Top Checks Meaning, Top Stub Checks, Desktop Checks: The Naming Guide
Top checks meaning: top checks are business laser checks where the negotiable check is positioned at the top of the sheet. The voucher check definition follows directly from this: a voucher check is any check with detachable voucher stubs, and in top-check format those stubs sit below the check.
The first confusion most buyers encounter is the terminology. "Top checks," "top stub checks," "desktop checks," "check-on-top," "check on top format," and "voucher checks" are used interchangeably by different suppliers, software companies, and buyers. They all refer to the same standard business check layout. Here is how each term maps to the physical product:
- Top checks / top check format: The check portion sits at the top of the sheet. This is the position description.
- Top stub checks: Checks that have a top-position check, with stubs below. The most widely searched term for this format.
- Desktop checks: Checks printed from a desktop computer using accounting software. Almost always refers to the top-check voucher format because that is what most accounting software defaults to.
- Check-on-top / check on top format: Explicit position description used by suppliers and accounting software documentation.
- Voucher checks: Checks that include detachable voucher stubs for record-keeping. The term is used broadly, but in the context of laser checks for accounting software, it almost always means the check-on-top layout with two stubs below.
One important disambiguation for "top stub checks": some buyers use this phrase to mean checks with a stub at the TOP (where the stub is at the top and the check is at the bottom). That is actually the bottom-check format or check-on-bottom layout. In this guide and in standard industry usage, "top stub checks" means the check is at the top, with stubs below. If your accounting software needs the check at the bottom, see the bottom check section below.
What Are Top Stub Checks
Top stub checks definition: top stub checks are standard business laser checks where the negotiable check portion occupies the top third of an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of security paper, with two perforated detachable voucher stubs filling the lower two-thirds. The three sections (check, stub 1, stub 2) are separated by perforations that allow clean tearing after printing.
The check section on a top stub check contains all standard negotiable instrument fields: date, payee name ("Pay to the Order of" line), numeric and written dollar amounts, memo line, account holder signature line, and the MICR line at the bottom edge of the check portion encoding the bank routing number, account number, and check number.
The two stub sections below the check contain payment detail fields that your accounting software populates when printing: invoice numbers, dates, payment amounts, payee information, and any additional remittance information. One stub is the payee's copy (goes to the vendor, employee, or recipient); the other is the issuer's retained record (stays with the check writer for accounting purposes).
Top stub checks are printed one check per page on standard 8.5 x 11 laser or inkjet printer paper. They are the most common business check format sold in the United States, used for payroll, accounts payable, vendor payments, and contractor payments across virtually every industry sector.
What Are Desktop Checks
Desktop checks definition: desktop checks are business checks designed to be printed at a desk using a standard laser or inkjet printer connected to a computer running accounting software. The "desktop" in the name refers to the printing environment (your office desktop computer and printer) rather than a specific check layout.
When people search for "desktop checks," they are almost always looking for computer-printable top-check format voucher checks compatible with QuickBooks, Quicken, Sage, Xero, or similar accounting software. Desktop checks are the modern replacement for the older preprinted check model, where a check manufacturer printed your company name, payee, and amount on each check in advance.
With desktop checks, you order blank security check stock pre-printed with your bank routing number, account number, and check number sequence in MICR encoding at the bottom of the check area. When you process a payment in your accounting software, the software prints the variable fields (payee name, date, dollar amount, memo, invoice numbers, stub details) onto the check stock. The result is a complete, bank-ready check produced in seconds from your office printer.
Desktop checks eliminate several steps from the traditional check process: no separate payroll stub printing, no envelope stuffing of separate check and stub documents, and no manual check writing for each payment. For more on how desktop and computer printable checks work technically, including MICR encoding and printer requirements, see our blank check stock and MICR guide.
Physical Layout and Dimensions
Check on top dimensions 8.5 x 11: top stub checks print on standard US letter-size paper (8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall). The sheet is divided into three horizontal sections of equal or near-equal height:
- Check section (top third): Check on top 3.5 inch height is the standard. The check section measures 8.5 inches wide by approximately 3.5 inches tall, occupying the top portion of the sheet.
- First stub (middle third): Identical dimensions (8.5 x 3.5 inches), containing payment detail fields for the payee's record copy.
- Second stub (bottom third): Identical dimensions, containing matching payment detail fields for the issuer's retained copy.
TechChecks.net notes a variation called the equal-part format, where all three sections measure slightly taller at 3.66 inches each (equaling exactly one-third of an 11-inch sheet). Standard top stub checks use 3.5-inch sections with the remaining space distributed as margins. The CHAX Software comparison confirms the standard: "The check occupies the top third of a standard letter-size sheet."
All three sections are separated by horizontal perforations that run the full width of the sheet. The perforations allow clean, straight tearing after the check is printed and processed. The check tears off from the top, leaving the two stubs as a connected pair that can be filed together or separated depending on whether the issuer sends one stub to the payee and retains the other.
The Two Voucher Stubs Explained
Top check two stub voucher sections: the two detachable stubs on a top stub check serve different audiences and purposes, which is why most payroll and accounts payable operations prefer this format over simpler check layouts without stubs.
Payee Stub (First Stub Below the Check)
The first stub immediately below the check is the payee's copy. It contains the same payment detail that appears in your accounting software: the vendor's or employee's name, the invoice numbers being paid, the dates of service, any itemized amounts, and the total payment. When you hand or mail the check to a vendor, the stub goes with it (attached until the vendor tears the check off for deposit) or is included as a separate remittance advice.
For payroll checks, this payee stub contains the employee's earnings detail: gross pay, itemized deductions (federal withholding, state withholding, Social Security, Medicare, health insurance, retirement), and net pay. The employee keeps this as their pay stub documentation. Employers in most states are legally required to provide employees with this earnings detail at the time of each paycheck, making the voucher stub format practically mandatory for businesses running payroll.
Issuer Stub (Second Stub)
The second stub is the check writer's retained copy. It mirrors the payment detail from the payee stub and becomes part of the check writer's physical accounting records. Filed with paid invoices or in a check register binder, the issuer stub creates a paper trail that matches the check number and amount to the specific invoice or payroll period it covers. This paper trail supplements (and in audit situations supports) the records in your accounting software.
ChecksForLess.com summarizes the filing value: "The stub on a voucher check answers the question 'what was this check for?' without requiring a separate email or paper invoice." This self-contained documentation is why voucher checks are recommended for any business that might face an accounting audit, dispute, or reconciliation question months after a payment is made.
Who Is the Payee on a Check
Who is the payee on a check: the payee is the person or business named on the "Pay to the Order of" line , the party who receives the payment. The payee's name is the primary field on the check face that determines who can legally cash or deposit the instrument.
Payee on voucher check: on a top stub check, the payee's name appears in three places: on the check face itself in the "Pay to the Order of" field, on the payee stub section which the recipient keeps as a record of payment received, and in the accounting software's check register that generated the printing.
Payee stub copy check: the payee stub is sometimes called the "payee copy" because it is designed for the payee's use. It contains the breakdown of what the payment covers (which invoices, which pay period, which project), helping the payee reconcile the incoming payment against their own accounts receivable or payroll records without needing to contact the check writer for clarification.
The payee is distinct from two other parties in a check transaction: the drawer (also called the maker or check writer , the account holder who signs the check and authorizes payment from their account) and the drawee (the bank that holds the drawer's account and processes the payment when the check is presented). Understanding these three roles matters for businesses using voucher checks because each role generates different documentation requirements.
For a full explanation of check terminology including the payee, drawer, and drawee roles, see our complete check writing guide.
MICR Line Placement on Top Checks
Top check MICR line placement: on a top stub check, the MICR line (the row of magnetic ink characters at the bottom of the check containing the routing number, account number, and check number) is at the bottom edge of the check section, not the bottom edge of the full sheet. This is an important distinction for anyone setting up check printing for the first time.
Because the check occupies the top third of the sheet, the MICR line prints approximately 3.5 inches from the top of the sheet, not at the 11-inch bottom edge of the paper. The two stub sections occupy the lower portion of the sheet below the MICR line. When the sheet is fed through a bank's reader-sorter equipment, the check portion (with the MICR line) is processed and the stubs are discarded or returned.
Checkomatic pre-encodes the MICR line on all check-on-top stock at manufacture using ANSI X9.100-20-compliant MICR toner. The routing number, account number, and starting check number are all pre-printed before the order ships. When you print the variable fields (payee, amount, date) from your accounting software, no MICR printing is required from your office printer. Your standard laser or inkjet printer handles only the non-MICR fields.
For more on MICR encoding, how it works, and why standard toner cannot replace it, see our blank check stock and MICR guide and our ABA routing number guide.
Double Window Envelope Compatibility
Top check double window envelope: top stub checks are designed to be compatible with standard #10 double-window business envelopes, where the check's delivery address and return address are visible through the two transparent windows without requiring manual addressing.
When a top stub check is folded correctly for insertion into a double-window envelope, the recipient's name and address (printed in the payee section of the check) align with the large lower window, and the return address (printed in the upper-left area of the check) aligns with the smaller upper window. This design eliminates the need to address envelopes manually or print separate address labels for mailed check payments.
ChoiceChecks confirms this compatibility: "Top checks are compatible with many double window envelopes." ChecksForLess.com adds the envelope-ordering reminder: "If you mail checks often, double-check envelope compatibility before you order." Our check envelopes are sized and windowed specifically to work with standard top-check format voucher checks.
Check on Top Software Compatibility
Check on top software compatibility: the top-check format is the default layout for the largest number of US accounting software platforms. If you are unsure which format your software needs, top-check is the safest default choice because it works with more programs than any other layout.
Software platforms that use the top-check format as their default or primary check printing layout:
- QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, Enterprise, Accountant): Top-check voucher format is the default "Voucher" selection in File > Printer Setup > Check/Paycheck
- QuickBooks Online: Same voucher format, accessible via Gear > Print Checks
- Quicken Home and Business, Quicken Premier: Top-check format supported for wallet, voucher, and standard formats
- Rent Manager: Top-check format is the default check layout
- Xero: Top-check voucher format compatible
- NetSuite: Top-check format compatible
- FreshBooks: Top-check format compatible
- Wave Accounting: Top-check format compatible
TechChecks.net confirms: "The top-of-page format is the most widely supported format with a check on top of the sheet and 2 voucher stubs on the bottom and is compatible with QuickBooks, Quicken, Rent Manager, and many other software brands." CHAX Software adds: "If your business uses QuickBooks for check printing, you need top format checks."
Top Checks and QuickBooks
Check on top QuickBooks: QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online both default to the top-check format. In QuickBooks terminology, this format is called "Voucher" in the check printing menu. When you open File > Printer Setup > Check/Paycheck in QuickBooks Desktop, the three options are Voucher, Standard, and Wallet. Voucher equals check-on-top format. Standard equals 3-on-a-page format (no stubs). Wallet equals the smaller 3-on-a-page wallet size.
Checkomatic's QuickBooks-compatible check guide explains why voucher (top-check) is the right choice for most QuickBooks users: "If your business runs payroll and accounts payable through QuickBooks, that default is usually right." The stub sections allow QuickBooks to print employee pay detail (for payroll) and invoice numbers (for vendor payments) directly on the check sheet during the standard check printing run.
For step-by-step QuickBooks printer setup with top-check format, including the alignment test process and the 0.1-inch adjustment most users need on their first order, see our QuickBooks check printing guide. For a comparison of all QuickBooks-compatible check formats, see our QuickBooks checks catalog.
Check on top Quicken: Quicken supports the same top-check format under a similar printer setup menu. Quicken Home and Business and Quicken Premier users can select voucher, wallet, or standard format. The process for setting up alignment in Quicken mirrors QuickBooks: print a test check on plain paper, hold it against the physical check stock, and adjust the alignment settings until fields align correctly.
Top Check vs Middle Check vs Bottom Check: Format Comparison
The three standard business laser check formats each position the negotiable check portion at a different location on the 8.5 x 11 sheet. The choice between them is determined almost entirely by which accounting software you use.
Format Comparison at a Glance
Top check (check-on-top): Check at top third. Two stubs below. Software: QuickBooks, Quicken, Rent Manager, Xero, NetSuite, FreshBooks, Wave. Market share: approximately 65 percent. Best default choice if software unknown.
Middle check (check-in-middle): Check at center third. One stub above, one stub below. Software: Sage 50 (formerly Peachtree), TSS, Softpro, Landtech, construction management software. Market share: approximately 25 percent. Required for Sage 50 users.
Bottom check (check-on-bottom): Check at bottom third. Two stubs above. Software: Paradox, specialized healthcare accounting software. Market share: approximately 10 percent. Serves niche industry-specific applications.
CHAX Software's research confirms these market share figures: "Top checks approximately 65%, middle checks approximately 25%, bottom checks approximately 10%." All three formats use the same 8.5 x 11 paper size, the same MICR encoding requirements, and are accepted by all US banks equally. The format selection affects only your software's print alignment, not the check's banking validity.
Middle Check: Sage 50 and Peachtree Software
Middle check software Sage 50 Peachtree: the middle-check format positions the check in the center of the sheet with one stub above and one below. This format was established as the default by Peachtree Accounting (now Sage 50), which was the dominant small business accounting software in construction, real estate, and project management before QuickBooks gained market share.
Construction and real estate management companies using Sage 50 are the primary middle-check users because the software defaults to center alignment. TechChecks.net confirms: "The middle-of-page format is recommended for users of Peachtree/Sage 50, TSS, Softpro, Landtech, and many other software brands." CHAX Software adds the architectural reason: "Middle checks place the negotiable check portion in the center of the page. One voucher stub appears above the check, and another stub sits below. This format caters to specific accounting software that expects center-aligned check printing."
If you are switching from Sage 50 to QuickBooks, you will need to switch from middle-check to top-check format. The two formats are not interchangeable , printing a QuickBooks check on middle-check stock produces misaligned fields, and printing a Sage 50 check on top-check stock has the same result. Checkomatic supplies middle-check format at business checks in the middle for Sage 50 and Peachtree users.
Bottom Check Software Paradox Healthcare and Specialized Systems
Bottom check software Paradox healthcare: this format serves Paradox database users and healthcare-specific accounting systems.
The bottom-check format is the least common of the three layouts, representing approximately 10 percent of business check sales. With the check at the bottom of the sheet and both stubs above it, the bottom-check format provides maximum vertical space for remittance information above the check , useful for healthcare billing systems where patient or claim detail needs to appear before the payment instrument.
Bottom-check format is primarily required by Paradox database software and custom accounting systems built for medical practices, specialty billing firms, and healthcare-adjacent businesses. TechChecks.net: "The bottom-of-page format is often used with certain custom accounting software commonly found in the healthcare industry." CHAX Software adds: "Bottom checks fulfill an important niche in business check markets. Organizations using this format require it , there's no workaround when software is fixed to bottom format output."
Note on naming: some buyers search for "top stub checks" meaning they want checks where the stub is at the top. If you are one of those buyers and your accounting software requires the check at the bottom, you want Checkomatic's business checks on the bottom format, not the top-check format covered in this guide.
Check on Top 65 Percent Market Share
Check on top 65 percent market share: the top-check format's dominant position in the market reflects the dominance of QuickBooks in US small business accounting software. Because QuickBooks defaults to the top-check format and QuickBooks holds the largest share of US small business accounting installations, the majority of business check orders naturally trend to top-check format.
This market position has a practical benefit for buyers: the widest selection of security features, color options, design choices, and supplier inventory is available for top-check format. Niche formats (middle and bottom) have more limited design options because lower order volume reduces the variety suppliers can economically stock. If you are evaluating which check format to use and have flexibility in your accounting software setup, choosing top-check format gives you the most options in every dimension: supplier choice, price, security features, and delivery speed.
CHAX Software's recommendation: "When in doubt, top checks offer the safest default choice. The format's widespread compatibility means it works with more software than any other layout. If you order top checks and discover you need a different format, the mistake becomes a learning experience rather than a major loss."
Top Stub Personal Checks
Top stub personal checks: top stub personal checks are personal checkbook-format checks where the check itself is positioned at the top of the check sheet with a stub section below or to the side for the account holder's transaction record. This format is less common than the standard personal checkbook format (where stubs appear on the left side of the check), but it exists for personal account holders who prefer the voucher-style documentation format.
Top stub personal checks are used when a personal account holder writes checks frequently enough to benefit from detailed payment documentation on each check (rental property owners paying maintenance vendors from personal accounts, sole proprietors using personal checking for business expenses, or individuals making recurring personal payments to contractors). The top-check format gives these users the same payee-stub documentation that business voucher checks provide.
Checkomatic's personal checks range includes multiple formats for personal account holders. If you want the voucher-style format for a personal account, select from the personal deskset and personal top-stub options in our personal check catalog. For the personal version of the computer-printable top-check format compatible with Quicken and similar personal finance software, our personal laser checks provide the same layout as the business voucher format at personal account scale.
Top Check vs 3-on-a-Page Checks
Top check vs 3 on a page check: within the accounting software context, the choice between top-check voucher format and 3-on-a-page (standard) format comes down to whether you need stub documentation with each check.
Top-check (voucher) format: one check per page, two stubs. Best for payroll (stubs carry earnings detail), detailed vendor payments (stubs show invoice numbers), and any business that maintains physical payment records. More paper per check but more documentation per payment.
3-on-a-page (standard) format: three checks per page, no stubs. Best for high-volume simple vendor payments where the payee does not need remittance detail, businesses that track all payment detail exclusively in their accounting software, and nonprofits processing large AP volumes without individual stub needs. Less paper per check, lower per-check cost, faster printing for batch runs.
Checkomatic's QuickBooks guide offers the clearest decision rule: "Use voucher for payroll and AP. Use 3-on-a-page for simple vendor payments. If you're still not sure, start with voucher. You can always switch formats later." For 3-on-a-page checks, see our 3-on-a-page checks catalog.
The Naming Confusion: Voucher Check, Check-on-Top, Top Stub, Desktop
Top check naming confusion voucher check: the same physical product is called different names by different suppliers, software companies, and industry segments. This naming inconsistency is the primary source of confusion for first-time buyers. Here is a complete translation table:
- "Top checks" = check-on-top format (Checkomatic, CHAX Software, ChoiceChecks terminology)
- "Top stub checks" = same product, emphasizing the stubs are below the top-positioned check
- "Desktop checks" = same product, emphasizing that it prints from a desktop computer
- "Voucher checks" = same product, emphasizing the detachable voucher stubs (used by Intuit Market, Deluxe, QuickBooks documentation)
- "Check-on-top" = same product, explicit position description (used by TechChecks.net, SmartPayables)
- "Laser checks" = sometimes used to describe this format, emphasizing the laser printing compatibility
- "Computer checks" = same product, emphasizing the computer-printing method
When calling a supplier or searching online for top stub checks, any of these terms will lead to the same product. The physical check is identical; only the marketing name differs by seller. When ordering, confirm the layout description explicitly: "check at the top of the page, two stubs below" to ensure the supplier understands exactly which format you need.
Cheap Top Stub Checks: Direct Manufacturer vs Bank vs Intuit
Cheap top stub checks price comparison: buyers searching for cheap top stub checks are typically comparing three sources , their bank, Intuit Market (QuickBooks' own check ordering service), and direct manufacturers like Checkomatic.
Bank-Ordered Checks
Most banks offer personalized check ordering through their online banking portal, typically through a third-party supplier. Bank check prices typically run $25-$50 for 100-200 checks, or $50-$80 for 250 checks. The premium covers the bank's margin on the third-party order. Bank checks are functionally identical to directly ordered checks; the price difference is the intermediary markup.
Intuit Market (QuickBooks Check Ordering)
Intuit's own check ordering service at intuitmarket.intuit.com offers Basic, Secure Plus, and Secure Premier voucher checks. The CHAX Software price benchmark places typical top-check pricing at $45.99-$51.99 per 500 checks at the market level. Intuit checks guarantee compatibility with QuickBooks, which is valuable for first-time buyers uncertain about alignment, but the pricing includes Intuit's margin on top of the manufacturer's cost.
Direct Manufacturer (Checkomatic)
Cheap top stub checks Checkomatic vs bank vs Intuit: ordering directly from a check manufacturer eliminates the intermediary's margin. Checkomatic is an in-house check manufacturer (in-house check manufacturer) producing checks directly in Monroe, NY (Monroe NY) since 1997. Manufacturing and selling directly means Checkomatic's pricing on top stub checks is typically lower than bank-ordered or Intuit-ordered equivalents for the same security feature level.
The practical comparison: a 250-check order of top-stub voucher checks with full security features (CPSA-certified paper, microprinting, watermark, void pantograph, chemically reactive paper, MICR encoding) from a direct manufacturer costs less than the same order placed through a bank portal or Intuit Market, because no intermediary collects a margin between you and the factory. ABA compliant check stock (ABA compliant) with CPSA certified (CPSA certified) security paper is the standard across all Checkomatic orders regardless of format.
What Is a Starter Check
What is a starter check: a starter check (also called a counter check or temporary check) is a blank check form issued by a bank teller to a customer who has just opened a new checking account and has not yet received their ordered personalized checks. Starter check definition in banking: these are generic bank-printed check forms that include the bank's routing number pre-printed, with the customer's account number added by the teller. They are functional checks that banks honor, but they have limited identifying information compared to standard ordered personal or business checks.
Starter check vs ordered check differences:
- Starter checks do not include the account holder's name or address (or may show it in handwriting if the teller adds it)
- Starter checks do not have sequential pre-printed check numbers
- Starter checks typically have minimal or no security features on the paper stock
- Starter checks look different from standard checks and some merchants or landlords decline to accept them
- Starter checks are meant as a temporary supply (typically 5-10 checks) until ordered checks arrive
Starter checks are not related to the top stub check format , they are a separate concept about the temporary checks a bank provides when you open an account. Once your first box of ordered personal or business checks arrives from Checkomatic, starter checks are no longer needed. For new business accounts, order your first box of top stub checks immediately when opening the account to minimize reliance on starter checks. Standard turnaround at Checkomatic is 3 to 5 business days from proof approval.
For more on handling a first check order for a new account, including what routing number to use and how to verify it, see our how to order business checks guide.
Security Features on Top Stub Checks
Top stub checks security features: business checks are a primary fraud target. The quality of security features on your check stock directly affects your vulnerability to check washing, counterfeiting, and alteration. Top stub checks ordered from Checkomatic include the following six base security features on every order at no additional charge:
- CPSA-certified chemically reactive paper: Stains visibly when solvents contact it, making check washing attempts immediately detectable
- Genuine watermark: Embedded in the paper fiber structure during manufacturing, visible under light, undetectable on copies
- Microprinting: Tiny text along borders and signature lines that appears as a solid line to the naked eye but is readable under magnification; scanners and copiers cannot reproduce it
- Void pantograph: Background pattern that causes "VOID" to appear on any photocopy or scan of the check
- MICR toner encoding: Routing number, account number, and check number pre-encoded using magnetic ink that bank reader-sorter equipment reads magnetically
- UV fluorescent features: Visible only under ultraviolet light, used by bank verification equipment to authenticate originals
For a detailed explanation of each security feature, how check washing works, and how security paper prevents it, see our check washing prevention guide.
Check on Top Ordering Guide: How to Order Top Stub Checks
Ordering top stub checks from Checkomatic requires four pieces of information:
- Your bank routing number: The 9-digit routing number from the MICR line on your existing checks (or from your bank for a new account). This must be the paper check routing number, not the ACH or wire routing number. See our ABA routing number guide for help locating this.
- Your account number: From the MICR line of existing checks or from your bank statement.
- Your starting check number: The next check number in your sequence, or check number 1001 for a new account.
- Your business name and address: Printed in the upper left of the check. Optional: your phone number, business logo (included free on every order), or tagline.
Checkomatic verifies your routing number against the Federal Reserve E-Payments Routing Directory before printing, confirming the bank name matches your submitted information. This pre-print verification catches entry errors before they produce unusable checks. No pre-selected add-ons at checkout: you see and approve exactly what you are ordering before any production begins.
Why Checkomatic for Top Stub and Desktop Checks
Checkomatic is an in-house check manufacturer (in-house check manufacturer) producing ABA compliant check stock (ABA compliant) directly in Monroe, NY (Monroe NY) since 1997. Every top stub check order includes:
- CPSA certified (CPSA certified) security paper with six fraud deterrent features at base price
- Pre-encoded MICR line with your routing number, account number, and starting check number
- Free logo printing (free logo printing) on every business check order
- Routing number verified against the Federal Reserve E-Payments Routing Directory before any printing begins
- Standard turnaround of 3 to 5 business days from proof approval
- No pre-selected add-ons at checkout
To order top stub checks (check-on-top voucher format) directly: business checks on top. For additional business check formats: all business check formats. For the manual version of top-position checks that you handwrite rather than print: manual business checks. Order at checkomatic.
The Short Version on Top Stub Checks and Desktop Checks
Top stub checks vs bottom stub checks: top stub checks have the check at the top, stubs below; bottom stub checks (check-on-bottom) have the check at the bottom, stubs above. Top stub checks, desktop checks, top checks, check-on-top, and voucher checks are all names for the same product: a business laser check with the negotiable check at the top of an 8.5 x 11 sheet and two detachable voucher stubs below it. The check section is 8.5 x 3.5 inches; MICR encoding sits at the bottom edge of the check section, not the bottom of the full sheet. They are the default format for QuickBooks, Quicken, Xero, and most major accounting software, and hold approximately 65 percent of the US business check market. Middle-check format serves Sage 50 and Peachtree users; bottom-check format serves healthcare and Paradox users. Top-check format is compatible with double-window #10 envelopes for mailing. Cheap top stub checks come from ordering directly from a manufacturer like Checkomatic rather than through a bank portal or Intuit Market. Starter checks are temporary bank-issued checks for new accounts, not the same as top stub checks. A starter check should be replaced as quickly as possible with ordered checks. The payee on a check is the person named on the "Pay to the Order of" line; on a voucher check, the payee stub is the recipient's copy of payment detail.
