How to Write a Check: Step-by-Step Guide With a Sample Check
Updated: 6 days ago
Writing a check is easy once you know what goes on each line. You need to enter the date, the person or business you are paying, the amount in numbers, the amount in words, your signature and, if useful, a memo.
This guide walks through each part of a personal check one step at a time. You’ll also see how to write a check with cents, what the numbers along the bottom mean, and the mistakes to avoid.
Need to write the dollar amount on a check?
Use our free Check Amount to Words Calculator to instantly convert dollars and cents into check-ready wording.
Quick answer: To write a check, fill in these six areas:
Write the date.
Write the name of the person or business you are paying.
Enter the payment amount in numbers.
Write the payment amount in words.
Add a memo if needed.
Sign the check.
That six-part structure also matches current guidance from major banks such as Chase.
Sample Check: Where Everything Goes
Watch: How to Write a Check Step by Step
Prefer to see it done? Watch the check being filled out from start to finish.
Step 1: Write the Date
Write the date in the upper-right corner of the check.
You can normally write it with numbers:
08/31/2026
Or spell it out:
August 31, 2026
The date shows when you wrote the check.
Can you postdate a check?
A postdated check has a future date instead of today's date. Do not assume that writing a future date guarantees the check cannot be processed earlier. Bank policies and applicable rules can matter, so if the timing of a payment is important, check with your financial institution.
Step 2: Write Who You Are Paying
Find the line that says:
Pay to the Order of
Write the name of the person or business receiving the money.
For example:
John Smith
or:
ABC Plumbing Company
Use the correct full name and write clearly. Chase similarly recommends using the full name of the person or business and checking the spelling carefully.
Do not leave a large blank space before or after the payee name. Blank spaces can make a check easier to alter.
Step 3: Write the Amount in Numbers
In the small box on the right side of the check, enter the amount using numbers.
For a check for one hundred twenty-five dollars and fifty cents, write:
$125.50
For a check with no cents, write:
$125.00
Including the decimal and cents makes the intended amount easier to read.
Step 4: Write the Check Amount in Words
This is the part of a check that causes the most confusion.
On the long line underneath the payee, write the dollar amount using words. Then show the cents as a fraction over 100.
For:
$125.50
write:
One Hundred Twenty-Five and 50/100 Dollars
For:
$125.00
write:
One Hundred Twenty-Five and 00/100 Dollars
For:
$1,250.75
write:
One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty and 75/100 Dollars
How do you write cents on a check?
A simple method is:
Dollar amount in words + and + cents/100
Examples:
Check amount | Write this on the amount line |
$25.00 | Twenty-Five and 00/100 Dollars |
$25.50 | Twenty-Five and 50/100 Dollars |
$100.05 | One Hundred and 05/100 Dollars |
$1,250.75 | One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty and 75/100 Dollars |
$5,000.00 | Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars |
Chase notes that cents may also be written in words, but the fraction-over-100 format is common and particularly easy to use consistently.
What if the number and written amount don't match?
This is an important reason to double-check your work. UCC §3-114 states that when an instrument contains contradictory terms, words prevail over numbers.
The safest approach is simple: make sure the numerical amount and written amount match before you sign the check.
CalcuCenter Use the Check Amount to Words Calculator
Need help writing the amount? Use our free Check Amount to Words Calculator to convert any dollar amount into the wording used on a check.
For example, $1,428.37 becomes:
One Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Eight and 37/100 Dollars
The tool will also let you copy the result, clear the entry, and print it for easy reference.
Step 5: Fill In the Memo Line
The memo line is usually in the lower-left corner.
It is normally optional, but it can help you remember what the payment was for.
Examples:
August Rent
Invoice 4821
Birthday Gift
Car Repair
Avoid placing sensitive personal information on the memo line. Current U.S. Postal Inspection Service guidance specifically recommends against putting information such as Social Security numbers, credit-card information, driver's-license numbers or phone numbers on checks.
Step 6: Sign the Check
Sign your name on the signature line in the lower-right corner.
Your signature authorizes the payment.
Before signing, make sure:
The payee is correct.
The numerical amount is correct.
The written amount matches.
You have enough money available to cover the check.
Avoid signing blank checks. A signed check with the payee or amount left blank can be misused.
What Do the Numbers on the Bottom of a Check Mean?
There are normally several groups of numbers printed along the bottom.
Routing number
The routing number identifies the bank or credit union associated with the account.
A U.S. routing number normally has nine digits.
Account number
Your account number identifies the specific checking account from which the money will be paid.
Check number
The check number helps identify and track an individual check.
The exact placement can vary by check design, but major-bank guidance identifies the routing number, account number and check number among the standard elements of a personal check.
How to Avoid Common Check-Writing Mistakes
Before handing over or mailing a check, look at it one more time.
Make sure you didn't:
Forget to sign it.
Misspell the payee's name.
Write different amounts in the number box and amount line.
Forget the cents.
Leave excessive blank space.
Use pencil or erasable ink.
Sign a completely blank check.
Put sensitive personal information in the memo.
Check fraud is still a real concern. The CFPB currently recommends using permanent black marker or black gel ink when writing checks because it can make alteration more difficult. For mailed checks, the CFPB recommends taking them directly to a post office.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service also warns about check washing, where criminals steal checks and alter the payee or amount.
What Should You Do If You Make a Mistake on a Check?
For an important mistake in the payee, amount or signature area, the safest option is generally to void the check and write a new one.
Write:
VOID
clearly across the check so it cannot be used as a normal payment.
Do not simply throw an unused or voided check into the trash if it contains your account information. Store or dispose of it securely.
How to Write a Check to Yourself
You can write a check to yourself.
Write your own name on the Pay to the Order of line, fill out the amount normally and sign the check.
This has traditionally been one way to move money between accounts, although electronic transfers are usually more convenient today. Chase also confirms that a check can be made payable to yourself.
Printable Practice Check
Want to practice before writing a real check? Use our free Check Amount to Words Calculator to convert your dollar amount and print a labeled SAMPLE/VOID practice check showing where the date, payee, numerical amount, written amount, memo, and signature go.
Select Print Sample Check in the calculator after converting your amount. You can print the practice check normally or choose Save as PDF from your browser’s print window.
FOR PRACTICE ONLY — NOT A REAL CHECK
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write a check correctly?
Write the date, the payee's name, the amount in numbers, the amount in words, an optional memo and your signature. Double-check that the two amounts match before giving the check to the recipient.
How do you write $100 on a check?
Write $100.00 in the number box. On the written amount line, you can write One Hundred and 00/100 Dollars.
How do you write a check with cents?
Write the dollar amount in words and then show the cents as a fraction over 100. For example, $42.75 can be written Forty-Two and 75/100 Dollars.
What if the written amount and number do not match?
Under UCC §3-114, words prevail over numbers when the terms of an instrument contradict each other. The best practice is to void a check with a significant amount error and write a new one.
Is the memo line required?
Usually no. The memo line is primarily useful for recording what the payment is for or adding an account, invoice or other non-sensitive reference.
Should you write a check in pen or pencil?
Use permanent ink rather than pencil. Current CFPB anti-fraud guidance recommends permanent black marker or black gel ink for checks.
Can you write a check to yourself?
Yes. Put your own name on the payee line and complete the rest of the check normally.