How to write a check in 6 easy steps

Even in today’s digital-first banking world, paper checks haven’t disappeared. From paying landlords to covering school fees or settling a bill the old-fashioned way, checks remain a common — and sometimes necessary — payment method.

Understanding how to write a check correctly ensures your payment is processed smoothly and protects you from errors that could cost time or money.

How to write a check, step by step

Writing a check is fairly simple, but it’s important to do it correctly. Before you put pen to paper, let’s review what the different parts of a check are for:

• Name and address: Usually printed in the top-left corner, this includes the name and address of the person or business who owns the checking account.

• Check number: This appears in the top right corner of the check, and at the bottom, at the end of a string of numbers. This identifies the specific check being used.

• Routing number and account number: These two numbers start at the bottom left of the check. The account number identifies the check holder’s bank account where the money is coming from. The routing number identifies the bank.

• “Pay to the order of” line: This identifies the payee — the person or entity receiving the money.

• Written amount of check: Under the “Pay to the order of” line, this line is for writing out the dollar amount of the check in words.

• Dollar amount box: On the right side of the check, this box is where you write the numerical amount of the check.

• Memo line: In the lower-left corner, this is an optional line for details about the purpose of the check (such as “tuition payment”).

• Signature line: On the bottom right of the check, this line shows that the payment is approved by the check holder. The check is not valid unless it’s signed by the account holder.

Now for the steps to filling out a blank check:

Step 1: Write the date.

In the top-right corner, write the current date. This tells the bank when the check was issued and helps prevent misuse.

Occasionally, you may put a future date — called a “post date” — on a check. Maybe you’re writing a check to a friend and don’t yet have the money in your account. But you’ll have it three days later, so you write that future date on the check.

However, it’s important to know that a check recipient has no obligation to hold off on depositing a postdated check — once it’s signed, it becomes legal tender.

Step 2: Enter the payee name.

On the “Pay to the order of” line, you’ll write the full name of the person or company who is receiving the money.

Step 3: Write the dollar amount in numerals.

On the right side of the check, you’ll see a small box with a $ sign. Here, you’ll write out the numerical amount you are paying, such as “$309.17.” Make sure the amount is clear and includes cents.

Step 4: Write the amount in words.

Under the “Pay to the order of” section, there’s a blank line that ends with the word “dollars.” This is where you’ll spell out the amount. So for “$309.17,” you would write “Three hundred nine and 17/100.” The “17/100” fraction represents the amount of cents in the payment. Double-check that what you write in words matches the numerical amount.

Step 5: Enter an optional memo.

You don’t have to write anything on the memo line, but it might help you remember what the payment was for when you’re looking at your transactions online or on your bank statement. Memo examples would be “tuition,” “house payment,” or even “Happy Birthday!”

Step: 6: Sign the check.

You’ll sign the check in the bottom right-hand corner. Don’t forget this step, because without a signature, the bank will not process the check.

Keeping a record after writing a check

Checkbooks come with a check register in the back. This is the old-school method of keeping track of every check number, recipient, and check amount in order to track the funds coming out of your account.

Most banks and credit unions now have online banking websites and apps that allow you to track checks and other transactions as well. Many will even show a photo of the check so you can see all the specific details.

If you’re only writing a few checks a year, the register method is a backup way to stay on top of your account balance and avoid any overdrafts. It also helps you remember what you spent your money on.

FAQs about writing checks

How do I write a check to myself?

To write a check to yourself, fill out the check as normal — see our 6-step process above — then write your name on the “Pay to the order of” line.

Why would you need to write yourself a check? This is the old-school way of transferring money between your bank accounts or getting cash from your account. You might choose to do this when you are closing one account and opening another, or want to move money between two open accounts.

What is writing a check to ‘cash’?

This is a way of pulling cash out of your bank account.

To do this, you fill out the check as normal, writing “Cash” in the “Pay to the order of” section.

The risk of this is that someone else could use the check to pull money out of your account if you lost it. Because of that, make sure you don’t write the check until you are at the bank and ready to withdraw funds. On that note, always be careful when carrying around blank checks. If lost, someone else could fill it out, forge your signature, and potentially make withdrawals of your money.

How do I sign a check over to someone else?

If your recipient’s bank allows this — which is called a “third-party check” — you’ll need to sign the back of the check and then write the recipient’s name in the format “Pay to the order of: (Their Name).”

You might want to do this in a situation where you have a check and want to pay another person the same amount of money. Instead of depositing your check and writing another, you may find it easier to sign the check over to that other person.