7 Best Check Printers in 2023: MICR Laser and Inkjets for Small Businesses

When it comes to the best check printer, every business owner has different needs. That’s why it’s important to compare various printers and their features before purchasing one. If your company prints more than 200 checks per month, you should use a MICR laser printer that can print up to 600 checks per hour and provides high-quality check printing for all major brands of checks.

Your business needs a check printer. Businesses no longer use cash for any of their financial transactions because digital modes are more convenient and easy to use. Outsourcing a check printing service is not only expensive but can also pose a financial risk, especially if you are a small business.

You can waive all of these by printing them yourself. All you need is a good printer for printing checks. Check printing uses a specialized magnetic ink called MICR ink. You can use both inkjet and laser printers for this purpose if your printer shares support for MICR inks. However, laser printers have an advantage over inkjets when it comes to printing MICR checks. Read this article to the end to know why.

In 2023, the best printers for printing checks will be

Check printing does not require any specialized knowledge or skills. The toughest job is choosing the right option that best fits your requirements. We’ve compiled a list of the best printers for printing checks at various price points. At the end, we have also listed out the factors that you need to look into while making your check printer choice.

6 Best Check Printers in 2023

1. Brother HL-L2350DW – Best Compact Laser Printer For Checks Printing

2. VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR – A True Check Printer [Editor Choice]

3. Canon Pixma MG3620 – Excellent All-In-One Check Printer

4. Brother HL-L2300D – A Low-Cost Laser Check Printer

5. Epson Expression Home XP-420 – Is The Best Printer For Small Business Check Printing

6. HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw – Best Laser Checks Printer

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#1. Brother HL-L2350DW – Best Compact Laser Printer For Check Printing

Unboxing and package contents –

The device ships inside a white, square-shaped carton with Brother’s branding toward the front, along with the list of features the device has to offer. You also get to see an image of what the actual device is going to look like. Tearing off the seal and opening the package, we are greeted with a quick start guide and a few pieces of protective foam on the top. We have the toner packed inside a silver foil after gently removing the foam.

Moving down, we have the printer itself, surrounded by a few more pieces of foam. We also have warranty papers and a driver CD packed inside a plastic bag.

Device overview and build quality –

Speaking of the initial impressions, the device feels extremely compact for a laser printer, with its dimensions being 14.2 x 14 x 7.2 inches and its weight being about 15.9 pounds. The smaller footprints of the HL-L2350DW enable it to sit comfortably in most tight spaces, including your dorm rooms. Though the entire body of the device is made up of hard plastic, it still feels sturdy and promises to last a while.

The bottom front of the device has a paper tray that can accommodate letter-sized paper reserves up to 250 sheets. It also comes with guides on either side that keep the paper straight while being fed into the printer. The output tray is located just above the input tray, which can be pulled out only when the device is operational. This saves space on your desk when the printer is not in use.

All the controls are embedded at the top, along with a 1-line LCD screen that lets you see the device’s status. However, interactions with the device can be tedious with the limited one-line display. I had a hard time entering W-Fi credentials during the setup process. However, this is a one-time job, and you don’t have to deal with it after the initial setup.

Connectivity –

The Brother HL-L2350 has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter that lets you connect to your printer wirelessly. It also shares support for most cloud print services, including Mopria and Apple AirPrint. Weirdly, the device doesn’t come with an Ethernet port, but can connect to a computer via USB.

Getting the device ready and working –

Installing the Brother HL-L2350DW isn’t the easiest that we have seen. All it takes is a little time and effort. Removal of the protective blue tape stuck to different parts and trays of the printer. The toner from the box packaging should also be inserted into the device.

Check your printer’s toner cartridge, and make sure it sits comfortably inside the Brother check printer. Insert paper sheets into the tray, and adjust the guides as per the size of your paper. Once you are done, close the paper tray and ensure it locks into position.

After putting in the toner and loading the paper, you need to turn on the printer by plugging it directly into a wall outlet. At this point, you can either connect the printer to a computer via USB cable or wirelessly via the built-in Wi-Fi.

Connecting the Brother HL-L2350DW to a WiFi network –

To connect the Brother HL-L2350DW to your home or small business Wi-Fi hotspot, head to the menu on the device and use the up and down arrows to navigate to the Network option. You should now see the available WiFi networks displayed on the screen.

Enter the network key by using the up and down arrow keys. This is a very hard thing to do because you have to scroll through the numbers and letters by hand. However, you don’t have to deal with it every time, as this is a one-time process.

Brother HL-L2350DW As a MICR Check Printer –

The Brother HL-L2350DW is the best printer for printing checks. It can take MICR ink toners to print business checks. Laser printers have a slight edge over inkjets when it comes to printing checks, but not as much as inkjet printers.

Performance –

Cost per print: The Brother HL-L2350DW has an outstanding cost per print yield. It is very cost-effective in the long run. According to Brother, the drum unit should last for more than 12000 pages.

Printing Speeds: In our testing, the printer could print the black-only text document at a speed of 33 ppm. However, the black-and-white photo printing took about 20 seconds. The printer does require a little warm-up time before it can output the first print.

Print Quality: The f2350DW is a color laser printer, which makes it an ideal choice for printing checks and text documents. However, this is not the best option if you deal with a lot of graphics in your documents.

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Also Read: Best Sublimation Printer in 2023

#2. VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR – A Best Check Printer

Unboxing and package contents –

The VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX is one of the most powerful deskjets available at this price. comes with its own VersaInk nano black MICR and tri-color ink cartridges for printing on paper and ink cartridges.

It has very simple packaging with the printer, and the accessories are all protected with foam sheets on all sides. As soon as we open the box, we see a user guide and a warranty card, then the printer and a power cord. Inside the box, you can also see the black MICR and tri-color ink cartridges, as well as the VersaCheck paper starter pack.

Design and build quality –

Inkjet printers are usually smaller compared to laser printers, and the VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR is no exception. The build quality isn’t the best in class but doesn’t feel cheaper, even though it has a plasticky feel.

It measures 5.6×16.9×6.8 (HxWxD) and weighs approximately 5.4 lbs. It comes in three different colors, including a blue and white dual-toned variant.

The device has a 1.1” monochrome LCD at the top, paired with a few buttons by its sides. As it comes with support for Wi-Fi, you get to see a dedicated button to enable and disable Wi-Fi. A sheetfed scanner with a maximum scan resolution of 600 DPI can be seen at the top, under the display and controls. On the back, we have a power socket and a USB port to connect the device to a computer using a wired connection.

Connectivity –

On the connectivity side, the printer lacks an Ethernet port. It comes with Wi-Fi support which is limited to 2.4GHz only. Besides this, you also get to see a USB provision for connecting the printer with a computer.

the VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR Setup:

Most printers guide you through the setup process by displaying a step-by-step guide on the display. However, considering the limitations of the screen on this printer, the device prints out the actual setup guide onto paper upon pressing the Information/Status button.

However, you would not even need to go through the setup guide as everything is pretty much standard and self-explanatory. Insert the power cord into the socket at the back of the device and plug it into a wall socket to power up the printer. Insert the provided MICR ink cartridge by opening the cartridge access door facing the printer’s front side. Make sure to press the cartridge to keep it in place. If you do it right, you should hear a clicking sound.

Load the papers into the printer’s input tray and adjust the guides on either side of the tray. In the next step, pull out the output tray and extend the tray by raising it as you pull.

VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR connecting to a WiFi network –

If you’re reading this on an HP computer, you’ll need to download the “HP Smart” app from the Windows Store or the Google Play Store if you’re using an Android device.

The VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR only supports the 2.4 GHz band. Make sure you have connected your computer or smartphone to a 2.4–4 GHz network. You should now see your printer’s name displayed on the screen under the “Available Printers” list.

Performance –

Scanner: The scanner on the VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR is sheet-fed with a maximum resolution of 600 dpi and has a 24-bit color depth. It comes in handy when you have a lot of pages to scan at once. The scan quality is also decent for what you can expect from a sheetfed scanner.

Printing Checks: The VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX comes with a dedicated MICR ink cartridge and a paper bundle that lets you print checks right out of the box.

Printing speeds: The printing speeds on this printer are the fastest laid down, as it could only print at 5 ppm when tested with a black-and-white text document. When we tried printing a color document with minimal graphics, it averaged 3 ppm. On the other hand, the 3755 MX took about 100 seconds to print a photo.

Print quality: It does an impressive job when it comes to printing color photos. The printer maintained decent color accuracy throughout its prints.

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#3. Canon Pixma MG3620-Excellent All-In-One Check Printer

Unboxing and package contents –

The Canon Pixma MG3620 comes neatly packed inside a black and gray carton with the company’s branding at the front along with a preview and specs of the actual printer. Moving further along with the unboxing, we have the printer along with a power cable, a setup CD-ROOM, a user’s manual, a PG-240 black fine cartridge, and a CL-241 color fine cartridge.

Device and build quality –

This printer is available in two colors: black and white. It is entirely made of plastic and is not the best-looking printer that we have unboxed so far. However, it is suitable for lighter jobs like printing checks and casual photo printing. The build quality of this printer, though, is not made for heavy usage.

It has paper trays and an ink chamber towards its front, which can be accessed by pulling the front door open. The top of the printer has an 8.5″ x 11″ flatbed scanner with a maximum scan resolution of 1200 DPI.

All the controls are embedded on the top of the device. You won’t find any visual screens on the device. The inclusion of a basic 2-line display should have been a good addition. But you can still use all of the features by connecting the device to a computer with a USB cable or by using the app on your phone.

Connectivity –

On the connectivity side, the Pixma MG3620 offers USB output and Wi-Fi support. However, you don’t get to see an Ethernet port on the device. But if you prefer to use the device remotely, you can still do that with the built-in support for Apple AirPrint or Mopria Print Service.

Getting the Printer Ready and Working for You

Cartridge insertion and device setup are simple. However, connecting it to your Wi-Fi network can be a bit tricky. Take off the device’s protective covers and plug the power cable into the device’s power socket on the back. Also, plug the other end of the power cable into a wall socket and press the power button on the device.

In the next step, take off the protective covers from the cartridges and carefully put them in the right slots by taking off the front cover. If you have never worked with cartridges before, you can refer to the setup guide provided inside the box.

Once you are sure of the cartridge insertion, load papers into the input paper tray and adjust the guides according to your paper size. Your printer is now ready for copying.

Connecting the Canon Pixma MG3620 To A WiFi Network

To connect the Canon Pixma MG3620 to your Wi-Fi network, press and hold the wireless button on the printer for 3 seconds. While doing this, you will notice that the power indicator is blinking. This means that the printer is in setup mode.

Go to your Wi-Fi settings page and connect to a network with your printer model as its SSID. Once connected, open the Canon Print app on your phone, and printers should show up automatically. The app is available for Android and iOS devices in the Play Store or App Store.

Choose the Wi-Fi network you want to connect your printer to and, when asked, enter the password for that network. You should see your printer on the next screen. Tap on it to get it connected. A final confirmation message will be displayed once the connection is successful.

Canon Pixma MG3620 As A MICR Checks Printer

The Canon Pixma MG3620, when paired with a decent MICR ink cartridge, can be a good printer for printing checks. We have tested this printer with other MICR check printers, and the results from the MG3620 came out to be surprisingly good.

Performance –

Printing Economy: Unlike the HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR, the Canon Pixma MG3620 has a very good cost-per-print ratio. However, you will have to keep replacing the cartridges as the reserves are low.

Printing speeds: The printing speeds felt acceptable. It isn’t the fastest, but it has acceptable speeds and shouldn’t be an issue, especially when using it as a check printer.

Scanner Performance: The scanning quality is decent, but it isn’t the best that we have tested. You have to scan each page by hand because it doesn’t have an automatic document feeder or a way to print on both sides of a page.

Photo Printing Quality: The photo printing quality on the Canon Pixma MG3620 is the one area where the printer excels. It produces rich details and has a very good dynamic range. However, slight banding can be seen, especially in the gray areas of the image, and the colors feel slightly oversaturated.

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#4. Brother HL-L2300D: is a low-cost laser check printer.

Unboxing and package contents – Review

Like any other Brother product, the HL-L2300D comes neatly packed inside a simple cardboard box. Inside, we have the printer, a mains cord to power your device, and some paperwork to assist you in setting up the device. You also get to see warranty documents and product safety instructions inside the box.

The device ships with a one-year warranty that covers malfunctions or quality-related issues with the printer. It also ships with a starter cartridge that should last a while before you need to replace it. However, you do not get to see any MICR toner ink cartridges inside the package. If you want to use this laser check printer to print checks, you will need to buy it separately. The package also includes a CD-ROM with the drivers and utility software.

Since this printer doesn’t have a Wireless LAN port or an Ethernet port, they should have at least included a USB cable, which is the only way to connect it to a computer.

Printer Design and build quality –

The Brother HL-L2300D is made of a high-quality plastic material that should withstand heavy usage. As the printer comes with a monthly duty cycle of over 2000 prints, you can use this device for extensive printing chores. It has a two-toned design, with the top being black and the bottom being grey.

You don’t get to see any display on the device. All its functionalities can be accessed from a PC utility tool. All the controls are embedded at the top. Though it is a laser check printer, the device feels very compact and should comfortably fit most desk spaces.

It has everything that you would typically look for in a decent laser printer-a 250-sheet input tray, a duplexer, heavy-duty, and versatility in handling paper sizes.

Connectivity –

The connectivity on the Brother HL-L2300D is limited to USB only. You don’t get to see Ethernet or Wi-Fi functionality on the device.

Brother HL-L2300D Laser Check Printer Setup:-

Setting up the device is pretty straightforward, as there is no pain in going through the wireless setup process. All you need to do is peel off the protective labels from all parts of the device, connect the power source to the printer, and plug it into a wall socket. Once the device is powered, press the power button present on the top of the printer.

Insert the provided cartridges into their places. If you haven’t done this before, we suggest you refer to the manual provided for the graphical representation of the process. Load papers into the input tray in the next step.

Now, use a USB cable to connect the device to a computer. Usually, these devices are plug-and-play supported, which means you don’t have to install the drivers. But if the printer doesn’t show up, try installing the drivers with the CD that came with the package. You can also download the drivers from Brother’s official website by searching for your printer model.

Machine Performance –

The Brother HL-L2300D could print a text document at 27 pages per minute (ppm). The print quality is acceptable for rich, sharp text but not for large graphics. The duplexer functionality on the printer is commendable, as is its paper handling capability.

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Also Read: Best Pigment ink Printer in 2023

#5. Epson Expression Home XP-420: The Best Check Printer for Small Business

Unboxing and package contents – Review

The Epson Expression Home XP-420 comes shipped inside Epson’s traditional blue and white cardboard box. Inside the box, we have the ink starter kit, a power cord for powering the device, and the very obvious setup guide to help you get started with the printer.

Design and build quality –

The Epson Home XP-420 feels very small and has great build quality for an all-in-one InkJet color printer. It has a solid all-plastic body with a glossy finish that adds an extra premium touch and feel to the device.

With a 2.5-inch color LCD and easy-to-understand control buttons, it’s a breeze to switch between the printer’s different functions. The orientation of the control panel can be adjusted to your comfort as it can swivel up and down. The device also has a scanner that makes it easy to scan and make copies.

Connectivity –

On the wireless connectivity side, it has Wi-Fi functionality with support for Wi-Fi Direct, which lets your printer connect directly to a portable device without having to use a router. Besides this, you also get to see a USB host that lets you connect a removable drive to it to print from and scan to it. If you want to connect your device to a computer, you can also use the traditional USB 2.0 port.

Epson Expression Home XP-420 Checks Printer Setup:-

The Epson Expression Home XP-420 is easy to set up for the first time because it has a very easy-to-use display that walks you through the process. Connect one end of the power cord to the Epson Check printer and connect the other end to a wall socket. Now, press the power button on the printer to turn it on. In the next step, carefully insert the ink cartridges provided with the package. If you haven’t done this before, we suggest you refer to the setup guide that came inside the package.

After carefully putting the cartridges in place, load papers into the input tray and adjust the guides to fit the size of the paper you want to use. In the next step, connect your printer to your home Wi-Fi network to print from devices on your network or set up cloud services to assign and print jobs from anywhere on the internet.

The Epson Expression Home XP-420 printer connects to a Wi-Fi network.

To connect your Epson Expression Home XP-420 to your home Wi-Fi network, press the home button on the control panel and use the left arrow key to move to the Wi-Fi Setup option. Press OK to enter the network setup. Choose the Wi-Fi Setup Wizard from the next screen and press OK again. Doing this should display all the available wireless networks in proximity. Choose the one that you want your printer to connect to and press OK. You should be asked to enter the wireless password in the next step. Carefully enter the password and press OK.

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#6. HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw: Best Enterprise Level AIO Check Printer

Unboxing and package contents – Review

The printer comes neatly packaged in a white box that has HP’s logo and a list of its best features on the front. It felt heavier on my hands, so I had to call for assistance to open the package.

Inside the box, we have the manual setting on top, along with a few accessories that include a power cable, a starter ink cartridge set, a cable to connect it to your phone, and a USB cable for connecting to a computer.

Design and build quality –

For the first impressions, the device felt extremely sturdy with a very well-engineered body. The device isn’t the smallest we have tested, but it isn’t the biggest either. We have the paper trays at the front and a flatbed scanner at the top.

The device comes with a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD that makes things easier for you. It has a 50-page automatic document feeder and also shares support for duplex printing.

Connectivity –

Speaking of the connectivity on the HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw, it has an Ethernet port, dual-band Wi-Fi functionality onboard, and a USB 2.0 port for connecting to a computer. It also works with Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and all the other popular cloud printing services. You also get to see a USB host port towards the front that lets you connect removable media.

Getting printer ready and working for you –

Setting up the HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw for the first time is easy. First things first, power on the printer by plugging it into a wall socket and pressing the power button. Then insert the cartridge provided with the package into its slot by pulling the front cover. In the next step, load some papers into the input tray and make sure to adjust the paper guides according to the size of the paper you have loaded.

Connecting the HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw to a WiFi network –

To do this, navigate to Setup mode on the printer using the touch screen. Tap on the Network Wi-Fi option. On the next screen, choose the Settings option and select Wireless Setup Wizard. You should now see all the available Wi-Fi networks in your proximity. Select the one that you desire to connect to, enter the password, and press Done.

Performance of the printer –

The HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw is a workhorse when it comes to handling large print volumes. It can print quickly, has an automatic document feeder, and can print on both sides of a page. As this is a laser printer, you cannot expect professional photo printing from it. However, the photos turned out to be surprisingly good, with rich details and vivid colors.

The text in the documents is neat and crisp. When it comes to the scanner on this device, it does a great job of picking up even the smallest details in the picture. The scanning speeds are also decent.

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best check printers

VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR has a 250-sheet capacity tray that holds standard letter or legal size paper. The printer can scan up to 600 dpi for maximum accuracy. The Brother HL-L2350DW Laser Printer is a great choice, offering fast printing speeds and high print quality. The VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR is another excellent option – it has a built-in scanner and supports multiple types of media including envelopes and card stock. The Canon Pixma MG3620 is a wireless all-in-one printer with an easy setup process and intuitive operation.

best check printer for small business

The VersaCheck HP DeskJet 3755 MX MICR prints both checks and documents with crisp black text and vivid color graphics. The HP Color LaserJet Pro M283fdw can handle heavier workloads. Both printers meet all bank security requirements, so your checks will be safe from counterfeiting. and please choose according to your needs.

cheap check printers

If you’re looking for a cheap check printer, then you may want to consider some of the cheaper options on the market today. Three popular and cost-effective models are 1. Brother HL-L2350DW, 2. Canon PIXMA MG and 2. Brother HL-L2300D

The Brother HL-L2350DW is fast and efficient – perfect for busy offices or home users. It has an adjustable 250 sheet capacity paper tray and a 32 MB memory. It also features a range of connectivity options including Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet and Wireless Direct Print.

Best Check printing printers – Buying Guide

If you are looking for the best check printing printer, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind. An inkjet or MICR laser printer needs to be able to handle all of your business’s check printing needs. Different types of MICR inks will have different levels of quality, so do some research.

What is a MICR Check Printer?

A MICR Check Printer is a device that uses MICR ink to print checks. However, there are no dedicated printers for printing checks. You can technically use any printer, be it an inkjet or a laser printer, for the purpose. The only catch is that your printer should support the use of MICR ink cartridges.

What does MICR mean?

The term MICR stands for “Magnetic Ink Character Recognition,” which is a special type of ink that is used to print the special numbers that we usually see at the bottom of our checks. Bankers can use special magnetic recognition equipment to read checks that have been printed with MICR technology. This adds security features, making it harder for people to commit fraud and other crimes.

Inkjet Vs. Laser Printers For Printing MICR Checks

MICR checks can be printed with either an inkjet printer or a laser printer that is compatible with MICR. We have listed a few reasons for each and have left it up to you to choose the type of printer.

Inkjet printers are way more affordable compared to laser printers. Also, they take up less space on your desk compared to their laser counterparts. However, inkjets are only meant for low-volume print jobs, while laser printers are workhorses.

When it comes to speed, laser printers are much faster. When it comes to supplies, laser printers use toner cartridges while inkjet printers use ink cartridges. The cost of ink is way cheaper compared to toner cartridges. However, laser printers are very economical in the long run because of their high page yield and printing economy.

The upfront cost is the other most important thing to think about when choosing between a laser printer and an inkjet printer. Laser printers are way more expensive compared to inkjets. However, lasers can be very economical in the long run.

What do I need to have for printing checks at home? | Check Printing Prerequisites

Printing your own business checks is the best practice you can adopt to keep your finances safe from fraudsters. It is not only the safest practice but also the cheapest compared to ordering checks from a printing company. However, you will need a few things beforehand to print checks on your own. We have listed them below.

A good MICR checks printer:

When it comes to printing checks, it is very important to choose a decent printer to preserve the right printing quality. You will have to invest in a good check printer. To make your decision easier, we have listed the best check printers above.

Software tool for formatting checks:

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has rules about how to format checks so that they meet those rules. The MICR code placement and everything else should follow a pattern. Doing this manually is near to impossible. This is where a decent software tool comes to your rescue.

Check stock paper:

Checking stock paper is yet another important commodity required to print checks. It is a special paper used for printing checks at home. Check that the stock paper is compatible with most printers, and check the printing software.

Magnetic Character Recognition (MICR) Ink:

MICR is a special type of ink used to print the characters that we see at the bottom of a check. Bankers can use special magnetic recognition equipment to read checks that have been printed with MICR technology. This minimizes the chances of fraud and other illegal activities to a greater extent.

If you are in the market for a decent MICR option, the Renewable Toner and MTI MICR Toner are the best choices, offering great value for your money.

FAQs About Check Printers in 2023