How to Write a Check: A Guide
Quick insights
- The main things to write on a personal check are the date, recipient’s name, the dollar amount (two ways) and your signature.
- You may also want to include a memo on the check to indicate the purpose of the check.
- Understanding how to write a check is important in managing personal finances.
While paper checks may not be as common as they once were, check writing is still a beneficial skill to have. Modern payment methods may be faster and more convenient, but they aren’t always available. This guide to writing a personal check—and some practice—will help you master the process.
What to know before you write a check
Writing a check will debit money from your checking account or another associated bank account. This happens when the payee cashes or deposits the check you wrote.
The essential elements of a paper check
- Top left: The account holder’s name and address
- Top right: The check number and an empty date field
- Bottom left: An optional memo field
- Bottom right: The signature line
- Middle: Fields for the payee, numeric dollar amount and written-out dollar amount
- Lower edge: The routing number and account number
The font and spacing of these elements may vary among personal checks. However, the general positions are the same, and understanding where vital information goes will help you write a check properly.
How to fill out a check
Always start with a blank paper check. There should be no stray marks, smudges or writing on it. If everything’s empty, you’re ready to begin filling out the check.
Step 1: Write the date
Put the date in the top-right corner. The current date will allow the check to be used immediately by the recipient. Alternatively, you can postdate a check, which means adding a future date. This limits the check from clearing until that date. Banks may not accept a check for deposit until the date either.
Step 2: Add the recipient’s name
The check recipient is also known as the payee. You can make out a check to an individual or business using the full name. This person, business or other party’s name should be written on the center of the check, on the line that follows “Pay to the order of.” Make sure the payee’s name is spelled correctly and legible, or the check may not clear.
Step 3: Write the dollar amount in numerals
In a small box on the right-hand side of the check, write out the intended payment amount in numerals. You will need to write the dollar and cent amount of the deposit, even when you’re not included cents. For example, the numerical dollar amount for a check written for twenty dollars should appear as “$20.00.” Make sure to include the dollar sign if it’s not already included in the field.
Step 4: Write the dollar amount in words
You will need to write out the dollar and cent amount in words, not just numerals. For example, if the check amount is $105.00, you’ll want to write out “one hundred five dollars only.” Make sure the amount you put in the small box matches the amount you’ve described. This vital field confirms of the intended amount of the check and can also avoid tampering or fraud.
How to include cents on check
Writing cents on a check in words can be done in one of two ways. Let’s say the check is for $105.50. To show the cents value, you can write either “one hundred five dollars and fifty cents” or “one hundred five dollars and 50/100.”
Step 5: Add your signature
The signature line in the bottom-right is where you sign the check. The signature must match the name on the account that is paying the check. The name will be checked as verification when the payment is processed electronically.
Step 6 (Optional): Write a memo
The line for a memo can capture the purpose of the payment or include a personal note. All in all, a memo can be a helpful reminder of what a check is for, whether you obtain a carbon copy of the check or view the image in an online banking portals.
Tips for writing checks
- Keep blue or black pens handy: Writing in pen helps protect your check against tampering. Plus, ink from ball-point pens is less likely to smear. More importantly, a check written with markers, crayons, pencils or other ink colors may be rejected by a financial institution.
- Don’t sign a blank check: A check with only a signature enables the payee to fill out any amount they want. To protect your money, don’t sign a check until the dollar amount is filled out in numerals and words.
- Write in print instead of cursive: Writing check details in print helps make sure they are clearly legible and can avoid errors when the check is processed. You should still add your signature in cursive, however.
- Review for errors: Make sure you have checked key elements of the check before sending or handing it to someone. Confirm that the check amount is correct, the amount in words matches the amount in numbers, and the payee’s name is spelled correctly.
Check writing FAQs
How do you void a check?
The process of voiding a check is simple: You write “VOID” across the face of the check in pen. Avoid covering the account number and routing number at the bottom edge of the check. You can safely dispose of the voided check by shredding it or using scissors to cut the paper into tiny pieces.
Can you write a check to yourself?
Yes, you can write a check to yourself. Instead of putting another payee’s name on the check, you write your own name. This used to be a common practice for transferring money between accounts or banks.
What does it mean to endorse a check?
To cash or deposit a check, you’ll need to endorse it. Correct endorsement requires your signature in pen on the backside of the check in the designated field that says "Endorse here." When completing a mobile check deposit, you may write “for mobile deposit only” below your signature in the endorsement field.
