Business Check Format Guide
Compare top, middle, and bottom check layouts to ensure 100% alignment with QuickBooks®, Sage®, and major accounting platforms before ordering.
What Is a Business Check Format?
Business check format refers to the physical position of the negotiable check on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. Laser checks are available in three standard positions: Top Check, Middle Check, or Bottom Check. Choosing the correct format is essential because your accounting software, printer margin offsets, and double-window envelope alignments depend on where the check resides on the sheet.
3 Main Business Check Formats
Top Checks (Voucher Style)
The check occupies the top 3.5" of the sheet with two remittance stubs below. This is the single most common format used by small and mid-sized businesses.
- Best For: QuickBooks® Desktop, QuickBooks® Online, & Sage 50®
- Matching Envelopes: Wilmer Item 122 (Moisture) / 122S (Peel & Seal)
- Primary Use: General payroll, accounts payable, & vendor disbursements
Middle Checks (3-Up / Center)
The check is positioned in the center between a top and bottom voucher stub. Provides balanced layout presentation for formal accounting records.
- Best For: CS Professional® Suite, Great Plains®, & specialty accounting
- Matching Envelopes: Wilmer Item 122-1 (Moisture) / 122-1S (Peel & Seal)
- Primary Use: Detailed accounts payable & multi-stub recordkeeping
Bottom Checks
The check is located along the bottom edge with two full remittance stubs above it. Excellent for printing extensive itemized voucher details.
- Best For: PenSoft® Payroll, Microsoft Dynamics®, & custom software
- Matching Envelopes: Part Numbers E938 (Moisture) / E938S (Peel & Seal)
- Primary Use: Itemized payroll stubs & invoice remittance advice
Check Format Features Matrix
| Feature | Top Check Format | Middle Check Format | Bottom Check Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Popularity | #1 Most Popular (80%+ of B2B) | Secondary Choice | Specialty Choice |
| QuickBooks® Alignment | 100% Native Default | Requires Custom Margins | Requires Custom Margins |
| Stubs Included | 2 Below Check | 1 Above / 1 Below Check | 2 Above Check |
| Standard Double Window | Item 122 / 122S | Item 122-1 / 122-1S | Part E938 / E938S |
Need Help Selecting the Right Check Layout?
Our Macon, GA specialists can help identify the exact top, middle, or bottom check layout for your software package and pair it with matching double-window envelopes.
