Products at a Glance
How We Picked the Best Printer for Printing Checks
For printing checks, a printer needs to be able to print using Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) ink cartridges. This ink allows you to encode banking information on the check so that other financial organizations can read it, and is essential for making valid checks.
Alongside this, we’ve made some other considerations outside of the best printer for printing checks: we have a budget-friendly selection and a compact option for those short on space. We’ll definitely have the right printer for all your check-printing needs!
Product Reviews
- Excellent build quality
- Fast printing speeds
- Numerous connectivity options
- Bulky
The Color LaserJet Pro from HP is a stellar LaserJet printer, that also happens to be the best printer for printing checks! With great build quality and great print resolution, you won’t struggle to use it for any and all financial or documenting needs!
After unboxing the LaserJet Pro, the setup is straightforward. You plug in the power cord, walk through a quick installation menu, load paper into the tray, and you’re ready to print. Everything in this model has been finely crafted: the hinges, paper tray, and cartridge drawers all feel solid and rigid. The print quality is great, with consistently crisp text and color definition. For printing checks of any design, this is a great print solution.
Nothing is perfect, however, and the LaserJet Pro has some flaws we’d like to point out. For more intricate print designs, such as images or detailed graphics, the printer will struggle. This shouldn’t be an issue for checks, but may limit your other uses of this printer. Since this printer takes up a lot of space, as well as being north of the general price point for comparative printers, this may not be the right choice for everyone. But for a reliable and fast check-printing solution, the LaserJet Pro is our top pick!
- Small footprint
- Affordable
- Fast print speeds
- Monochrome-exclusive printing
Brother’s HL-L2300D is a great printer for those wanting a compact and minimalist printer for printing checks. We are big fans of Brother Printers at PC Guide, for their affordability and quality in often very compact packages. The HL-L2300D is no exception, and is an ideal budget printer for checks.
With low operational costs and a fast print speed (27 pages per minute of standard A4), this printer is exceptionally fast for its size. The overall print quality is good, especially for the price point, but that price point does come with some caveats…
For one, the HL-L2300D is exclusively a monochrome printer. This is potentially very limiting for businesses or individuals looking to print anything beyond plain-text documents or black-and-white checks. And though the tiny footprint of this device means it can be placed anywhere, you are limited to connecting to it with a USB cable, undermining the compactness of the design. Whilst these are some potentially deal-breaking flaws, the trademark affordability of this printer should compensate you for the downsides. If you are looking to print checks while saving enough money to actually use them, then the Brother HL-L2300D is the best budget printer for checks!
- Comes with MICR ink
- Affordable
- Compact design
- Poor build quality
With “Check” and “MICR” right there in the name, the VersaCheck DeskJet 3755 is very clearly designed as a printer for checks. For an ultra-compact yet efficient printer, this is a great choice for those needing an all-in-one printer with limited space.
One of the few printers to come packaged with MICR ink cartridges, the DeskJet manages to justify its relatively low price point with added value. You have plenty of customization options for those who want to create a more unique check design. At 16 pages per minute, it’s not the fastest check printer on the market, but comes with wired and wireless connection options as standard.
We are a little disappointed by the build quality of this model, however. It is a notably flimsy printer, and the baffling decision to feed paper through the top means that the placement of the DeskJet is limited. This shouldn’t pose a problem for most, however, and for a dedicated check printer, you can’t do better. For affordable, customizable check printing, the VersaCheck DeskJet is a fantastic printer!
- Fast printing speed
- Compact design
- Multiple connection options
- Results may vary
- Monochrome only
For another affordable option from Brother, the HL-L2350DW is an easy all-rounder printer on a budget, capable of printing checks along with any other documentation you may need. Packing some great features for ease-of-use in a small all-rounder design, this LaserJet printer is perfect for offices.
Though it is exclusively a monochrome printer like our budget pick, the HL-L2350DW is still packed with functionality. With dozens of connection options, you will never struggle to print your checks or documents. It’s also pretty fast, boasting a print speed of 32 pages per minute. For such a small printer, it’s very impressive.
We wouldn’t recommend the HL-L2350DW over some of our other choices, however. The monochrome disadvantage aside, this is notably one of the more hit-or-miss products from Brother. The quality of models can vary drastically. If you get lucky with the model, however, this is a great printer for printing checks on occasion, and for regular general document printing.
Features and Considerations
If you are weighing up which is the best printer for you, then here are some things to consider:
Ink Type
As mentioned, checks require MICR ink in order to be legitimate currency. Not all printers are compatible with this ink type, and different manufacturers specify different cartridge types, so be sure that you get both right when buying.
Software
Alongside printer driver software and installation, you’ll want to make sure that you can check your checks before you print them. There is a lot of freedom within the design of a check, but the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) still requires certain features. It’s helpful to have a printer that comes with dedicated software for printing checks to ensure they are up-to-standard.
Connectivity
In a large or cluttered space, you want to avoid the burden of cable management. A wireless printer for printing checks is definitely an asset, allowing you to print from anywhere within range of the printer.
Cost per Print
Printers can be expensive to run even without specialist ink or print formats bogging down the cost. Some printers are more efficient than others, generally measured in a “Cost per Print” figure. This is a little harder to determine with specialist formats such as when printing with edible ink or MICR, but the overall efficiency of a printer stays roughly relative.
What ink do I use to print checks?
Checks need to be printed using Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) ink, as required by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Is it legal to print checks at home?
Yes. So long as you follow ANSI standards for check printing, such as paper dimensions and using the correct ink, you can legally print checks at home.
Our Verdict
Offering great print speed without sacrificing print quality, we highly recommend the HP LaserJet Pro as the best printer for printing checks! Though it’s bulkier than your standard home printer, it gives you great documentation in return! As well as being ready almost as soon as it’s out of the box, you’ll have plenty of customization options no matter what sort of document you’re printing!
Looking to sell as well as buy? We have a great guide on the best thermal printers for shipping labels and receipts of any kind!