Free Check Stub Maker
Make a professional check stub in minutes — accurate 2025 federal, state, Social Security and Medicare calculations for all 50 states. No per-stub fees, no signup, no watermarks.
Company Information
Check Stub vs. Pay Stub: What's the Difference?
None, really. A check stub — also called a paycheck stub — is the itemized slip that accompanies a paycheck. It shows gross pay, the taxes withheld, any other deductions, and the net pay you actually take home. "Pay stub" and "check stub" are the same document under two names, and both are used interchangeably across the US.
Whichever term your landlord, lender, or HR contact uses, the maker below produces exactly what they expect: a clean, itemized stub with the standard withholding lines and year-to-date totals.
What a Check Stub Shows
- Gross pay — total earnings for the period before any deductions, plus the year-to-date total.
- Federal income tax — withheld by IRS bracket based on your filing status.
- State income tax — based on your work state (zero in the nine states with no income tax).
- Social Security & Medicare — 6.2% and 1.45% of gross pay, the FICA lines every stub carries.
- Other deductions — 401(k), health insurance, or any custom pre/post-tax items.
- Net pay — take-home pay after deductions, which should match your bank deposit.
- Year-to-date totals — running totals lenders use to confirm income is steady.
How to Make a Check Stub
- Enter the employer and employee name and address. If you are self-employed, your own legal name or business name is fine.
- Choose the pay frequency and enter the pay period dates and pay date so the stub matches your real deposits.
- Enter gross pay and select the work state and filing status — the tax lines calculate automatically.
- Add any custom deductions, preview the net pay, and download the PDF. Repeat for each recent period; most landlords and lenders want two or three.
Want the longer version with the calculation details? Read the full step-by-step guide to making a pay stub.
Check Stub Maker FAQ
What is the difference between a check stub and a pay stub?
There is no real difference — they are two names for the same document. A check stub (or paycheck stub) is the itemized portion that accompanies a paycheck, showing gross pay, taxes withheld, other deductions, and net pay. The terms are used interchangeably across the US.
Is this check stub maker really free?
Yes — no per-stub fees, no signup, and no watermark on the PDF. Many check stub makers charge $4.99 to $14.99 per stub or require a subscription. This one is genuinely free.
Are the tax calculations accurate?
Yes. The maker calculates 2025 federal income tax by bracket and filing status, state income tax for all 50 states, Social Security at 6.2% up to the wage base, and Medicare at 1.45% (plus the high-earner surtax), so net pay reconciles like a real payroll stub.
Can I make a check stub if I'm self-employed?
Yes. Self-employed people, freelancers, and 1099 contractors regularly make check stubs to document income for rentals, loans, and applications. Keep the numbers consistent with your bank deposits and 1099 — it is legal to document real income, but fabricating figures is fraud.