Short answer: a For Deposit Only stamp is a self-inking check endorsement stamp that prints your restrictive endorsement on the back of every check you deposit, so you never write it by hand again. The cheapest custom one we found is Carousel Checks’ Check Endorsement Stamp at $12.00 in 11 ink colors (Bank Checks Plus sells the same stamp for $18.65). A ready-made Deposit Only message stamp costs $12.25, and a replacement ink pad costs $7.00. Prices checked October 20, 2026.
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What For Deposit Only means
Endorsing a check means signing or stamping the back so your bank can collect it. A plain signature is a blank endorsement: under UCC section 3-205, a check endorsed in blank becomes payable to bearer and can be negotiated by whoever holds it. That is the risk if a signed check is lost on the way to the bank.
Adding the words For Deposit Only turns it into a restrictive endorsement. UCC section 3-206 covers endorsements that use the words for deposit or for collection: a bank that takes the check has to apply the money consistently with the endorsement, which means into the endorser’s account. Chase’s guide to endorsing a check calls For Deposit Only the most typical restrictive endorsement and explains that it stops the check from being cashed over the counter or endorsed to another party. You can add an account number or name, as in For Deposit Only to a named account.
A stamp prints that wording the same way on every check, which makes it useful for anyone who deposits customer checks every day.
Endorsement stamp prices compared
Self-inking deposit stamps sold by the check printers we cover, checked October 20, 2026:
| Stamp | Seller | What it prints | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check Endorsement Stamp | Carousel Checks | Your custom endorsement; imprint 7/8 by 2 3/8 inches; 11 ink colors | $12.00 |
| Check Endorsement Stamp | Bank Checks Plus | Same stamp and imprint size; red, black, blue or green ink | $18.65 |
| Deposit Only Message Stamp | Carousel Checks | The words Deposit Only in blue and red; 3/4 by 1 7/8 inches; extra ink pad included | $12.25 |
| Single Line Custom Stamp | Carousel Checks | One line of your text, 3/8 by 2 3/4 inches; 11 ink colors | $14.00 |
| Ideal 4913 Pad Refill | Carousel Checks | Replacement ink pad for the 7/8 by 2 3/8 inch stamp; black, blue, green or red | $7.00 |
Both endorsement stamps are pre-inked, last for thousands of impressions before the ink pad needs changing, and have a positioning window for accurate placement plus two grip zones so you can swap the ink cartridge without touching the ink. Carousel’s price is $6.65 lower for the identical stamp.
What to put on your stamp
The sample imprint on Carousel’s product page shows the standard business layout, six lines in a box:
- PAY TO THE ORDER OF
- Your bank name
- Your bank routing number
- FOR DEPOSIT ONLY
- Your company name
- Your account number
Copy the routing and account numbers from the bottom of one of your own checks or from your bank’s app, and spell the company name exactly as it appears on the account. A personal stamp works the same way with your own name in place of the company name.
The ready-made Deposit Only message stamp prints only the words Deposit Only, with no name or account number. It costs about the same, but the custom endorsement stamp is the one that ties each check to your account.
Stamps, ink color and mobile deposit
- Ink color: Chase tells customers to endorse in blue or black ink; markers, pencils and other ink colors can stop a check from depositing. Order an endorsement stamp in black or blue, not one of the bright colors.
- Placement: stamp inside the endorsement section on the back of the check (at the top or bottom of the back) and keep the rest of that area clear of extra marks.
- Mobile deposit: Chase notes that some institutions recommend writing For Mobile Deposit Only under your signature, and newer checks include a checkbox for mobile deposit. Follow your own bank app’s instructions before you rely on a stamp for app deposits.
- Timing: Chase suggests waiting to endorse until you are ready to deposit. A stamp makes that easy: stamp the checks at the moment you fill out the deposit slip.
Who needs a deposit stamp
A deposit stamp pays for itself as soon as you endorse more than a few checks a week. Typical buyers:
- Small businesses and shops that take customer checks at the counter and stamp them right away.
- Landlords and property managers who collect rent checks every month.
- Churches, schools, clubs and nonprofits that deposit donations and dues.
- Bookkeepers who prepare one deposit for several accounts and want each check endorsed the same way.
See endorsement stamps at Carousel Checks →
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Handling bills and payments too? Mark invoices with a self-inking Paid or Received stamp ($12.25) and date each deposit with a date stamp (from $12.50 at Carousel Checks, checked October 20, 2026).
Ink pads and refills
Carousel says its endorsement stamp’s refill pads use 4913 ink cartridges. The Ideal 4913 pad refill has the same 7/8 by 2 3/8 inch impression size and costs $7.00 in black, blue, green or red. Swap the pad when impressions start to look faint; don’t add loose ink to a pre-inked pad.
How to order and delivery
- Choose the stamp: the custom Check Endorsement Stamp for a full endorsement, or the Deposit Only message stamp for the words alone.
- Pick black or blue ink.
- Enter your lines exactly as they should print: bank name, routing number, For Deposit Only, account name and account number.
- Check every digit before you add the stamp to the cart, and add a spare ink pad if you stamp a lot of checks.
- 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. Bank Checks Plus lists the same carrier options (Next Day Air 1 to 2 business days through USPS Priority 7 to 10), plus processing time.
Deposit supplies that go with it
Endorsed checks still need a deposit slip: our deposit slips guide compares personal and business deposit tickets. If you carry cash and checks to the bank, a tamper-evident or zipper bag keeps them together; see bank deposit bags. To sign documents faster, see our signature stamp guide.
Ordering checks at the same time? Carousel sells 100 Blue Safety personal checks for $20.00 and Checks Unlimited sells Blue Classic checks at $23.49 for 80. Business owners can compare manual and laser formats in our business checks guide.
Cash, coin and mail too? Band bills with color-coded money bands ($8.99 for 500 at Carousel) and roll change in coin wrappers from $2.69 per 100. For envelopes, a self-inking return address stamp starts at $11.99 at Checks Unlimited (prices checked October 20, 2026).
Value Priced Personal Checks
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For Deposit Only stamps: frequently asked questions
What is a For Deposit Only stamp?
It is a self-inking stamp that prints a restrictive endorsement, For Deposit Only, usually with your account name and number, on the back of checks you deposit, so the money can only go into your account.
How much does a check endorsement stamp cost?
On October 20, 2026, Carousel Checks sold its custom Check Endorsement Stamp for $12.00 and Bank Checks Plus sold the same stamp for $18.65. A ready-made Deposit Only message stamp costs $12.25 at Carousel.
What should a business endorsement stamp say?
The sample on Carousel shows Pay to the order of, your bank name, your routing number, For Deposit Only, your company name and your account number. Copy the numbers from one of your own checks.
What ink color should I use for an endorsement stamp?
Black or blue. Chase asks customers to endorse checks in blue or black ink, because other colors can stop a check from depositing. Carousel sells the stamp in 11 colors, including black and blue.
Can I use a For Deposit Only stamp for mobile deposit?
Check your bank app first. Chase notes that some banks ask for For Mobile Deposit Only under your signature, and newer checks include a mobile deposit checkbox.
How long does an endorsement stamp last?
The pre-inked stamp lasts for thousands of impressions before the ink pad needs changing. A replacement Ideal 4913 pad costs $7.00 at Carousel.
Related guides
- How to endorse a check
- Deposit slips
- Bank deposit bags
- Signature stamps
- Business checks
- 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.