Short answer: a custom embosser presses a raised seal of your name, address or monogram into paper, with no ink. Carousel Checks sells seven personalized Trodat designer embossers for $24.25 each: three address designs, three monogram designs and a save the date wedding design, all with a 1 5/8 inch round impression and a storage box and leather bag. State notary embossers cost $33.00. Prices checked October 20, 2026.
Order the $24.25 Address Embosser →
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What an embosser is
An embosser, also sold as an embossing seal or embosser stamp, is a hand press with two matching metal plates. Squeeze the paper between them and the design rises out of the sheet as a raised, colorless seal that you feel as well as see. There is no ink to dry, smear or run out.
A custom embosser carries your own wording: a name and return address for envelopes, a monogram for stationery and books, or a couple’s names and date for wedding mail. Many notaries also keep a state notary embosser next to their ink seal.
Carousel Checks sells Trodat embossers. Its product pages say the unique shape allows desktop or handheld embossing, and that a small amount of pressure and a slight click tell you a clear and crisp raised impression has been made each and every time.
Custom embosser prices
Personalized embossers at Carousel Checks, checked October 20, 2026; every kit has a 1 5/8 inch diameter impression and includes a box and a leather bag to store the embosser:
| Embosser | Personalized with | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Designer Address Embosser | Your first and last name and your address | $24.25 |
| Designer Modern Address Embosser | A monogram of your last name and your address | $24.25 |
| Designer Elegant Address Embosser | Your family’s last name, a monogram and your address | $24.25 |
| Designer Elegant Monogram Embosser | A monogram of your initials | $24.25 |
| Designer Decorative Monogram Embosser | A monogram of your initials | $24.25 |
| Designer Floral Monogram Embosser | A monogram of your initials | $24.25 |
| Designer Save the Date Wedding Embosser | Your first names and your wedding date | $24.25 |
| State notary embossers | Your state notary seal (35 states) | $33.00 |
Bank Checks Plus and Checks Unlimited do not sell embossers. Carousel is the only one of our three check printers with them.
Address embossers
An address embosser replaces the return address label on the back flap of an envelope, the corner of a letter or the inside cover of a book. Carousel’s three designs:
- Designer Address Embosser: your first and last name and your address.
- Designer Modern Address Embosser: a monogram of your last name and your address.
- Designer Elegant Address Embosser: your family’s last name, a monogram and your address.
Keep the address short enough to read inside a 1 5/8 inch circle: street, city, state and ZIP, with apartment numbers on the street line.
Monogram embossers
Carousel’s monogram embossers carry your initials only, in three styles: Elegant, Decorative and Floral. A monogram seal suits note cards, thank you notes, gift tags and the title page of a book. For a traditional three-letter monogram, the last name initial goes in the middle and larger; check the order on the proof before you pay.
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Wedding embosser
The Designer Save the Date Wedding Embosser ($24.25) is personalized with your first names and the wedding date. Use it on save the date cards, invitations, place cards and thank you notes, then keep it for anniversary cards. Order it early: it has to arrive before the save the dates go out.
Embossers for books
Book lovers search for library embossers, the kind that print From the library of with a name. Carousel does not list a From the library of design. Its address and monogram embossers mark books just as well: emboss the title page or the inside front cover, near the outer edge where the paper is single thickness.
How to use an embosser
- Practice on a scrap sheet of the same paper to find the right position and pressure.
- Slide the paper between the plates with the design where you want it.
- Squeeze until you hear the slight click Carousel describes, then release.
- For envelopes, emboss the back flap; on letters, emboss a bottom corner.
- Store it in the box or leather bag that comes in the kit.
Embosser or address stamp?
| Custom embosser | Return address stamp | |
|---|---|---|
| How it marks | Raised seal, no ink | Self-inking ink impression |
| Price at Carousel | $24.25 | $12.00 to $13.75 for 3 to 8 lines |
| Best for | Stationery, invitations, books, gifts | Bills, packages, everyday mail |
| Refills | None needed | $7.00 replacement pads |
Many households keep both: a stamp for everyday mail and an embosser for cards and books. Compare stamps in our return address stamp guide and labels in our address labels section.
Notary embossers
Carousel sells state notary embossers for 35 states at $33.00, from the Texas Notary Embosser to Florida, New York and Ohio. Each is a Trodat kit with a 1 5/8 inch impression and the same box and leather bag. See our notary stamp guide for the full state list and the ink stamps.
How to order and delivery
- Pick the design: address, monogram or wedding.
- Type your name, address, initials or date exactly as it should appear.
- Check the proof, including the order of the monogram letters.
- Choose delivery and pay.
Delivery: 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.
Ordering checks too? Checks Unlimited sells Blue Classic checks at $23.49 for 80 and Carousel sells Blue Safety checks at $20.00 a box. Checks Unlimited sells MLB checks for 30 clubs, from the Yankees and Red Sox to the Dodgers and Cubs, and collegiate checks for 19 schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee.
Value Priced Personal Checks
Browse hundreds of personal check designs and current deals, from classic and floral to scenic and photo styles, all shipped fast from a trusted printer.
Custom embossers: frequently asked questions
Where can I buy a custom embosser?
Carousel Checks sells seven personalized Trodat embossers for $24.25 each (October 20, 2026): three address designs, three monogram designs and a save the date wedding design.
How much does a personalized embosser cost?
Carousel designer embossers cost $24.25 per kit, including a box and a leather storage bag. State notary embossers cost $33.00.
What size is the embossed seal?
Every Carousel designer and notary embosser makes a 1 5/8 inch diameter raised impression.
Can I use an embosser on books?
Yes. Emboss the title page or inside cover near the outer edge. Carousel does not list a From the library of design, so use an address or monogram embosser.
Is an embosser better than an address stamp?
They do different jobs. An embosser makes a raised seal with no ink for stationery and books for $24.25; a self-inking address stamp prints in ink on everyday mail from $12.00.
Does Carousel sell notary embossers?
Yes, for 35 states at $33.00 each, including Texas, Florida, New York and Ohio. California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan are among the states without one.
Related guides
- Return address stamps
- Notary stamps
- Address labels
- Date stamps
- Check envelopes
- Check accessories
- 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.