Still wondering where to find the best places to order checks online without paying your bank's inflated prices? Here's the answer upfront: dozens of reputable third-party check printers offer fully bank-compliant checks at up to 80% less than what most banks charge. You have real options — and this guide walks you through all of them. For more ways to manage your money smarter, explore our personal finance resources.
Paper checks are far from dead. A paper check is still one of the most widely accepted payment instruments in the United States, used for rent, contractor payments, utility bills, and more. The problem isn't checks — it's where most people order them. Your bank is almost never the best option for price or variety.
Below you'll find a side-by-side comparison table, honest breakdowns of the top services, myth-busting for common fears, and tips to avoid costly mistakes. Whether you need personal checks, business checks, or something with a custom design, there's a service on this list for you.
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More people than you'd think. Here's where checks remain the go-to payment method:
If you're actively building better financial habits alongside managing payments, the best finance podcasts are a solid free resource for staying informed.
Your bank prints checks through the same wholesale facilities that power third-party services — then marks up the price 200–400%. They count on you not knowing you can go elsewhere. Legitimate third-party printers produce checks with identical MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition — the machine-readable numbers at the bottom of your check) encoding on the same bank-approved paper stock. The only real difference between bank-ordered and third-party checks is the price you pay.
Here's a fast overview so you can compare services before diving into the details.
| Service | Best For | Starting Price (per box) | Custom Designs | Business Checks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checks Unlimited | Personal checks, value | ~$7 | Yes | Yes |
| Carousel Checks | Unique artistic designs | ~$8 | Yes | No |
| Bradford Exchange Checks | Licensed/themed designs | ~$15 | Yes | No |
| CheckAdvantage | Coupons + wide variety | ~$7 | Yes | Yes |
| Costco Checks | Members seeking bulk savings | ~$6 | Limited | Yes |
| Sam's Club Checks | Members seeking bulk savings | ~$6 | Limited | Yes |
| Walmart Checks | No-membership value | ~$8 | Yes | Yes |
| Vistaprint | Business branding | ~$10 | Yes | Yes |
| Deluxe | Business + advanced security | ~$12 | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Direct | Convenience only | ~$25+ | No | Yes |
Pro tip: Always search for a coupon code before checkout — most check services offer 20–50% off codes that take less than 60 seconds to find.
If saving money is your top priority, start with these four.
1. Checks Unlimited
One of the most recognized names in check printing. Checks Unlimited offers hundreds of designs — from classic blue to nature themes — with solid built-in security features like heat-sensitive ink and watermarks. Prices start low, promotions run frequently, and reordering is simple once your account is saved.
2. CheckAdvantage
CheckAdvantage is known for aggressive coupon deals. New customers regularly receive 50% off their first order, and the design library is broad. They offer both personal and business checks. Shipping is fast — most orders arrive within a week.
3. Costco Checks
If you hold a Costco membership, this is hard to beat. Costco partners with Harland Clarke — one of the country's largest check printers — to offer member-only pricing that undercuts most competitors. Design options are limited, but for clean personal or business checks at a low cost per box, it's a top value.
4. Sam's Club Checks
Sam's Club offers a nearly identical model to Costco — member pricing through a partner printer, with strong bulk discounts. If you already carry a Sam's Club membership, check here before paying retail elsewhere. The per-check savings add up quickly over time.
Want checks that actually reflect your personality? These services specialize in variety and visual appeal.
5. Carousel Checks
Carousel Checks stands out for its wide range of artistic and themed designs — animals, nature scenes, abstract patterns, seasonal artwork, and more. Pricing is reasonable, security features match industry standards, and the checkout process is straightforward. This is the top pick for personal checks with personality.
6. Bradford Exchange Checks
Bradford Exchange licenses officially branded designs from sports teams, universities, artists, and entertainment franchises. These cost a bit more than the budget options, but if you want a check featuring your favorite team or a licensed design, there's no better source.
7. Walmart Checks
Walmart's check service — powered by a third-party printer — offers a decent range of designs at prices that don't require a membership. It's a solid middle-ground option when you want variety without committing to a specialty service or bulk pricing tier.
Running a business means you need checks built for professional use — with branding options and stronger fraud protection.
8. Vistaprint
Vistaprint is well-known for business branding, and their checks follow that same philosophy. You can add a logo, match your brand colors, and choose from laser or manual formats. If you already order business cards or marketing materials from Vistaprint, consolidating your order there makes practical sense.
9. Deluxe
Deluxe is one of the oldest check printers in the country. They specialize in business checks with advanced fraud protection — positive pay compatibility, security microprinting, and tamper-evident coatings. They cost more than the budget picks, but for high-volume business use, the security investment pays off.
10. Your Bank (Last Resort)
Ordering directly from your bank is convenient — but almost always the most expensive option by a wide margin. Reserve this for emergency situations where you need checks immediately and can't wait for a third-party order. Otherwise, you're paying a significant premium for no practical benefit.
False. Reputable third-party printers use the same MICR encoding, security paper, and bank-compliance standards as any bank-issued check. Many actually offer more security features — like heat-sensitive ink and chemical-wash detection — than your bank's standard offering.
It takes about five minutes. You enter your bank's routing number (the nine-digit number at the bottom left of any existing check), your account number, and your name and address. Most services walk you through a guided form with a live preview before you confirm. There's no technical knowledge required.
Standard shipping typically arrives in 7–10 business days. Most services offer rush options that cut that to 2–3 business days. Order before you run out and you'll never feel the delay.
Warning: Never order checks from an unfamiliar or unverified website — always choose established services with real contact information, a physical address, and verifiable customer reviews.
You don't. Checks work the same regardless of which licensed printer produces them, as long as the MICR encoding is accurate. You can switch services on every order to chase a better price, new designs, or a first-order discount without any issues.
If you spot an error — wrong name, old address, or incorrect account number — contact the printer immediately. Most services have a correction window before the order goes to press. After printing, you'll typically need to return the checks for a reprint. If the error was the printer's fault, the reprint is usually free.
If your checks don't arrive within the expected window:
This is rare and almost always correctable. It happens when MICR encoding doesn't match bank requirements or the paper stock falls short of standards. Contact the printer — all reputable services guarantee bank acceptance and will reprint or issue a full refund. The same principle applies when choosing any financial tool: pick platforms with clear accountability. That's as true for check printers as it is for stock trading apps — the reputable ones stand behind their product.
Every check service reduces the per-check price when you order more boxes at once. Here's a rough guide for how much to buy based on usage:
Most check services run ongoing promotions — first-order discounts, seasonal sales, and returning customer codes. Sign up for email lists and search for current coupon codes before every single order. Stacking a first-order promo with a site-wide discount of 50–60% off is common and takes less than two minutes.
Moved recently or changed your name? Update your check details before you reorder — not after the box arrives. Printing checks with outdated information wastes an entire order. If you run a business and manage multiple financial workflows at once, tools like these free project management tools help you stay organized without adding complexity or cost.
Keep unused checks in a dry, secure location away from heat and moisture. MICR ink can degrade under poor storage conditions. Checks left in plain sight are also a theft and fraud risk. A locked desk drawer or small home safe is sufficient for most households and small offices.
Yes. Reputable online check printers meet the same MICR encoding and paper standards required by U.S. banking regulations. Services like Checks Unlimited, Deluxe, and CheckAdvantage have processed millions of orders. Always verify you're ordering from a well-established company with clear contact information before submitting your bank details.
Standard shipping takes 7–10 business days from the order date. Most services offer rush processing and shipping options that reduce delivery to 2–3 business days for an added fee. Order before you run out and standard shipping works perfectly.
Yes. You need your bank's routing number and your new account number — both available directly from your bank when you open the account. Some banks provide starter checks when you open an account, which you can use to confirm the numbers before placing a full order.
All reputable third-party printers produce checks compliant with Federal Reserve and ABA (American Bankers Association) standards, which means they work with virtually every U.S. bank and credit union. If a bank ever rejects a legitimately printed check, the printer will reprint or refund.
You need your bank's routing number (the nine-digit number at the bottom left of any existing check), your account number, and your name and mailing address. For business checks, add your business name and logo if you want branded checks.
Almost always by a significant margin. Banks typically charge $20–$35 or more per box of standard checks. Services like Costco Checks, CheckAdvantage, and Checks Unlimited regularly start below $8–$10 per box — often less with a first-order coupon. The savings compound over multiple orders.
For basic business checks at a low cost, CheckAdvantage and Checks Unlimited are the strongest value picks. For businesses that need logo branding and custom colors, Vistaprint is the better fit. For high-volume operations that need advanced fraud protection, Deluxe is the professional standard.
The best places to order checks online are the ones your bank will never tell you about — because they charge a fraction of the price for the exact same product.
About Sunny Nguyen
Sunny Nguyen founded and runs DomainPromo, writing about domain investing, namespace trends, aftermarket resale channels, and the mechanics of pricing, parking, and flipping domains. His coverage draws on a decade of hands-on acquisition work, auction bidding at NameJet and GoDaddy Auctions, and tracking the ngTLD expansion since its early rollout. Sunny writes for small-time domainers and portfolio investors alike, focusing on defensible liquidation strategies, brandability signals, and the long tail of non-dot-com namespaces. He also covers registrar platform mechanics, DNS configuration, escrow services, and the technical plumbing beneath domain flipping — the practical knowledge buyers and sellers need but rarely find in one place.
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