Best Practices for Printing Checks on a Brother Laser Printer
Printing checks in-house can save time, reduce costs, and give you tighter control over cash flow—but only if your printer settings, supplies, and handling procedures are dialed in correctly. Brother laser printers, especially the HL and MFC series, are widely used for check printing, yet many printing issues come down to a few overlooked setup details.
Below are the most important good practices to ensure clean MICR lines, proper toner adhesion, and reliable bank acceptance when printing checks on a Brother laser printer.
1. Always Select “Label” in Your Computer’s Print Settings
One of the most common causes of poor check quality is incorrect paper type selection at the software level.
Best practice:
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In your computer’s print dialog or printer control panel, select “Label” as the media type.
Why this matters:
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The “Label” setting slows the printer slightly and increases fuser heat, allowing MICR toner to bond properly to check stock.
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This reduces smearing, flaking, and light MICR characters—issues that can cause checks to be rejected during bank processing.
Skipping this step often results in checks that look fine visually but fail magnetic readability tests.
2. Set the Printer to “Thick Paper” (HL & MFC Series)
Brother HL and MFC series printers require an additional setting change directly on the printer or through the driver.
Best practice:
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On the Brother printer itself (or within the driver settings), select “Thick Paper.”
Why this matters:
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Check stock is heavier and more rigid than standard office paper.
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The “Thick Paper” setting adjusts paper feed timing and fusing temperature to prevent:
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Toner cracking
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Curling
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Incomplete MICR toner fusion
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This setting works in tandem with the “Label” selection on your computer—both are necessary for optimal results.
3. Use Only OEM Brother Drums with MICR Cartridges
This is not a suggestion—it’s a requirement.
Critical warning:
Brother MICR toner cartridges are extremely sensitive and must be used only with an OEM (original Brother brand) drum unit.
What happens if you don’t:
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The MICR cartridge may not register correctly.
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Toner density can be inconsistent.
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The cartridge may fail entirely or trigger printer errors.
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MICR characters may not meet banking standards.
Unlike standard toner, MICR toner has strict magnetic and density tolerances. Third-party or remanufactured drums often fall outside these tolerances, causing failures that look like cartridge defects but are actually drum incompatibilities.
4. Keep Check Stock Stored Properly
Environmental factors matter more than most users realize.
Best practices:
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Store check paper in a cool, dry environment.
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Keep stock sealed until use to prevent moisture absorption.
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Avoid bending or flexing checks before printing.
Humidity and warped stock can cause feeding errors and uneven toner adhesion, even with perfect printer settings.
5. Perform Test Prints Before Live Check Runs
Never assume a setup change “took.”
Best practice:
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Print a test check after:
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Changing toner or drum units
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Updating printer drivers
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Adjusting paper settings
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Look for:
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Solid, dark MICR line
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No smudging or toner dust
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Clean edges on routing and account numbers
Catching issues early prevents rejected checks, reprints, and accounting headaches.
Final Thoughts: Precision Matters in Check Printing
Check printing is not the same as everyday document printing. MICR technology operates within narrow tolerances, and Brother laser printers—while excellent—require the correct settings and OEM components to perform reliably.
To recap the essentials:
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Select “Label” on your computer
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Set “Thick Paper” on Brother HL & MFC printers
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Use only OEM Brother drums with MICR cartridges
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Store check stock properly
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Test before production runs
Following these best practices ensures clean printing, bank acceptance, and fewer costly interruptions—exactly what in-house check printing is supposed to deliver.
Popular Brother MICR Laser Cartridges & Compatible Printers
Choosing the correct MICR toner cartridge for your specific Brother laser printer is critical. Using the wrong cartridge—or pairing it with an incompatible drum—can lead to print failures, rejected checks, and costly downtime. Below are our most popular Brother OEM MICR laser cartridges and the printer series they are designed to support.
Brother TN660 OEM MICR Cartridge
High-Volume, Proven Reliability
The Brother TN660 OEM MICR Cartridge is one of the most widely used MICR cartridges for small to mid-size businesses printing checks in-house. It offers higher yield and consistent magnetic signal strength when paired with an OEM Brother drum.
Compatible Brother Printer Series:
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HL Series
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HL-L2300D
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HL-L2305W
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HL-L2315DW
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HL-L2320D
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HL-L2340DW
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HL-L2360DW
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HL-L2380DW
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MFC Series
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MFC-L2680W
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MFC-L2685DW
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MFC-L2700DW
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MFC-L2705DW
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MFC-L2707DW
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MFC-L2720DW
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MFC-L2740DW
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DCP Series
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DCP-L2520DW
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DCP-L2540DW
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Best for: Offices with regular check runs that need dependable MICR quality and longer toner life.
Brother TN-730 OEM MICR Cartridge
Standard-Yield, Compact Office Setups
The Brother TN-730 OEM MICR Cartridge is ideal for lower-to-moderate check volumes while still maintaining bank-compliant MICR output.
Compatible Brother Printer Series:
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DCP Series
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DCP-L2550DW
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HL Series
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HL-L2350DW
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HL-L2370DW
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HL-L2370DW XL
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HL-L2390DW
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HL-L2395DW
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MFC Series
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MFC-L2710DW
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MFC-L2717DW
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MFC-L2730DW
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MFC-L2750DW
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MFC-L2750DW XL
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MFC-L2690DW
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Best for: Smaller teams, satellite offices, or businesses printing checks intermittently.
Brother TN-760 OEM MICR Cartridge
High-Yield Efficiency for Busy Offices
The Brother TN-760 OEM MICR Cartridge is a higher-yield alternative to the TN-730, designed for the same printer families but with extended toner capacity—reducing cartridge changes and interruptions.
Compatible Brother Printer Series:
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MFC Series
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MFC-L2710DW
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MFC-L2730DW
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MFC-L2750DW
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MFC-L2750DW XL
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DCP Series
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DCP-L2550DW
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HL Series
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HL-L2350DW
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HL-L2370DW
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HL-L2370DW XL
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HL-L2390DW
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HL-L2395DW
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Best for: Businesses printing checks frequently who want lower cost-per-check and fewer toner swaps.
Important Reminder on MICR Compatibility
All Brother MICR cartridges—TN660, TN-730, and TN-760—must be used with an OEM Brother drum unit. MICR toner formulations are highly sensitive, and third-party drums can prevent proper operation or lead to failed check scans during bank processing.
