How Do I Order More Checks for My Checking Account?
Flipping to the back of a checkbook and finding only a handful of blank checks left is a small, easy-to-ignore moment until the next time a rent check or a payment to a contractor is actually due.
The quick answer
Checks are generally reordered either directly through the bank that holds the checking account or through an independent, bank-approved check printing company, and both routes are common. Ordering directly through the bank is typically the simplest option, while an outside printer can sometimes offer lower prices or more design choices for the same account. The exact process, pricing, and available options vary by bank and by printer.
Ordering directly through the bank
Most banks offer check reordering through online banking, a mobile app, a phone call, or in person at a branch, and this route pulls the account and routing information automatically so there’s little room for a transcription error. It’s often the most convenient option, though not always the cheapest, since banks sometimes charge more per box of checks than an independent printer offering the same basic product. Any bank representative can typically confirm current pricing and turnaround time for a specific account.
Using an independent check printer
A number of independent printing companies also produce checks, and many are pre-approved by banks to print in the exact format their systems require. These companies often provide a wider range of designs and sometimes lower prices than ordering directly through the bank, since check printing is their core business rather than a side service. When using an outside printer, it’s important to enter the account and routing numbers correctly, since a printer working from customer-submitted information doesn’t have the same built-in verification a bank’s own system does.
What to have ready before ordering
- The bank’s routing number and the account’s specific account number. These are both usually printed on an existing check or available through online banking.
- The starting check number. Reordering typically continues from the last check number used, to avoid duplicate numbers on outstanding checks.
- Confirmation of the account name and address. Any mismatch between what’s printed and what the bank has on file can occasionally cause a check to be questioned when it’s deposited or cashed.
Why checks still matter for some payments
Even as many payments move to cards and payment apps, some situations still call for a paper check specifically, such as certain rent payments, contractor work, or transactions where a payee doesn’t accept another method. Understanding how long a bank can legally hold a deposited check is useful context for anyone regularly writing or receiving checks, since a check isn’t necessarily final or fast on either end of the transaction. Some situations also call for a different type of check entirely, such as when a seller specifically requests a cashier’s check rather than a personal check or money order, which involves a different ordering process through the bank itself.
A few practical habits
Reordering before the checkbook actually runs out avoids a last-minute scramble, and keeping the new checks in a secure place matters just as much as protecting any other piece of financial paperwork, since a lost or stolen blank check can be used fraudulently. It’s also worth double-checking a new box of checks against an old one for accurate account information before using the first one, particularly when ordering through an outside printer for the first time. Knowing the check number of a specific payment also matters later on, since it’s what’s needed if a payment ever needs to be stopped, and a stop payment request doesn’t always succeed at blocking a check that’s already further along in processing than expected.
Where this leaves you
Reordering checks is a routine task with two main paths — through the bank directly, or through an approved outside printer — and the right choice usually comes down to convenience versus price. Having the account details ready and double-checking a new order before it’s put into use are the two habits that prevent most of the problems that can come up along the way.