To fill out a check reorder form, you need five pieces of information from your existing checks or bank records: your routing number, your account number, the next check number in your sequence, your bank’s name, and the printed name and address you want on the checks. Enter those into the fields on the paper slip tucked in your checkbook or the online form from your bank or a third-party printer, pick your quantity and style, and submit. The whole task takes about five minutes if you have your current checkbook in front of you.
What to Gather Before You Start
Every reorder form asks for the same core details. Pull these together first so you’re not hunting for numbers mid-form:
- Routing number. The nine-digit number that identifies your bank. On a check, it’s the leftmost number printed along the bottom edge. You can also find it in your online banking portal or by calling your bank.1American Bankers Association. ABA Routing Number
- Account number. The second group of numbers along the bottom of your check, directly after the routing number. It’s usually longer than the check number. If you’re unsure which is which, pick the longer one.
- Starting check number. Look at the last check in your current book and use the next number in sequence. The starting number doesn’t have to follow your old sequence, though. You can pick any number you want.
- Your bank’s name. Exactly as it appears on your current checks. If your bank recently merged or rebranded, confirm the current name and routing number before ordering.
- Your printed name and address. The name and mailing address you want printed on each check. These don’t affect whether a check clears, but many landlords, utilities, and government offices expect them to match your records.
All of this appears on your existing checks. If you’ve run out entirely, log into your bank’s online portal or call customer service and ask for each item.
Filling In the Form
Most checkbooks include a reorder slip a few pages before the last check. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. If you’ve lost the slip or prefer to order online, your bank’s website and most third-party printers walk you through the same fields digitally.
Start with the routing number, account number, and starting check number. Double-check every digit before you move on. These numbers get printed in magnetic ink along the bottom of each check, on what’s called the MICR line, and banks use that magnetic data to process payments automatically.2Accredited Standards Committee X9. Standards Advisory: Magnetic Ink Still Required on Checks A wrong digit means your checks route to the wrong account or get kicked back for manual review. Errors you introduce on the order form usually require a new paid order to correct, so this is the field to slow down on.
Next, confirm or update the printed name and address. If everything matches your current checks and nothing has changed, this part takes seconds.
If Your Name or Address Has Changed
A reorder is a natural time to update your printed information. A check with an old address will still clear because the routing and account numbers do the work, but an outdated name can cause problems with payees who verify identification.
For a name change, update your bank records first. Bring a certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court-ordered name change to your bank, along with a government-issued photo ID in your new name.3USAGov. How to Change Your Name and What Government Agencies to Notify Notify the Social Security Administration before your bank, since many institutions verify names against SSA records. Once your bank account reflects the new name, order your checks with the updated information.
For an address change, update your address with the bank before or at the same time you place the check order. That way your new checks ship to the right place and future bank correspondence follows you. If you’re ordering through a third-party printer, you enter the new address directly on the order form, but still update your bank separately so statements and fraud alerts go to your current address.
Choosing Quantity, Style, and Features
Once your information is in, the rest of the form covers what the checks look like and how many you want.
Checks are sold in boxes, and box sizes vary by vendor: commonly 80, 100, 120, or 200 checks per box. Most ordering systems let you buy one to four boxes at a time. If you write checks infrequently, a single box may last years. Landlords or small business owners cutting dozens of checks a month can save reordering time by buying several boxes at once.
Singles or Duplicates
Single checks are one sheet per check. Duplicate checks include a thin carbon-copy sheet behind each check that creates an automatic paper record of every check you write. Duplicates cost a few cents more per check but save you from logging every payment in a register. For people who don’t use budgeting software or online banking to track spending, duplicates are worth the small premium.
Design
Reorder forms let you pick background designs, font styles, and sometimes monograms. These choices are mostly cosmetic, but the background pattern serves a security purpose: detailed backgrounds make checks harder to photocopy or scan convincingly. Pick a design with a complex pattern rather than a plain or solid-color background.
Extra Fields on a Business Check Reorder
Business checks require more information than personal checks and come in different formats. Where a personal check is a single slip, business checks are often full-page documents printed on heavier paper to work with accounting software and binders.
When reordering business checks, expect the form to ask for:
- Business name and address as registered with your bank.
- Signature lines. Some business accounts require two signers, and the check layout needs to reflect that.
- Logo. Most business check printers accept a custom logo file or offer a library of standard logos.
- Check format. Common options include voucher checks (one check per page with two detachable stubs for record-keeping), wallet-style checks, and three-per-page checks for desktop printing. Voucher checks are standard for accounts payable work.
Business checks also come in single, duplicate, or triplicate versions and often use heavier 24-pound bond paper to handle additional printing and reduce ink bleed through voucher stubs. Make sure the format you order matches your printer and accounting software if you print checks in-house.
Submitting the Order
Once the form is complete, you submit it. Paper reorder slips go in the mail; the slip itself usually has a pre-printed address for the fulfillment center. Online orders go through with a credit or debit card, and some banks debit the cost directly from the linked checking account.
Standard production and delivery takes 10 to 14 business days from the date the order is placed.4Deluxe. Frequently Asked Questions – Deluxe Checks Most printers offer expedited processing and shipping for an additional fee if you need checks sooner. Deluxe, one of the largest check printers in the country, notes that rush processing covers only manufacturing time and doesn’t include any time spent on proof approval.
Checking the Order When It Arrives
When the package arrives, open it and verify three things before filing the checks away:
- Starting number. Confirm it matches what you requested and follows where your old checkbook left off.
- Printed information. Check your name, address, and bank name for typos.
- MICR line. Compare the routing number and account number on the new checks against your bank records or an old check. Even one wrong digit will cause problems when you try to use them.
If anything is wrong, contact the printer immediately. Most companies will reprint at no charge for manufacturing errors. Store the checks in a secure location, and consider using initials rather than your full first name on future orders to limit the personal information visible on each check.