How to Read a Canadian Cheque — Then Order the Right Replacement Online

You need four numbers: the cheque number (3–6 digits, top right), the transit number (5 digits identifying your branch), the institution number (3 digits identifying your bank), and your account number (7–12 digits). Always confirm these from an actual cheque — do not rely on memory. You can also provide a void cheque image and we will extract the numbers for you.

Laser cheques are designed for businesses that print cheques from accounting or payroll software (QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, etc.). The software prints all details directly onto the cheque stock. Manual cheques are for businesses that write cheques by hand — no software or printer required. If you currently write cheques by hand, order manual. If your software prints them, order laser.

If the bank account is registered to a business, company, or organization — order business cheques (laser or manual). If the account is your personal bank account used for household or individual payments — order personal cheques. The key difference is the account type, not how often you write cheques.

CPA stands for the Canadian Payments Association (now Payments Canada). CPA 2006 compliance means the cheque meets the technical standards required for processing at all Canadian financial institutions — correct MICR line layout, paper security specifications, and encoding standards. Print & Cheques Now is a certified CPA Printer #1010. All our cheques are accepted at every major Canadian bank and credit union. If a bank ever has an issue, we fix or replace your order at no cost.

The MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line is the row of printed numbers at the bottom of a Canadian cheque. It uses special magnetic ink that allows bank scanners to automatically read and process the cheque. The MICR line contains your cheque number, transit number, institution number, and account number in a specific encoded format. Our cheques use bank-verified MICR ink and encoding on every order.

Most customers save 30–50% compared to ordering through their bank. On top of the lower price, we include 25% more free cheques on laser orders, 50% more free on manual orders, and 60% more free on personal orders — so the effective value difference is even larger. On a $151 order of 200 manual cheques, the 50% bonus means you receive 300 cheques — about $75 in free product. We also offer a Price Match Guarantee: find a lower price and we match it.

Both business laser and business manual cheques include Hologram Gold Foil and Heat Sensitive Ink at no extra cost. Heat Sensitive Ink reveals tampering when heat is applied. Hologram Gold Foil is an overt security feature that is immediately visible. Manual cheques are available in Premium (Heat Sensitive Ink) or Ultra (Hologram Gold Foil + Heat Sensitive Ink) security tiers. Personal cheques use CPA 2006 compliant secure stock without hologram or heat ink features.

Yes. Our laser cheques are compatible with QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Wave, FreshBooks, Quicken, Simply Accounting, and most other Canadian accounting software. During your order, select your software and format. You can also upload a sample of your current cheques and we will match the layout exactly.

Rush orders placed before 2PM EST are printed the same day your proof is approved and shipped via air courier for next-day delivery to most Canadian locations. Standard orders are also available at lower cost. You receive a free PDF proof by email before we print anything — approve it and we move immediately.

Every order is backed by our 100% Works-At-Your-Bank Guarantee. If your bank has any issue processing our cheques, we fix or replace your order at no cost. We have been printing CPA-compliant Canadian cheques since 2006 as a certified CPA Printer #1010 — bank rejection is extremely rare, and when it happens we resolve it immediately.