7 min read
How to fill out a money order
A money order is a prepaid, guaranteed form of payment, which makes it a safe way to pay when you do not want to send cash or share a bank account number. Filling one out takes about a minute, but a blank or wrong field can make it useless. Here is how to fill out a money order correctly, wherever you bought it.
What a money order is and why the fields matter
A money order is paid for up front, so the funds are already guaranteed when you hand it over. Unlike a personal check, it cannot bounce. The trade off is that a money order is a physical document with no easy way to stop payment once it is filled in and cashed, so you want to get every field right the first time and keep your receipt.
You buy a money order at a post office, bank, grocery store, pharmacy, or a Western Union or MoneyGram counter. You tell the clerk the amount, pay for it plus a small fee, and they print the dollar value on the form. Everything else you fill in yourself.
The fields on a money order
The labels vary slightly by brand, but every money order asks for the same basic information.
- Pay to the order of (also shown as "Pay to" or "Payee"). The full name of the person or business you are paying.
- Purchaser, signer, or from. Your name and often your address.
- Address. Your address, the payee's address, or both, depending on the brand.
- Memo, payment for, or account number. A note about what the payment covers.
- Signature line. Your signature, usually on the front. Do not sign the back, because that is where the payee endorses it to cash it.
Fill out a money order step by step
- Fill it out as soon as you buy it. A blank money order is almost like cash. If it is lost or stolen before you write in the payee, someone else can fill in their own name. Complete it right away, in ink.
- Write the payee name. On the "Pay to the order of" line, write the full name of the person or company. Use the exact business name if you are paying a bill, and check the spelling.
- Write your information. In the purchaser or "from" area, print your name and address so the payee knows who sent it. Some forms label this "signer" or "purchaser."
- Add the account or memo details. If you are paying a bill, write your account number on the memo or "payment for" line. This helps the company match the money order to your account.
- Sign the front. Sign on the purchaser signature line on the front. Leave the back blank so the payee can endorse it. Signing the back yourself can void the money order.
- Keep your receipt. Tear off and save the receipt stub. It has the serial number you need to track the money order or request a refund if it is lost.
USPS, Western Union, and MoneyGram: what is different
The way you fill out a money order is nearly the same everywhere, but there are a few brand details worth knowing.
- USPS (Postal money orders). Bought at the post office. The form asks for the payee under "Pay to," your details under "From," and an "Address" line. There is a memo area for a note or account number. Postal money orders are widely trusted and can be cashed at any post office. Keep the receipt to file a claim if it is lost.
- Western Union. Sold at many stores and check cashing counters. The form has a "Pay to the order of" line, a "purchaser" or "signer" line for you, and an address block. Western Union money orders often print the amount in a way that is hard to alter. Save the receipt with the serial number for tracking.
- MoneyGram. Common at Walmart, CVS, and grocery stores. The layout labels the recipient as "Pay to the order of," your part as "purchaser," and includes a memo or "for" line. Like the others, sign the front and keep the stub.
Whichever brand you use, the core rule holds: fill in the payee first, add your own details, note what the payment is for, sign the front, and hold onto the receipt.
How much can a money order be worth?
Individual money orders have limits. In the US a single postal money order caps at 1,000 dollars, and Western Union and MoneyGram money orders are also commonly capped at 1,000 dollars each. If you need to pay more, you buy several. Because each one carries a fee, a money order is best for smaller, one time payments where the recipient does not accept cards or personal checks.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the payee blank. Never carry or mail a money order without a name in the payee field. A blank one is spendable by anyone.
- Signing the back. The back is for the payee to endorse. If you sign it, the money order may be treated as void.
- Throwing away the receipt. Without the serial number on the stub, you cannot track or replace a lost money order.
- Wrong amount. The dollar value is printed when you buy it and cannot be changed. If you asked for the wrong amount, you usually have to cash or refund it and buy a new one.
- Using pencil. Always fill it out in ink so the details cannot be erased or altered.
Where to buy one and what it costs
Money orders are sold in a lot of everyday places, so you rarely have to go far. Common spots include the post office, banks and credit unions, Walmart and other big retailers, grocery stores, pharmacies such as CVS, and check cashing stores. The fee is usually small, often between about one dollar and five dollars per money order, and it varies by seller and amount. You pay for the money order with cash or a debit card in most places, since the point is that the funds are guaranteed up front. It is worth comparing a couple of nearby sellers if you buy money orders often, because the fees add up.
Money order vs check vs cashier's check
These three paper payments are easy to mix up, but they are not the same.
- Personal check. Drawn on your own account and can bounce if the funds are not there. Best for people and businesses that already trust you.
- Money order. Prepaid and guaranteed, capped at 1,000 dollars, and available almost anywhere. Best for smaller guaranteed payments when you do not want to share bank details.
- Cashier's check. Issued and guaranteed by a bank, usually for larger amounts with no 1,000 dollar cap. Best for big purchases like a car or a home deposit.
Pick the money order when the amount is modest, the recipient wants a guaranteed payment, and you would rather not write a personal check.
Keep a clean record of what you paid
Because a money order is guaranteed and hard to trace after it clears, a written record protects you. Note the date, the payee, the amount, the fee, and the serial number from the stub. If you pay a recurring bill by money order, you can keep this in a simple PDF log so it is all in one place.
You can fill and store that log online. Open our fill a PDF tool, add a blank log or receipt sheet, type your entries, and download it. The file is processed in your browser, so your payment details stay on your device. You will also find bill and payment forms in the form templates library, and if a form needs your signature you can add it with the sign a PDF tool.
Try fillable.ca free and keep every record
Filling out and saving your payment forms should not take long. Create a free account on fillable.ca to save your filled documents, reuse a bill payment sheet each month, and keep all your money order receipts and account details organized in one spot. Start with the fill tool and add your first file.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I sign a money order?
Sign on the front, on the purchaser or signer line. Leave the back blank, because that is where the payee endorses it to cash or deposit it. Signing the back yourself can void the money order.
What do I write in the memo or "payment for" field?
Use it for a short note about the payment, most often your account number when you are paying a bill. This helps the company match the money order to your account. It is optional but useful.
What is the maximum amount for a money order?
In the US a single money order usually caps at 1,000 dollars, whether it is USPS, Western Union, or MoneyGram. If you need to pay more, you buy several money orders, each with its own fee.
What happens if I lose a money order?
You can request a replacement or refund using the serial number on your receipt stub. This is why you should always keep the receipt. There may be a processing fee and a waiting period while the issuer confirms it was not cashed.
Can I cancel a money order after filling it out?
You can request a refund or cancellation before it is cashed by bringing it and the receipt back to the issuer, though a fee usually applies. Once the payee has cashed it, it cannot be canceled, so fill it out carefully.
Do USPS, Western Union, and MoneyGram money orders differ?
The fields are nearly identical: payee, your details, a memo line, and a signature on the front. The main differences are the field labels, where you can buy and cash them, and small fee amounts. In every case you fill in the payee first, sign the front, and keep the receipt.