Short answer: side tear checks tear off along the side of the pad instead of the top. Top stub checks are wire-bound, with a record stub at the top of each check that stays in the book. The cheapest side tear box we found is Carousel’s Blue Safety at $22.00 for 100 singles, and Carousel’s Blue Safety top stub box is also $22.00, for 120 checks. Checks Unlimited sells 20 side tear designs from $25.49 a box, including Disney and photo checks.
Shop side tear checks at Carousel Checks →
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Side tear, top tear and top stub: the three formats
Standard personal checks are top-tear checks. Carousel describes side tear checks as tearing off from the left or right side of the check instead of the top, and Checks Unlimited’s side tear checks have a left-side perforation. Checks Unlimited says they detach cleanly from the side and work for both left- and right-handed writers.
Top stub checks are a record-keeping format. Styles Checks describes them as wire-bound with a stub at the top of each check that works as a check register: you write the details on the stub, and it stays in the book when the check comes out.
| Format | How it tears | Your record | Typical box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (top tear) | Along the top | Separate register, or a duplicate copy | 100 checks (Carousel) |
| Side tear | Along the left or right side | Register in the box | 100 checks in 5 pads of 20, 10 deposit tickets, 1 register |
| Top stub | Check tears away from its stub | A stub above every check | 120 checks in 3 pads of 40, 9 deposit tickets |
Side tear check prices
Blue side tear checks at the three printers we track, checked October 19, 2026:
| Printer and design | 1 box singles | 4 boxes singles | 1 box duplicates | Box size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel Blue Safety Side Tear | $22.00 | $79.00 | $25.50 | 100 checks |
| Bank Checks Plus Blue Safety Side Tear | $25.98 | $89.26 | $32.76 | 100 checks |
| Checks Unlimited Side Tear Blue Classic | $25.49 | $78.69 | $31.49 | 80 checks |
What the side tear format costs: $2.00 a box at Carousel ($20.00 for standard Blue Safety, $22.00 side tear) and at Checks Unlimited ($23.49 for standard Blue Classic, $25.49 side tear). At Bank Checks Plus the side tear box is $3.39 more ($22.59 versus $25.98).
Cheapest per check: Carousel’s 4-box order ($79.00 for 400 side tear checks) works out to under 20 cents a check. Checks Unlimited’s 4-box price is $78.69 for 320 before codes, and its code R7VL takes up to 35% off four boxes.
Top stub check prices
| Printer and design | 1 box | 2 boxes | 4 boxes | Box size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel Blue Safety Top Stub | $22.00 | $39.50 | $79.00 | 120 singles |
| Bank Checks Plus Blue Safety Top Stub | $31.63 | $55.36 | $118.64 | 120 singles |
Carousel’s top stub box gives you 120 checks for the same $22.00 as its 100-check side tear box: about 18 cents a check against 22. Both printers list top stub checks in singles only. Checks Unlimited doesn’t list a top stub category.
Which format to buy
- Side tear if you tear checks out often and want a clean edge, or you already carry a side tear checkbook cover. Carousel says they are easier and faster to use when you pay a lot of bills.
- Top stub if you want a written record of every check in the book without keeping a separate register.
- Standard duplicates if you want an exact carbon copy of each check. See our duplicate checks guide; side tear checks come in duplicates too, from $25.50 a box at Carousel.
- Standard singles if price is all that matters: Carousel’s standard Blue Safety box is $20.00 for 100. Our cheapest checks guide compares more options.
See 20 side tear designs at Checks Unlimited →
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Side tear and top stub designs
Checks Unlimited side tear checks: 20 designs, including Vintage Disney Mickey Mouse, Disney Tinker Bell, Harley-Davidson, Stars and Stripes, Serenity by Kinkade, Parchment and side tear photo checks with one photo or rotating photos.
Carousel top stub checks and side tear checks come in safety and marble colors plus career, scenic, designer, food and drink, flower, seasonal, cultural and animal themes. Bank Checks Plus side tear and top stub designs include Black is Beautiful, Tropical Fish, Frogs, Big Horned Buck Deer, Baby Animals, Flip Flop, Pink Ribbon, Cupcakes and Animal Prints.
Design pages on GetBankChecks: Pink Ribbon side tear checks, Pink Ribbon top stub checks, Soaring America side tear checks and Baby Animals top stub checks.
Side tear designs by theme: see our guides to classic checks (Blue Classic, Executive Gray and Parchment), Harley-Davidson checks and Thomas Kinkade checks, each with side tear prices checked October 20, 2026.
Checkbook covers
Checks Unlimited suggests pairing side tear checks with a matching side tear checkbook cover. It sells 13 side tear covers and pairs its side tear Blue Classic checks with a Navy Side Tear Checkbook Cover for $14.99. Carousel sells side tear covers, and Styles Checks sells covers made for top stub checks. More options are on our accessories page.
How to order side tear or top stub checks
- Open the side tear or top stub category and pick a design.
- Choose singles or duplicates (top stub boxes are singles) and the number of boxes.
- Enter your routing number, account number, starting check number, name and address, copied from a current check.
- Add a matching cover if you need one, pick shipping 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 methods. 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. Need deposit slips to match? See our deposit slips guide.
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.
Side tear and top stub checks: frequently asked questions
What are side tear checks?
Personal checks that tear off along the side of the pad instead of the top. Carousel describes them as tearing from the left or right side, and Checks Unlimited side tear checks have a left-side perforation.
What are top stub checks?
Wire-bound personal checks with a stub at the top of each check. You write the date, payee and amount on the stub, and the stub stays in the book as your record when you tear the check out.
Are side tear checks more expensive?
Slightly. On October 19, 2026, the side tear version of the same blue design cost $2.00 more per box at Carousel ($22.00 for 100) and Checks Unlimited ($25.49 for 80), and $3.39 more at Bank Checks Plus.
Where can I buy top stub checks?
Carousel Checks sells Blue Safety top stub checks at $22.00 for 120, and Bank Checks Plus at $31.63 for 120. Both carry themed top stub designs. Checks Unlimited does not list a top stub category.
Can I get side tear checks in duplicate?
Yes. Side tear duplicates cost $25.50 a box at Carousel, $31.49 at Checks Unlimited and $32.76 at Bank Checks Plus. Carousel and Bank Checks Plus list top stub checks in singles only.
Do side tear checks need a special checkbook cover?
Use a side tear checkbook cover. Checks Unlimited sells 13 side tear covers, including a Navy Side Tear Checkbook Cover for $14.99, and Carousel sells side tear covers too.
Related guides
- Duplicate checks compared
- Deposit slips
- Check designs
- Checkbook covers and accessories
- Checks Unlimited coupon codes
- 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.