You've seen them at charity fundraisers, telethons, and sponsored events — that enormous, oversized cheque being held aloft for the cameras. They're impossible to miss, and honestly, they never stop being brilliant. But if you've started planning your own event and found yourself typing questions into Google at midnight, you're not alone.
We've pulled together the five most-asked questions about giant novelty cheques and answered every single one. Let's go!
Where Do You Get Big Cheques for Charity?
This is the big one — quite literally. If you're organising a charity fundraiser, a sponsored event, or a donation handover, a large presentation cheque is one of the best ways to mark the moment. It turns a number on a screen into something real, visual, and worth photographing.
The best place to get a big cheque for charity is a specialist supplier like Megacheques. Unlike a high-street print shop, a dedicated novelty cheque provider understands exactly what you need: a cheque that looks professional, photographs well, and arrives in time for your event.
Here's what to look for when ordering:
- Customisation — You'll want to add your charity's name, the recipient organisation, the donation amount, and your event name or logo. A good supplier makes this straightforward.
- Size options — More on this below, but make sure the size suits your venue and how it'll be used (held up, placed on a table, mounted on a stand).
- Fast turnaround — Fundraising events often come together quickly. Check that your supplier offers speedy delivery so you're not left scrambling the day before.
- Print quality — A flimsy, low-resolution cheque won't do justice to the hard work that went into raising the money. Look for crisp, full-colour printing on sturdy board or foam.
At Megacheques, we specialise in exactly this. You can customise your cheque online, choose your size, and get it delivered quickly — so you can focus on the celebration rather than the logistics.
What Are Those Big Cheques Called?
Great question! The proper term is a presentation cheque or novelty cheque. You'll also hear them called oversized cheques, giant cheques, or jumbo cheques — they all refer to the same thing.
The word "novelty" is key here. A novelty cheque is not a financial instrument — it's a prop designed for ceremonies, photo opportunities, and public announcements. It looks like a real cheque, with all the familiar fields filled in, but its job is to make a moment memorable rather than to move money between accounts.
Presentation cheques are used at:
- Charity fundraisers and donation handovers
- Lottery and prize draws
- Corporate sponsorship announcements
- Sports prize ceremonies
- TV and media productions
Wherever there's a big number to celebrate, there's usually a giant cheque involved!
Can You Cash a Giant Cheque?
Short answer: no — and you wouldn't want to try!
A novelty or presentation cheque is a decorative prop, not a legal financial document. It doesn't contain the magnetic ink, account details, sort codes, or security features that a real cheque requires to be processed by a bank. Even if it did, your bank teller would have a very interesting afternoon trying to feed a metre-wide piece of foamboard into the deposit machine.
The actual donation or prize money is always transferred separately — by BACS, bank transfer, cheque (a real one), or however the parties have agreed. The giant cheque is there purely for the photo and the fanfare, which is arguably the more important part of any fundraising moment.
So if someone asks "is that cheque real?" at your event, the answer is: the money is very real — the cheque is very big!
How Big Is a Novelty Cheque?
Novelty cheques come in a range of sizes, and the right one depends on how and where you'll be using it.
At Megacheques, our sizes range from compact A2 display cheques all the way up to large presentation formats that are perfect for being held aloft by two people for a crowd photo. Here's a rough guide to help you choose:
- Smaller sizes (A2–A1) — Ideal for tabletop displays, indoor ceremonies, or when you need something easy to transport and store. Still looks brilliant in photos.
- Medium sizes — A popular choice for most fundraising events. Big enough to be impressive, easy for one or two people to hold comfortably.
- Large/extra-large — Maximum visual impact. Perfect for big stages, outdoor events, or anywhere you want the cheque to be the star of the show.
A good rule of thumb: think about the space you'll be presenting in and how the photo will be framed. For most charity events, a medium-to-large cheque hits the sweet spot — visible from a distance, easy to handle, and great on camera.
Where Can I Get a Large Presentation Cheque?
There are a few routes you could take, but not all of them are equal.
Local print shops can sometimes produce oversized prints, but they may not be familiar with the specific format of a presentation cheque — and getting the design right matters. A cheque that looks amateurish can undermine an otherwise brilliant fundraising moment.
DIY printing is an option if you have access to wide-format printing equipment, but sourcing the right template, getting the sizing right, and ensuring the print quality is up to scratch takes time and expertise most people don't have spare.
Specialist suppliers like Megacheques are the simplest, most reliable option. You get a purpose-built product, designed specifically to look great in photos and hold up at live events. The ordering process is quick, customisation is built in, and you'll receive a finished cheque ready to use — no fuss, no guesswork.
If you're organising a charity fundraiser, a prize ceremony, or any event where a big moment deserves a big prop, ordering from a dedicated novelty cheque supplier is absolutely the way to go.
Ready to Order Your Giant Cheque?
Whether you're handing over funds to a local charity, announcing a lottery winner, or marking a major sponsorship deal, a giant presentation cheque turns the moment into something truly special — and gives you a photo worth sharing for years to come.
At Megacheques, we make it easy to design and order your perfect novelty cheque online. Choose your size, add your details, and we'll take care of the rest.