ABA compliant) security paper with all six standard fraud deterrent features. No security tier to select. No security upgrade to purchase. The full protection baseline is part of every order at no additional cost.

Color Options

Side tear personal checks at Checkomatic are available in blue checks, burgundy checks, and green checks color backgrounds, with multiple background styles including marble, safety pattern, prismatic, and diamond texture. The choice of color and background applies on top of the standard security paper and does not affect the check's ABA compliance or banking compatibility.

No Per-Order Handling Fees or Pre-Selected Add-Ons

Checkomatic's checkout does not add per-order handling fees or pre-select fraud protection subscriptions that require active opt-out. The price shown for a personal top stub check order is the price charged. Checkomatic accessories including deposit slips, check envelopes, and self-inking endorsement stamps can be ordered alongside any check order. For a broader look at pricing, see our cheap checks online guide.

Order your side tear personal checks at checkomatic.com/com-personal-top-stub-checks. For the full range of personal check formats at Checkomatic, see our personal checks collection.

The Short Version on Side Tear Checks

Side tear checks are personal checks where the perforation runs along the left edge rather than across the top. The shorter left-side perforation (about 2.75 inches) produces a cleaner tear with less risk of accidental damage to the check face compared to the full-width top perforation on standard top tear checks. The check dimensions, security features, and banking compatibility are identical to top tear checks. Only the tear direction and stub position differ.

Side tear checks are available in single format (no carbon copy, requires a separate check register) and duplicate format (carbonless copy stays in the pad after each check is torn out). They require a side tear checkbook cover or converter, not a standard top-opening cover.

The choice between side tear and top stub comes down to stub space preference: top stub gives a wider, more detailed stub panel above the check; side tear gives a narrower stub on the left with a shorter, cleaner tear. Both formats provide a built-in payment record. Both ship on ABA-compliant security paper from Checkomatic with free logo printing included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are side tear checks?

Side tear checks are personal checks where the perforation that separates each check from the pad runs along the left side rather than across the top. The check tears away from the left side of the book, similar to removing a page from a spiral notebook. The record stub (check stub on side) stays bound on the left of the pad after the check is removed. Side tear checks are functionally identical to top tear checks: same standard 6-inch by 2.75-inch personal check dimensions, same ABA security paper features, same banking compatibility. The difference is purely in how the check physically separates from the pad and where the stub sits.

What is the difference between side tear checks and top tear checks?

Top tear checks are perforated along the full width perforation (full-width) across the 6-inch width of the check at the top edge. Side tear checks are perforated along the shorter 2.75-inch left edge. The shorter left-side perforation on side tear checks means less tearing surface and a lower risk of accidental rips into the check face. The stub position also differs: top tear checks in a basic pad have no built-in stub; side tear checks have a narrow stub on the left. The check dimensions, security features, and banking compatibility are identical between the two formats.

Do side tear checks fit in a standard checkbook cover?

Standard checkbook covers designed for top tear format typically do not hold side tear checks correctly because the orientation and tear direction are different. Side tear checks require a side tear checkbook cover, which opens from the left rather than the top. Some manufacturers also offer a side tear converter insert that adapts an existing standard cover to hold side tear checks. When ordering side tear checks for the first time, order a compatible cover or converter at the same time to avoid receiving your checks without the right cover to use them with.

Are side tear checks available in duplicate format?

Yes. Side tear checks are available in both single (one-part) and duplicate (carbonless copy) formats. Duplicate side tear checks work identically to duplicate top tear checks: a carbonless copy sheet sits behind each check, transferring the date, payee, and amount through the paper when you write. The original check tears away from the left, and the carbonless copy stays in the pad as a permanent payment record. Duplicate side tear checks cost slightly more than single format but eliminate the need for separate check register entries on every payment.

What size are side tear personal checks?

Side tear personal checks measure approximately 6 inches wide by 2.75 inches tall when detached from the pad. This is the standard personal check size used across the US banking system, identical to the dimensions of top tear personal checks. The stub attached to the left side before removal is narrower, typically about 1.5 to 2 inches wide. The format of the check (side tear vs top tear) has no effect on the check's dimensions or compatibility with standard check processing equipment and envelopes.