How to Write a Check in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide with Real Examples

Personal Finance

A Labeled Check Example

Every personal check has the same six fields you fill in. Here’s exactly what they look like and where to find them.

How to Fill Out a Check in 6 Steps

Now that you’ve seen where each field goes, here’s how to write a check in the correct order. Follow these six steps in any order, as long as all six are complete before you hand over the check.

If the numerical and written amounts conflict, the written words generally control under U.S. commercial law (UCC §3-114). A bank may still delay or reject the check, so verify both fields match before handing it over.

Examples: How to Write Common Check Amounts

Writing cents as a fraction over 100 is the standard U.S. check-writing format. For $87.05, write “Eighty-seven and 05/100.” Start at the left side of each amount field and draw a line through unused space on the written-amount line, this makes later alterations more difficult.

Where Are the Routing and Account Numbers on a Check?

The numbers printed along the bottom aren’t fields you fill in. They identify the bank, your account, and the individual check.

• Routing number: Usually the first nine-digit number on the lower left. It identifies the bank or credit union.
• Account number: Usually the middle set of digits. It identifies the checking account.
• Check number: Usually the final, shorter number, and often also appears in the upper-right corner.

The exact order can vary by check design. Confirm the numbers in your bank’s app or statement before using them for direct deposit or an electronic transfer.

How to Write a Check With Cents

Cents trip up most beginners. The rule: write cents as a fraction over 100 on the amount-in-words line, using numbers for the cents portion.

• $45.50 → “Forty-five and 50/100”
• $120.99 → “One hundred twenty and 99/100”
• $1,500.00 → “One thousand five hundred and 00/100”
• $87.05 → “Eighty-seven and 05/100”

The /100 represents cents, since there are 100 cents in a dollar. It’s a long-standing and widely used U.S. banking notation, not something you need to look up each time once it’s familiar.

How to Void a Check

You’ll often need a voided check for setting up direct deposit, automatic bill payments, or payroll. Voiding makes the check unusable for cashing while keeping the routing and account numbers visible.

• Use a blank check, never one you’ve already filled out
• Write “VOID” in large letters across the front
• Use a black or blue pen with bold strokes
• Write VOID across the date, payee line, amount box, and signature line, but don’t cover the routing and account numbers at the bottom
• Don’t sign the check
• Make a photocopy for your records before sending

The recipient (employer, lender, utility company) only needs the routing number and your account number, both visible at the bottom. Voiding it prevents anyone from cashing it.

How to Endorse a Check You Receive

Sign the back inside the endorsement area only when you’re ready to deposit or cash the check. For mobile deposit, follow the exact endorsement instructions shown in your bank’s app, many institutions require your signature plus wording such as “For Mobile Deposit Only,” but the required format varies. A restrictive endorsement such as “For Deposit Only” can limit how the check may be used, but bank requirements vary, so check your bank’s specific instructions.

How to Write a Check to Yourself

Write your own name on the “Pay to the Order of” line, complete the amount fields, add an optional memo, and sign the check. Endorse the back only when you’re ready to deposit it. An electronic transfer is usually faster, so check first whether both accounts support ACH transfers before writing a check between your own accounts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing “Cash” as the payee: anyone who finds the check can cash it. Always write a specific name.
• Leaving spaces in the amount field: a scammer can add extra digits. Start at the far left and draw a line through unused space.
• Mismatched amounts: if the number and the words disagree, the written words generally control, and the bank may still delay or reject the check.
• Forgetting to sign: an unsigned check is invalid. Check before handing it over.
• Using pencil: pencil can be erased and altered. Use blue or black ink.
• Writing checks without sufficient funds: can lead to fees and a delayed or rejected payment. Track your balance with a budgeting app to avoid this.

Can you post-date a check?

You can write a future date on a check, but that doesn’t reliably prevent early payment. Banks and credit unions generally may process a post-dated check before the date shown, unless applicable state law or a properly submitted notice changes how the bank handles it. Don’t post-date a check unless you’ve confirmed the recipient’s timing and your bank’s policy, and never use post-dating to buy time on a payment you can’t actually afford.

How long is a personal check good for?

A personal check more than six months old is generally considered stale. A bank isn’t required to pay it after that point, although it may still choose to honor it in good faith. Ask the issuer for a replacement rather than assuming an older check will be accepted.

If you already handed over a check by mistake, contact the recipient immediately and call your bank to ask about a stop-payment request; a fee may apply and the process varies by institution. Stop payments only work if the check hasn’t been cashed yet.

How to Mail a Check More Safely

Check fraud can involve stealing a mailed check and altering the payee or amount. If you must mail a check:

• Use permanent blue or black ink
• Fill all payment fields and draw a line through unused space
• Don’t leave outgoing mail containing a check in an unsecured residential mailbox
• Use a secure USPS collection point or hand the envelope to a postal employee
• Monitor your account and confirm the intended recipient received the payment

If a check clears but the intended recipient didn’t receive it, contact your bank immediately and report suspected mail theft or check washing.

Check Writing Best Practices

• Use blue or black ink. Pencil and other colors aren’t accepted by some banks.
• Keep a check register. Record every check you write, number, date, payee, amount.
• Reconcile monthly. Compare your register to your bank statement to catch errors and fraud.
• Never sign blank checks. A signed blank check is essentially cash for whoever finds it.
• Store checks securely. Treat your checkbook like cash, keep it locked or out of sight when not in use.
• Order checks through your bank or a reputable check printer that supports your institution’s account and security requirements.
• Track your spending. Build a monthly budget so you always know how much is in your account before writing a check.

Frequently Asked Questions