How to Write a Check: Step-by-Step With Examples

5 November 2026 · 5 min read

To write a check, fill in six things: the date in the top right, the payee's name on the "Pay to the order of" line, the amount in numbers in the small box, the amount in words on the long line below, an optional note on the memo line, and your signature on the bottom right. Then record the payment in your check register or banking app so you know the money is committed.

That covers it, but the details matter, especially writing the amount in words. Here is each step with examples.

The parts of a check

A standard personal check, as used in the United States, has these fields:

1. Your name and address (top left, usually preprinted)
2. Check number (top right)
3. Date line
4. Pay to the order of line
5. Amount box (numbers)
6. Amount line (words), ending in "Dollars"
7. Bank name
8. Memo line (bottom left)
9. Signature line (bottom right)
10. Routing number, account number and check number printed in magnetic ink along the bottom

You only write in items 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9.

Step 1: Write the date

Write today's date on the date line. Any clear format works:

November 5, 2026

11/05/2026

Writing the month as a word avoids confusion between US and international date orders.

About postdating: writing a future date does not reliably stop the recipient from depositing it early. Banks may process a check before the written date unless you take formal steps with your bank. If you need a payment delayed, it is safer to hand over the check later.

Step 2: Write the payee's name

On the "Pay to the order of" line, write the full name of the person or organisation you are paying:

Riverside Property Management LLC

Dana Whitfield

Use the exact name. For businesses, ask what name they accept on checks. Avoid nicknames, and avoid writing "Cash" unless necessary, because a check made out to cash can be cashed by anyone who holds it.

Step 3: Write the amount in numbers

In the box next to the payee line, write the amount in digits, starting as close to the left edge of the box as you can:

245.50

Starting at the far left makes it harder for someone to add digits in front. Write clearly and include the decimal point.

Step 4: Write the amount in words

This is the line that trips people up. Write the dollar amount in words, then "and," then the cents as a fraction over 100:

Two hundred forty-five and 50/100

Then draw a line from the end of your writing to the word "Dollars" at the end of the line, so nothing can be added.

The written amount is the legal amount. If the numbers and words do not match, the bank generally goes by the words, though it may also return the check. Either way, a mismatch causes delays, so double-check.

Examples of written amounts

A few rules for writing numbers in words:

• Hyphenate numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine: "forty-five," "ninety-nine."
• Do not use "and" inside the dollar amount. "Two hundred forty-five," not "two hundred and forty-five." Save "and" for the point where cents begin.
• Write "00/100" or "no/100" for whole dollar amounts. Some people write "even" or "exactly," but the fraction is clearest.
• Capitalise the first word. Capitalising every word is optional.

Step 5: Fill in the memo line (optional)

The memo line is for your records and the recipient's. Use it for an account number, invoice number or reason:

Rent, December 2026

Acct #44721 (last digits)

Invoice 1093

Some companies ask you to write your account number in the memo so they can apply the payment correctly. Do not write sensitive personal information like a Social Security number on a check.

Step 6: Sign the check

Sign on the line in the bottom right, using the same signature your bank has on file. An unsigned check will not be processed.

Never sign a blank check. If it is lost or stolen, anyone can fill in a payee and amount.

Step 7: Record the payment

Write the check number, date, payee and amount in your check register, or note it in your banking app or budget. The money leaves your account when the check is cashed, which might be days or weeks later. Recording it now prevents you from spending money that is already committed.

A completed example

Date: November 5, 2026

Pay to the order of: Lakeside Dental Group

Amount box: 182.40

Amount line: One hundred eighty-two and 40/100, followed by a line drawn to "Dollars"

Memo: Patient ID 5521, visit 10/28

Signature: (your signature)

How to void a check

You may need a voided check to set up direct deposit or automatic payments. Write "VOID" in large capital letters across the front, covering the payee, amount and signature areas, using a pen. Do not cover the routing and account numbers at the bottom, since that is what the employer or company needs. Record the voided check in your register so your numbering stays consistent.

Safety tips

• Use a pen, ideally with dark ink that is hard to erase.
• Fill every line completely and draw lines through unused space.
• Keep your checkbook somewhere secure, and shred old checks you no longer need.
• Mail checks from a secure location, such as inside a post office, rather than leaving them in an unsecured outside mailbox.
• Watch your account for checks you did not write.

If you are sending a check with a cover note or letter, an AI document generator can draft a simple payment letter, and an AI email writer can help with a short message letting the recipient know it is on its way.

FAQ

How do I write cents on a check?

After the dollar amount in words, write "and" followed by the cents as a fraction over 100. For example, $52.75 is written "Fifty-two and 75/100." For a whole amount, use "00/100."

What happens if the numbers and words don't match?

The written words are generally treated as the legal amount, but the bank may also return the check unpaid. To avoid problems, make sure both match before you hand it over.

Can I write a check to myself?

Yes. Write your own name on the payee line, sign it, then endorse and deposit it into another account you own. This is a common way to move money between banks.

Can I write a check with a pencil?

You should not. Pencil can be erased and the check altered. Use a pen with dark, permanent ink.