How to Write a Check (With Examples)

The short answer

To write a check, put the date in the top-right corner, write the payee’s full name on the “Pay to the order of” line, and enter the amount in numbers in the box, such as 45.05. Spell out the dollars on the line below and write the cents as a fraction of 100, as in “Forty-five and 05/100,” then add an optional memo and sign the bottom-right line. If the words and numbers ever differ, the CFPB says the amount in words is used.

Mail a letter online How to mail a check safely

What are the parts of a check?

Every personal check has the same fields in roughly the same places, even when the design and fonts differ. Chase’s guide maps them: your name and address at the top left, the check number and date at the top right, the payee and both amount fields in the middle, the memo at the bottom left, and the signature line at the bottom right.

The row of numbers along the bottom edge is the MICR line. The Federal Reserve explains that banks’ check-sorting machines read it, so it’s printed in magnetic ink and carries the routing number of your bank, your account number, and the check’s serial number. According to the American Bankers Association, which assigns routing numbers, the nine-digit routing number is the left-most number, followed by your account number and then the check number. Never write over these numbers.

Parts of a personal check and what to write in each
Part	Where it is	What you do with it
Your name and address	Top left	Nothing; it’s printed on the check
Check number	Top right (and in the MICR line)	Nothing; copy it into your check register
Date line	Top right	Write today’s date
“Pay to the order of” line	Middle	Write the payee’s full name
Amount box ($)	Right side, next to the payee line	Write the amount in numbers, such as 45.05
Amount line (“Dollars”)	Below the payee line	Write the amount in words, with cents as a fraction of 100
Memo line	Bottom left	Optional: what the check is for or the payee’s account number
Signature line	Bottom right	Sign the name on the account, last
MICR line: routing, account, and check numbers	Bottom edge	Nothing; don’t write on, staple, or cover it

How do you write a check, step by step?

Start with a blank check and a blue or black pen; Chase notes that banks may reject checks written in pencil, marker, or other ink colors. These steps follow the FDIC’s Money Smart lesson on writing checks and Chase’s check-writing guide.

Write the date on the line at the top right, including the month, day, and year, such as October 9, 2026.
On the “Pay to the order of” line, write the full name of the person or business you’re paying. Chase says to spell it correctly and legibly, or the check may not clear.
In the box with the dollar sign, write the amount in numbers. The FDIC says to include a decimal point and two zeros even for a whole-dollar amount, such as 70.00, so no one can add to it.
On the line below the payee, write the dollar amount in words, then the cents as a fraction of 100, such as “Seventy-eight and 23/100.” Draw a line through any space left before the printed word “Dollars.”
Fill in the memo line at the bottom left if you like, such as “October phone bill.” The FDIC notes that some companies ask you to put your billing account number on the check, and the memo line is a good place for it.
Sign the line at the bottom right. Chase says the signature must match the name on the account paying the check, and not to sign until both amount fields are filled in.
Record the check number, date, payee, and amount in your check register or banking app before you hand it over.

How do you write cents on a check?

Write the cents twice: as decimals in the amount box, and as a fraction of 100 on the written line. The FDIC’s Money Smart lesson describes spelling out the dollars in words and then writing the cents as a fraction of one hundred, which makes the amount harder to change. Chase accepts either form for $105.50: “one hundred five dollars and fifty cents” or “one hundred five dollars and 50/100.” The fraction is shorter and fits the line more easily.

For a whole-dollar check, write 00/100 for the cents, or follow the amount with “only” as Chase’s example does. Either way, put “.00” in the amount box. The examples below use fictional amounts.

How to write common check amounts
Amount	In the amount box	On the written line
$1,250.50	1,250.50	One thousand two hundred fifty and 50/100
$45.05	45.05	Forty-five and 05/100
$20.00	20.00	Twenty and 00/100
$312.99	312.99	Three hundred twelve and 99/100
$2,004.10	2,004.10	Two thousand four and 10/100

What does a filled-out check look like?

Here are two complete checks with fictional names and amounts, field by field. Note the leading zero in 05/100 on the second one: five cents is five hundredths, so the fraction matches the “.05” in the box.

After the written amount, draw a line to the printed word “Dollars” so nothing can be squeezed in, and leave the memo short.

Two example checks, filled out
Field	Example 1: rent	Example 2: paying a friend
Date	October 9, 2026	October 9, 2026
Pay to the order of	Lakeview Property Management	Maria Delgado
Amount box	$1,250.50	$45.05
Written line	One thousand two hundred fifty and 50/100	Forty-five and 05/100
Memo	Unit 4B, October rent	Book club dues
Signature	Jordan Ellis (the name on the account)	Jordan Ellis (the name on the account)

What if you make a mistake or the amounts don’t match?

Don’t cross out and correct a check. Chase’s advice is to void a check that has an error, such as the wrong amount or payee, and write a new one.

If a check goes out with different amounts in words and numbers, the CFPB says the check is still valid and the amount spelled out in words is used. That follows the Uniform Commercial Code rule that words prevail over numbers and handwritten terms prevail over printed ones. The UCC is a model law that every state has adopted in some form, so details can vary by state; this is general information, not legal advice.

A few other rules are worth knowing before you write or accept a check:

Forgot to sign it: the CFPB says the bank will likely refuse the check or return it, and the payee will need you to sign it.
Postdated it: the OCC says a bank may pay a check before the date written on it unless you give the bank a formal postdating notice, which can carry a fee.
Old checks: under UCC 4-404, a bank isn’t obligated to pay a check (other than a certified check) presented more than six months after its date, though it may still pay it in good faith.
Need to stop it: contact your bank right away. The CFPB says fees and procedures vary, and in most states a written stop-payment request made before the check is processed keeps it from being cashed for six months.

How do you endorse a check?

Endorsing means signing the back of a check made out to you so you can cash or deposit it. Chase says to sign in pen in the designated field on the back that says “Endorse here.” What you write above or below your signature decides what can happen to the check next.

The legal terms come from Article 3 of the UCC, which spells the word “indorsement.” Rules vary by state, and each bank sets its own deposit requirements, so treat this as general information.

Signing a check over to someone else doesn’t mean their bank has to take it. The OCC says banks set their own policies on third-party checks, aren’t legally required to accept them, and may require the original payee to be present. Ask the bank first.

For a check made out to two people, the OCC says a check to “John and Jane Doe” generally needs both signatures, while one to “John or Jane Doe” generally needs only one. If it isn’t clear, ask your bank.

Types of check endorsements
Endorsement	What you write on the back	What it does
Blank	Your signature only	Makes the check payable to whoever holds it (UCC 3-205), so sign only when you’re at the bank or ATM
Restrictive	“For deposit only,” then your signature	The check can only be deposited into your account, not cashed (CFPB)
Mobile deposit	Your signature plus any wording your bank’s app requires; Chase says you may add “for mobile deposit only” below your signature	Follows your bank’s mobile deposit rules; check your app for the exact words
Special (third-party)	“Pay to the order of” the new payee’s name, then your signature	Makes the check payable to that person, who must endorse it to cash or deposit it (UCC 3-205)

How do you void a check?

You void a check to cancel one you filled out by mistake, or to give an employer or biller your routing and account numbers for direct deposit. Once voided, Chase says, the check can’t be cashed or deposited.

If an employer asks for a voided check and you don’t use paper checks, Chase lists alternatives that may be accepted: a voided deposit slip, a direct deposit form with your routing and account numbers filled in, a voided or starter check from your bank, or setting up direct deposit online. To void a check:

Use a blue or black pen.
Write “VOID” in large letters across the front. Chase says it helps if the letters cover the check number, amount, and payee line.
Don’t cover the routing and account numbers along the bottom edge, especially if the check is for direct deposit.
Don’t sign it.
Note the voided check number in your register so your records don’t show a gap.
If you don’t need to hand it over, shred it or tear it into small pieces. Chase points out that a voided check still shows your name, address, bank, and account number.

Chase: How to void a check

Can you write a check to “Cash” or to yourself?

You can, but a check made out to “Cash” works like a blank endorsement: under UCC 3-109, it’s payable to whoever holds it, so a lost one can be spent by anyone who finds it. Writing your own name on the payee line instead keeps the check tied to you, and Chase confirms you can write a check to yourself, for example to move money between accounts. You’ll endorse it on the back like any other check.

UCC 3-109: Payable to bearer

How do you make a check harder to alter?

Thieves who “wash” checks use chemicals to erase the ink, then rewrite the payee and amount, the OCC explains. A few habits make that harder. The OCC says black gel ink is highly resistant to washing, and the Postal Inspection Service and the American Bankers Association advise leaving no blank space on the payee or amount lines and keeping your Social Security number, card numbers, driver’s license number, and phone number off checks. Chase adds: never sign a blank check.

After the check is paid, look at your bank’s image of it. USPIS and the ABA suggest checking that the endorsement on the back matches the payee, because criminals sometimes deposit stolen checks without altering them. If you’re sending the check by mail, the IRIS guide to mailing a check covers envelopes, where to drop it off, USPS extra services, and what to do if it goes missing.

How do you record a check in your register?

A check register is the small ledger in your checkbook. The FDIC’s Money Smart lesson describes six columns: the check number, the date, the payee or source of a deposit, the payment amount, the deposit amount, and a running balance. Write each check on its own line, subtract the amount from the balance, and compare the register with your statement or banking app every month so you catch fees, errors, or checks you didn’t write.

If a payee asks for a money order instead of a personal check, the IRIS guide to filling out a money order walks through that form.

Can IRIS mail a check for you?

No. IRIS is an independent print-and-mail service, not USPS or a bank. It prints the US Letter-size PDF you upload and mails it by USPS First-Class Mail to a US address. It can’t enclose a check, cash, a money order, or any other item, so you mail the check yourself.

IRIS can mail the letters that go with a payment, such as a letter to a payee about a check or a note to a creditor, sent in their own envelope. A one-page black-and-white letter is $3.20 with postage, no stamps or envelope needed. Certified Mail adds $6.95, for $10.15 total on a one-page letter, with tracking on your order page. Keep account numbers to what the recipient needs, and leave Social Security numbers and card numbers out of any upload.

Sources & further reading

Product details checked against the IRIS API contract when this article was published. Platform references can change; consult the linked documentation when implementing.

Published by IRIS Postal Forms, operated by Great Lakes Computing Office LLC. Send a correction.

Put it into practice

Writing a letter to go with a payment?

IRIS prints the US Letter-size PDF you upload and mails it by USPS First-Class Mail to a US address, from $3.20 for one black-and-white page, with no stamps or envelope needed. It can’t enclose a check, so mail the check yourself.

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