Writing a check takes about 30 seconds once you know where everything goes. A standard personal check has six fields to fill in: the date, the payee’s name, the dollar amount in numbers, the dollar amount written in words, an optional memo line, and your signature. Here’s how to fill in each one correctly.
The Six Fields on Every Check
Pick up a blank check from your checkbook and you’ll see the same layout every bank uses. Starting from the top right and working your way around:
- Date: Write today’s date in the upper right corner. Use the standard month/day/year format. You can postdate a check (write a future date), but many banks will process it before that date anyway, so don’t rely on postdating to delay a payment.
- Pay to the Order of: This is the payee line. Write the full name of the person or company you’re paying. If it’s a business, use the official name that appears on your bill or invoice. If it’s a person, use their legal name so they don’t have trouble depositing it.
- Dollar amount in numbers: In the small box to the right of the payee line, write the exact amount using numerals, like $1,243.20. Include the cents after a decimal point even if the amount is even ($50.00).
- Dollar amount in words: On the long line below the payee name, write the same amount in words. This is the legal amount. If the written words and the numerical box ever conflict, the bank uses the written words. Start writing at the far left edge of the line.
- Memo: The line in the bottom left corner is optional. Use it to note what the payment is for, like “March rent” or an account number. Some billers ask you to write your account number here so they can match your payment.
- Signature: Sign the bottom right line. A check without your signature is invalid and won’t be processed.
How to Write the Dollar Amount in Words
This is the part that trips most people up. The rules are straightforward once you see a few examples.
Write out the dollar portion in words, then express cents as a fraction over 100. For a check of $50.25, you’d write: “Fifty dollars and 25/100.” For $1,243.20, write: “One thousand two hundred forty-three dollars and 20/100.” If there are no cents, write “Fifty dollars and 00/100” or “Fifty dollars and no/100” to make it clear nothing is missing.
After you finish writing, draw a horizontal line through any remaining blank space on that line. This prevents anyone from adding words to inflate the amount. So your line might look like: “Fifty dollars and 25/100 ————.” Use clear, legible handwriting. If a bank teller can’t read your writing, the check may be returned.
What the Numbers on the Bottom Mean
Along the bottom edge of every check, you’ll see three sets of printed numbers in a distinctive blocky font. You didn’t put them there, but it helps to know what they are.
The leftmost number is your bank’s routing number, a nine-digit code that identifies your specific bank or credit union. Next is your account number, which tells the bank which account the money comes from. The third number, usually on the far right, is the check number, matching the number printed in the upper right corner of the check. You’ll never need to write these yourself, but you’ll need the routing and account numbers if you ever set up direct deposit or electronic transfers.
Protecting Yourself From Check Fraud
A handwritten check is one of the easiest financial documents to alter, so a few small habits go a long way. Use a black gel pen when writing checks. Gel ink absorbs into paper fibers and is significantly harder to wash off or chemically remove than standard ballpoint ink.
Don’t leave blank spaces. Start writing at the far left of every line, and draw a line through unused space on the written amount line. Never sign a blank check or leave the payee line empty with the intention of filling it in later.
If you regularly pay bills by check, ask your bank about its bill pay service. With bill pay, the bank prints the payment information onto a check and mails it for you. Printed text is harder to alter than handwriting, and your check never passes through another person’s hands before reaching the payee.
Keeping Track With a Check Register
Every checkbook comes with a register, a small booklet or ledger where you record each transaction. Using it keeps you from accidentally overdrawing your account, especially since checks can take days to clear.
Each entry in your register should include the check number, the date, a description of who you paid and why, and the payment amount. Subtract each check from your running balance as soon as you write it, not when it clears. Add deposits and credits the same way. When your bank statement arrives (or when you check your account online), compare it against your register and put a checkmark next to entries that have cleared. Any check still outstanding, meaning written but not yet cashed, is money you’ve committed but that hasn’t left your account yet.
When a Personal Check Won’t Work
Personal checks are fine for rent, utilities, gifts, and most everyday payments. But some situations call for a guaranteed form of payment because the recipient has no way to verify that your personal check will clear.
A cashier’s check is purchased directly from your bank. The bank withdraws the funds from your account immediately and issues the check from its own account, which guarantees the money is available. These are commonly required for down payments on a home, vehicle purchases, and other large transactions with strangers. A certified check works similarly: your bank verifies and sets aside the funds, then stamps the check as certified. Both options typically cost between $5 and $15 and give the recipient a level of assurance that a personal check can’t match.
If someone you don’t know insists on a personal check rather than a cashier’s check for a large purchase, that’s unusual and worth questioning. Legitimate sellers of high-value items almost always prefer guaranteed funds.