Stack of personal checkbooks, illustrating how to write a check

How to Write a Check: Steps, Examples and Fraud Tips

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Last updated: October 26, 2026

Here is how to write a check: fill in the date, write the payee’s name on the “Pay to the order of” line, enter the amount in numbers in the box, spell out the amount in words on the line below, add an optional memo, and sign at the bottom right.

The steps below follow the FDIC’s Money Smart program and federal banking regulators.

Contents

How to write a check in 6 steps

Start with the right pen. U.S. Bank recommends a blue or black gel pen to keep the writing clear and help protect against fraud (U.S. Bank check-writing guide). Then follow these steps:

  1. Date the check. Write the month, day and year on the date line in the upper right corner.
  2. Name the payee. On the “Pay to the order of” line, write the full name of the person or business you are paying.
  3. Write the amount in numbers. In the box with the dollar sign, write the dollars and cents, such as 78.23.
  4. Write the amount in words. On the line below the payee, spell out the dollars and write the cents as a fraction of 100, such as “Seventy-eight and 23/100.” Draw a line through any unused space.
  5. Fill in the memo (optional). Add a reminder of what the check is for or an account number the payee asked for.
  6. Sign the check. Sign your name on the line at the bottom right. U.S. Bank notes that a check typically cannot be deposited or cashed without your signature.

This order matches the FDIC’s Money Smart lesson on writing checks, which also recommends recording each check in your register right away.

Parts of a check explained

Every personal check has the same basic fields:

Part of the check Where it is What to write
Check number Upper right corner Printed; note it in your register
Date line Upper right Month, day and year
Pay to the order of Center left Full name of the person or business
Amount box Right side, after the $ sign Amount in numbers, such as 78.23
Amount line Below the payee line, ending in “Dollars” Amount in words, with cents as a fraction of 100
Memo or For line Bottom left Optional note or billing account number
Signature line Bottom right Your signature
Routing and account numbers Bottom edge Nothing; they identify your bank and account

The numbers along the bottom edge are the same ones you use to set up direct deposit. To learn how banks route money between accounts and machines, see how ATM networks connect banks.

How to write a check with cents

The amount appears twice, in numbers and in words, and both should match.

Amounts with cents

In the box, use a decimal point and two digits for the cents. On the amount line, spell out the dollars and write the cents over 100. The FDIC example is a $78.23 phone bill, written as 78.23 in the box and “Seventy-eight and 23/100” on the line.

Even amounts with no cents

For an even amount, such as $70, the FDIC says to still add a decimal point and two zeros (70.00) so that no one can go back and add to the check. On the amount line, write “00/100” for the cents.

Amount In the box On the amount line
$78.23 78.23 Seventy-eight and 23/100
$70 70.00 Seventy and 00/100
$130.45 130.45 One hundred thirty and 45/100
$1,000 1,000.00 One thousand and 00/100

The FDIC explains that spelling out the amount, with cents as a fraction, helps prevent anyone from changing it. The Postal Inspection Service also advises against leaving blank space on the amount line.

What if the words and numbers don’t match?

According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s HelpWithMyBank.gov, state laws say that when a check contains contradictory terms, words prevail over numbers, and handwritten terms prevail over printed or typed terms. In the OCC’s example, a check written as $89 with the words “eight-hundred and ninety dollars” was paid as $890.

Postdated, cash and voided checks

Postdating a check

Writing a future date does not guarantee the check will wait. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says banks and credit unions generally do not have to wait until the date on the check to cash it. Under state law, a written notice to your bank is generally valid for six months, while an oral notice without written confirmation is valid for only 14 days.

Writing a check to yourself or to cash

To withdraw cash or move money between your accounts, U.S. Bank says you can write “Cash” on the “Pay to the order of” line.

How to void a check

A voided check is often used to set up direct deposit or bill pay. Write “VOID” across the payee line, in the amount box and in the signature area.

Checks also have time limits after you write them. For details, see whether personal checks expire.

How to protect a check from fraud

Check fraud has increased nationwide by 385% since the pandemic, according to U.S. Treasury Department figures cited by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the American Bankers Association. Criminals often steal checks from the mail and “wash” them to change the payee and amount. The two organizations recommend these steps:

  • Use pens with indelible black ink, which makes checks harder to wash.
  • Do not leave blank spaces on the payee or amount lines.
  • Do not write personal details, such as your Social Security number, driver’s license number or phone number, on checks.
  • Use the letter slots inside your Post Office to mail checks, and do not leave mail in your mailbox overnight.
  • Follow up with payees to confirm they received your check.

If you suspect check fraud, report it to your bank, your local police and the Postal Inspection Service. If a payee asks for a cashier’s check instead, see whether a cashier’s check can be canceled and when a bank can hold a cashier’s check.

Record the check in your register

The FDIC recommends writing each check in your check register: the check number, the date, what it was for and the amount. Subtract the amount from your balance so you always know how much money is in the account.

Writing a check for more than your balance can lead to fees. For a related situation, see whether you can overdraft with a debit card.

Frequently asked questions

How do you write a check with cents?

Write the amount in the box with a decimal point, such as 78.23. On the amount line, spell out the dollars and write the cents as a fraction of 100, such as “Seventy-eight and 23/100.”

How do you write $1,000 on a check?

Write 1,000.00 in the amount box and “One thousand and 00/100” on the amount line. Adding the decimal point and two zeros to an even amount makes it harder for someone to change the check.

What do you write on the memo line of a check?

The memo line is optional. Use it for a reminder of what the check is for, such as “phone bill for October,” or for the billing account number a company asks you to include.

What happens if the words and numbers on a check don’t match?

The written words generally control. Under state laws, words prevail over numbers when a check contains contradictory terms, so a bank may pay the amount spelled out in words.

Can a bank cash a postdated check before the date?

Yes. Banks and credit unions generally do not have to wait for the date on a check unless you give them notice; under state law a written notice is generally valid for six months and an oral notice for 14 days.

Sources

Image: “Gfp-checkbooks.jpg,” by Yinan Chen (goodfreephotos.com), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized.



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