Short answer: a counter check is a check your bank prints at the branch when you need one right away. Chase charges $3 for a page of 3 personal checks and Wells Fargo charges $3 per sheet of three, so each check costs $1 (fee schedules checked October 20, 2026). A box of 100 Blue Safety checks from Carousel Checks costs $20.00, 20 cents a check, and ships by Next Day Air in 1 to 2 business days plus processing time.
Order 100 checks from Carousel for $20.00 →
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What a counter check is
A counter check, also called a temporary check, is a check printed for you by the bank at the counter, drawn on your own checking account. The Chase fee schedule describes it as a blank page of 3 personal checks the bank prints upon your request at a branch. The Wells Fargo consumer fee schedule lists them as personalized temporary checks (counter checks).
A counter check carries your bank’s routing number and your account number, so the money comes out of your account the same way it does with a check from a box. The difference is the format: you get a few checks on a page, printed while you wait, instead of a box of pads delivered by mail.
People ask for counter checks when they need to pay by check today and have none left: a new account whose first box has not arrived, a checkbook that ran out before the reorder came, or a single payment such as a deposit or a rent check.
What banks charge for counter checks
From the banks’ own fee schedules, checked October 20, 2026:
| Bank | What you get | Fee | Per check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | A blank page of 3 personal checks, printed at a branch | $3 per page | $1.00 |
| Chase Private Client Checking | Counter checks are on its list of Chase fees you do not pay | No fee | $0 |
| Wells Fargo | Personalized temporary checks | $3 per sheet of three | $1.00 |
The Chase schedule is effective June 14, 2026, and the Wells Fargo schedule is effective July 28, 2026. Other banks set their own fees, so ask at the branch before they print.
Counter checks vs a box of checks
A counter check is the fastest way to get one check and the most expensive way to get many. Per-check prices, checked on the same day:
| Option | Price | Per check |
|---|---|---|
| Counter checks, Chase or Wells Fargo | $3 for 3 | $1.00 |
| Carousel Blue Safety, 1 pad of 25 | $11.99 | about 48 cents |
| Carousel Blue Safety, 1 box of 100 | $20.00 | 20 cents |
| Bank Checks Plus Blue Safety, 1 box of 100 | $22.59 | about 23 cents |
| Checks Unlimited Blue Classic, 1 box of 80 | $23.49 | about 29 cents |
Ordering through the bank is another route. The Wells Fargo schedule lists check ordering at $30 for singles and $35 for duplicates, and Chase says the price of a check order varies with the products, shipping and taxes.
A Carousel box of singles holds 4 pads of 25 checks, 8 deposit tickets and a transaction register, so one box covers months of payments for the price of about 20 counter checks.
When a counter check makes sense
- You need to pay by check today and have no checks left.
- You just opened the account and the first box is still in the mail.
- You write one or two checks a year and do not want a box sitting in a drawer.
- You are a Chase Private Client customer, for whom counter checks cost nothing.
If you write more than a handful of checks, order a box as well. Three counter checks cost $3; 100 checks from Carousel cost $20.00. Our cheapest checks guide compares more boxes.
How to get real checks fast
- Carousel Checks: lists Next Day Air (1 to 2 business days), 2nd Day Air (2 to 3), Ground (2 to 5), Trackable (3 to 7), USPS Priority (7 to 10) and Bulk (9 to 18 business days), plus processing time. The Blue Safety box costs $20.00, or $11.99 for a single pad of 25.
- Bank Checks Plus: also lists Next Day Air in 1 to 2 business days; Blue Safety checks cost $22.59 for 100.
- Checks Unlimited: printing and standard delivery take up to 15 business days after order verification, or 7 to 11 business days with trackable delivery. In-Plant Rush ($6.99) gets the order ready to ship within 2 business days after verification.
Order 100 checks from Bank Checks Plus for $22.59 →
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Cashier’s checks and money orders
A counter check draws on your account like any personal check. When a payee asks for a check from the bank itself, the branch sells two other products:
| Product | Chase | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Counter check | $3 per page of 3 | $3 per sheet of three |
| Cashier’s check (issued by the bank) | $10 per check | $10 each |
| Money order (up to $1,000) | $5 per check | $5 each |
Chase Private Client Checking lists counter checks, money orders and cashier’s checks among the Chase fees its customers do not pay. Wells Fargo lists no fee for cashier’s checks or money orders on its Prime Checking and Premier Checking accounts.
Need the box itself in a hurry? Our next day checks guide compares rush printing and overnight shipping at Checks For Less, Carousel Checks, Bank Checks Plus and Checks Unlimited.
Need a full checkbook instead? Our how to get a checkbook guide compares new-account checks, bank orders and check printers. Banking with Chime? Our Chime checks guide explains Chime Checkbook and where to get paper checks.
How to get a counter check
- Go to a branch of your own bank; a counter check is printed from your account at the teller window.
- Bring photo ID and your debit card, and ask for counter checks or temporary checks.
- Say how many you need. Chase prints a page of 3; Wells Fargo prints a sheet of three.
- Pay the fee, if your account has one, and write the checks as you would any personal check.
- Record each check in your register so your balance stays right.
Ordering a box after a counter check
Your bank routing number and your account number are the two numbers a check printer needs; your bank can give you both. With them you can order a full box online:
- Pick a design and the format: singles, or duplicates for a carbon copy of each check.
- Enter your name, address, routing number and account number.
- Choose a starting check number.
- Pick a fast delivery option if you need the checks this week, then pay.
Our guide to ordering and reordering checks walks through each step, and our bank pages for Chase and Wells Fargo cover those banks’ check orders.
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Counter checks: frequently asked questions
What is a counter check?
A check your bank prints at the branch, drawn on your own account. Chase describes it as a blank page of 3 personal checks printed upon your request at a branch; Wells Fargo calls them personalized temporary checks.
How much does a counter check cost?
Chase charges $3 per page of 3 and Wells Fargo $3 per sheet of three, about $1 a check (fee schedules checked October 20, 2026). Chase Private Client Checking customers pay no fee.
Is a counter check cheaper than ordering checks?
No. A counter check costs about $1, while a box of 100 Blue Safety checks from Carousel Checks costs $20.00, or 20 cents a check (October 20, 2026).
How fast can I get a box of checks?
Carousel Checks and Bank Checks Plus list Next Day Air in 1 to 2 business days plus processing time. Checks Unlimited In-Plant Rush ($6.99) gets an order ready to ship within 2 business days after verification.
What is the difference between a counter check and a cashier’s check?
A counter check draws on your own account like a personal check. A cashier’s check is issued by the bank; Chase and Wells Fargo charge $10 for one.
Can I order checks online after using counter checks?
Yes. A check printer needs your bank routing number and your account number, and your bank can give you both. Carousel Checks, Bank Checks Plus and Checks Unlimited all take orders online.
Done with counter checks? A box of Checks Unlimited Blue Classic checks is $23.49 for 80 singles, about 29 cents a check, or $72.29 for four boxes. Have your routing number, account number and starting check number handy.
Order a box at Checks Unlimited →
Checks Unlimited prices checked November 10, 2026, before shipping. Affiliate link: GetBankChecks.com may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Related guides
- How to void a check
- Chase checks
- Wells Fargo checks
- Duplicate checks
- Deposit slips
- Check registers
- How to reorder checks online
- Cheapest checks 2026
- Check companies compared
Affiliate disclosure: GetBankChecks.com is an independent guide, not a check printer. Some links are affiliate links, and we earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices, codes and designs change, so check them on the merchant’s site before you pay.