Cheapest Way to Get Checks: Order Online vs Print Your Own

Printing your own checks is almost always cheaper per check once you've written more than a box or two a year, but ordering online can still win for very low volume or if you don't already own a printer. The real comparison comes down to per-check cost, not sticker price: a box of 150 checks sounds cheap until you add shipping, and check stock paper sounds free until you count ink.

The answer depends on how many checks you write, what printer you already own, and whether you value instant access over a mailed box. Below is a cost breakdown for both routes, where the break-even point usually falls, and the tradeoffs that have nothing to do with price.

Typical cost of ordering checks online

Pricing varies by source, but the pattern is consistent:

Ordering through your bank: often the most expensive option, commonly $25–$45 for a box of 150–200 checks, sometimes with 'free' shipping baked into the markup.
Third-party check printers (the big mail-order companies): typically cheaper than banks, often $10–$20 per box before shipping, with first-order discounts that disappear on reorders.
Retail/warehouse club check printing counters: can be competitive, often in the $15–$25 range for a box, depending on style and duplicate/triplicate options.
Shipping and handling: usually adds $3–$8 per order unless you hit a free-shipping threshold, and rush shipping can double that.

Per-check cost from these sources usually lands somewhere between $0.10 and $0.30 once shipping is factored in, more if you choose duplicate checks, extra security features, or a small reorder quantity. For a closer look at where prices differ most and how to avoid overpaying, How to Order Checks Online: Cheapest & Safest Options breaks down vendor-by-vendor pricing.

Cost breakdown for printing your own checks

Printing checks at home breaks down into three cost components, but only one of them is a true per-check cost. The other two are mostly fixed costs you've probably already paid for.

Blank check stock paper

Blank check stock (the security paper with the right formatting guides) is sold in packs, generally landing in the $0.08–$0.20 per sheet range depending on quantity and whether it's personal size (6" x 2.75") or business size (8.5" x 3.5"). Buying in bulk brings the per-sheet cost down noticeably.

Ink or toner

This is the cost people forget to count. A single check uses only a small amount of ink, but inkjet cartridges are expensive per page compared to laser toner. As a rough rule, laser printers cost less per page over time, while inkjet is cheaper upfront but pricier per check if you print often.

If you already own a printer for other tasks, this is close to a non-issue. If you'd need to buy one just for checks, factor that purchase into your break-even math.

App cost

QuickCheck's core check-writing features (creating, previewing, and printing a check, plus the checkbook register) are free. Some advanced features, like managing multiple bank accounts, exporting transactions, or keeping unlimited check history, are optional paid in-app purchases. For a single personal account writing checks occasionally, there's no required app cost at all.

One clarification: QuickCheck doesn't mail or sell physical checks. You create and preview a check on your phone, then print it via AirPrint to your own printer, onto check stock you buy separately. Think of it as the step between filling out a check and running it through your printer, not a check-ordering service. If you want the full process, from setup to printing, How to Print Checks at Home: A Complete Guide walks through it.

Where's the break-even point?

If you already own a printer, the math tends to favor printing your own almost immediately. The only real per-check cost is paper and a small amount of ink, often under $0.15 per check versus $0.15–$0.30 for ordered boxes. The gap widens the more checks you write, since bulk check stock gets cheaper per sheet while ordered boxes don't scale down in price the same way.

The calculation shifts if you don't own a printer and would need to buy one. In that case, a single box of pre-printed checks from a cheaper third-party source may cost less than a printer purchase for someone who only writes five or ten checks a year. Printing your own tends to pull ahead once you're writing checks regularly (monthly rent, recurring vendor payments, routine bill pay) rather than the occasional one-off.

In short: low volume and no printer on hand, ordering a small box online is probably simpler and about as cheap. Moderate to regular check writing with a printer you already use, printing your own wins on cost almost every time.

Tradeoffs beyond price

Cost isn't the only factor worth weighing:

Turnaround time: printing at home is immediate. Fill out a check and print it the same minute. Ordering online means waiting on mail delivery, which can be days to a couple of weeks depending on the vendor and shipping speed.
Customization and reprints: printing your own means you can fix a mistake and reprint instantly instead of voiding a pre-printed check and wasting it. If you do need to void one, How to Void a Check (And When You Actually Need To) covers how to do it correctly.
Running a digital register alongside printed checks: whichever way you get your checks, keeping a running balance matters. QuickCheck's checkbook register tracks checks, deposits, and withdrawals with an automatic running balance, so you're not relying on memory or a paper ledger to know what's cleared.

Neither method is universally cheapest. It depends on your printer situation and how often you write checks. But for most people who write checks with any regularity and already own a printer, printing your own on check stock paper comes out ahead on a per-check basis.

FAQ

Is it legal to print your own checks at home?

Yes. Checks printed on compliant check stock paper with the correct MICR-encoded routing and account information are accepted by banks the same as pre-printed checks, as long as the paper and printing meet standard check specifications.

Does QuickCheck sell or mail physical checks?

No. QuickCheck lets you create and preview a check on your phone, then print it via AirPrint to your own printer on check stock you purchase separately. It doesn't operate a check-ordering or mailing service.

What's the cheapest check stock paper to use?

Buying check stock in larger packs generally lowers the per-sheet price. Compare per-sheet cost rather than pack price, and make sure the paper is the correct size for personal (6" x 2.75") or business (8.5" x 3.5") checks.

Can I still track my balance if I print my own checks?

Yes. A digital checkbook register works the same whether your checks are pre-printed or printed at home. What matters is logging each transaction so your running balance stays accurate.

If you print your own checks to save money, pairing that with a digital register helps keep your balance accurate from the first check you print. Download QuickCheck for free on iOS and Android to write, print, and track every check from your phone — with a built-in checkbook register that balances itself.