How to write a check

What you need before you start

Grab a check from your checkbook and a pen with blue or black ink. Never use pencil or an erasable pen, because anything that can be rubbed out can be altered by someone else. Make sure you have enough money in your account to cover the amount, or the check may bounce and cost you a returned-check fee.

Every check has the same six areas you need to complete. Once you learn them on one check, every check you write after that follows the same order.

How to write a check step by step

1. Date the check. Write today's date on the line in the top right corner. Use the full date, such as August 9, 2026, or a clear numeric format like 08/09/2026. Postdating a check with a future date does not reliably stop it from being cashed early, so only date it for today unless you have a specific reason not to.
2. Write the payee name. On the line that reads "Pay to the order of," write the full name of the person or business you are paying. Use the exact legal or business name, not a nickname. If you are unsure of the exact name of a company, ask them before you write it, because a bank may refuse a check made out to the wrong name.
3. Enter the amount in numbers. In the small box to the right, write the amount using digits, for example 125.50. Start writing tight against the dollar sign so no one can add a digit in front of your number. Include the cents, even when the amount is a round figure, such as 125.00.
4. Write the amount in words. On the long line under the payee, spell out the dollars and write the cents as a fraction over 100. For 125.50 you would write "One hundred twenty-five and 50/100." This written amount is the legal amount the bank pays if the words and the numbers disagree, so take your time here.
5. Fill in the memo line. The memo line in the bottom left is optional but useful. Write what the payment is for, such as "August rent" or an account or invoice number. Businesses often ask you to add an account number here so they can match the payment to your account.
6. Sign the check. Sign your name on the line in the bottom right, matching the signature your bank has on file. A check without a signature is not valid and will not be paid. Do not sign a blank check and carry it around, because a lost signed check is close to handing over cash.

How to write the amount in words correctly

The written amount trips people up more than any other line, so here are clear examples you can copy:

• $50.00 becomes "Fifty and 00/100"
• $1,250.75 becomes "One thousand two hundred fifty and 75/100"
• $8.09 becomes "Eight and 09/100"
• $400.00 becomes "Four hundred and 00/100"

Do not write the word "dollars" yourself, because it is already printed at the end of the line. If your written amount does not reach the end of the line, draw a straight line through the empty space so nothing can be added later. Never use "and" in the middle of the dollar words. The word "and" belongs only between the dollars and the cents.

A worked example

Say you owe your landlord 1,450 dollars for August rent. You would date the check for today, write the landlord's name after "Pay to the order of," put 1,450.00 in the number box, write "One thousand four hundred fifty and 00/100" on the words line, note "August rent, unit 4B" in the memo, and sign the bottom. That check is now complete and ready to hand over or mail.

Security tips to protect your check

• Use permanent ink and press firmly so the writing cannot be lifted or changed.
• Fill every line completely and draw a line through unused space in the words area.
• Record the check number, date, payee, and amount in your register or banking app so you can track it.
• Never sign a check before every other line is filled in.
• If you make a mistake, write "VOID" in large letters across the check and start a fresh one rather than scribbling over an error.
• Mail checks from a secure box, not an open mailbox with the flag up, since checks are a common target for theft.

Writing a check to yourself or for cash

You can write a check payable to yourself by putting your own name on the "Pay to the order of" line. People do this to move money between accounts or to withdraw cash at their own bank. You can also write "Cash" on that line, but be careful, because a check made out to cash can be used by anyone who holds it, so it carries the same risk as carrying the money itself. If you write a check to cash, complete it only at the moment you plan to hand it over, and never leave it lying around.

What the numbers at the bottom of a check mean

Along the bottom of every check is a row of numbers printed in a special font. From left to right they are usually the routing number, which identifies your bank, then your account number, then the check number, which also appears in the top right corner. You do not write these, since they are already printed, but it helps to know them. A payer setting up a direct deposit or an automatic payment will often ask for the routing and account numbers, and they come from this bottom row.

What to do after you write a check

Once the check leaves your hands, the job is not quite done. Write the details in your check register or banking app right away: the check number, the date, who you paid, and the amount. This running record keeps your balance accurate and warns you before you overdraw. When the check clears, the amount leaves your account, and your bank statement will list it. If a check you wrote has not cleared after a long time, contact the payee, since a lost or forgotten check can be a problem when you are trying to balance your account. Most banks treat a personal check as stale after six months, so an old uncashed check may be refused.

Prefer to do it on your device?

Many payments that once needed a paper check now use a bank form instead. If your landlord, employer, or utility gives you a PDF to set up payments, you can complete it on screen with our fill a PDF tool, then sign and download it without printing. For recurring payments, a direct deposit form lets money move automatically, so you write fewer checks over time. Both open right in your browser, and the file stays on your device.

You can also keep a clean record of every payment form you complete. When you create a free account, you can save the documents you fill out and reuse them later, so the next time you need the same form your details are ready to go instead of starting from a blank page.

When a check is not the best choice

Checks are handy, but they are not always the fastest or safest option. For a large or urgent payment, a cashier's check or a money order guarantees the funds in a way a personal check does not. For recurring bills, a direct deposit or automatic transfer saves you from writing the same check every month. For paying a person quickly, many people use a bank transfer instead. Keep a few blank checks for the times a check is genuinely the best fit, such as rent, a deposit, or a payer who only accepts them.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most frequent errors are forgetting to sign, leaving the cents off the number box, and letting the written amount disagree with the numeric amount. Slow down on the words line, double check the payee name, and confirm the date before you hand the check over. A careful minute now saves a bounced payment or a call from the person you paid.