Best Places To Buy Cheap Personal Checks
Written by
Terence Loose
Edited by
Elizabeth Constantineau
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Despite a world teeming with credit cards, online bill pay and payment apps, personal checks are still a thing. Checks can cost you a lot of money if you don’t shop for the best deal or have a checking or savings account that offers cheap personal checks as a perk. Fortunately, like methods of payment, you have nothing but options when it comes to ordering new personal checks.
Online Personal Check Printers
Independent online check printers offer some of the cheapest personal checks. In addition, these days there are so many that your choice could be dizzying. Prices vary greatly too, from under $0.10 per check to more than double that.
Your price will depend on more than the service you choose, however. Many online check printers offer a range of designs. These can include simple nature motifs and cityscapes or trademarked designs such as Disney characters, holiday themes and others. The design you choose can affect the price you pay. Shipping charges may also increase your final cost, so make sure you understand the site’s fine print and only pay for the add-ons you want at checkout.
Big Box and Discount Warehouse Check Printing
It probably won’t surprise you that Walmart, Costco and other big box stores offer cheap personal checks. These are secure and fairly inexpensive options for those who might not want to open a bank account just for affordable checks. However, like toilet paper or toothpaste, you might have to buy in bulk. For instance, Costco’s inexpensive checks come with a minimum order of two packs, or 200 checks. The least expensive checks at Sam’s Club require an order of 330 checks.
How Much Does a Box of Personal Checks Cost?
Prices for a box of checks can vary widely, from $5 to $20 or more. But comparing the cost of checks in this way — by the box — can be deceptive. For instance, one company’s box might contain 100 checks while another business includes 200 or more checks per box. If the prices are the same or close, the comparison is meaningless. This is why when you compare personal check prices, it’s much more informative to do a little math and compare the price per check.
Cheap Personal Check Options
Here’s a look at how much personal checks cost at a variety of retailers:
| Retailer | Checks per Minimum Order (Singles / Duplicates) | Price per Order (Singles / Duplicates) | Price per Check (Singles / Duplicates) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam’s Club | 480 / 330 | $17.38 / $18.85 | $0.04 / $0.06 |
| Costco (Executive Member) | 250 / 200 | $16.18 / $16.56 | $0.07 / $0.08 |
| Walmart | 120 / 120 | $9.81 / $11.28 | $0.08 / $0.09 |
| Costco (Gold Star / Business Member) | 250 / 200 | $20.22 / $20.70 | $0.08 / $0.10 |
| Checkworks | 125 / 100 | $11.99 / $16.99 | $0.10 / $0.17 |
| VistaPrint | 150 / Not offered | $15 / Not offered | $0.10 / Not offered |
| Check Advantage | 150 / 120 | $15.84 / $19.25 | $0.11 / $0.16 |
Beware of Poor Quality Checks or Service
As with most online industries, the online check printing world has its fair share of bad or incompetent actors. Hence, your personal checks, which includes your bank information, are not the place to potentially sacrifice security in order to save a few pennies. So do your homework by checking online reviews for customer satisfaction, or stick with known national brands.
You should also verify that the check printer uses industry-approved security measures. These include such things as using Magnetic Ink Character Recognition in their printing, chemically sensitive paper to prevent tampering and a security padlock icon that shows that the company has met security measures set by the Check Printers Stationery Association.
Final Take
In our technologically advanced world there’s a good chance that you can get through life without ever writing a check, but it’s still good to have a pack on hand. While bank transfer services like Zelle, Venmo and PayPal are convenient, they have transfer limitations and processing times. Moreover, not all creditors accept digital payments. In these cases, having a supply of cheap personal checks can ensure you are prepared for any financial scenario.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about buying personal checks.- Are duplicate checks more expensive?
- Duplicate checks have a carbon paper insert underneath the paper check you write on. These are great for people who don't want to keep a check register. Duplicate checks will normally increase the price of your check order, however. Some services keep the price nearly the same for fewer checks; some charge more for the same number of checks.
- Can you print checks yourself?
- You can print checks yourself but it might not be as convenient or as inexpensive as you imagine. You'll need special software for starters. If you use financial software, like QuickBooks, you might already have access to this. Otherwise, you will have to purchase it.
- You will also most likely have to use special paper and ink which can get costly. For instance, the magnetic ink used for check printing sells for $40 or more on Amazon. For these reasons, printing your own personal checks might only be cost-effective if you use many checks per month.
- How can I get free checks?
- There are many banks and credit unions that offer a certain number of free checks with their checking or CD accounts. For instance, Navy Federal Credit Union and Ally Bank both offer free checks with their standard checking accounts. So check with your institution to see if your account offers free or reasonably priced checks.
- Where is the least expensive place to order checks?
- The cheapest personal checks can be found at Sam's Club, Walmart and Costco.
Information is accurate as of April 24, 2024.
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- Finance Monthly. 2023. "Check Security Features: What to Look for to Protect Against Fraud."
