How to write a check

Today, you can pay by tapping a credit card, scanning a QR code or waving your phone at a card reader. But for all the advances in payment technology, sometimes you still need to rely on pen and paper and write a check. Some smaller businesses prefer check payments, and checks are also an easy way to give money as a gift for a birthday or wedding.

If it's been a while since you've had to write one, or you've never had to do it, we'll get you up to speed with our guide on how to write a check.

Here's how to write a check:

You need to write the date on the check in the upper right corner. Include the month, day and year. It doesn't matter if you spell out the month or use a number, either October 23, 2023, or 10/23/2023 will work.

You may have heard that you can postdate a check or put a future date on it. While that's true, it doesn't mean much. A bank can still cash a check even with a future date.

Write the full legal name of the person or company you're paying on the line marked "pay to the order of."

You can write a check out to two people, such as a recently married couple. What you put on the check matters, though. If you write "Person A and Person B," both people must be present to deposit and cash the check. If you write "Person A or Person B," either person can deposit the check. The other doesn't need to be present

Next to the dollar sign symbol ($), write the check amount in numbers. Be sure to fill up the space in the box so someone can't add an extra zero to the amount. Include cents, even if you're paying a full dollar amount. Write "500.00" rather than just "500." If you're paying an amount with dollars and cents, include the cents after the decimal. For a five dollar and 50 cent payment, write "5.50."

On the line next to the word "dollars," write the check amount in words. Whether you write "thousands" or "hundred" is up to you. When you're writing out the amount, use a fraction for any cents, such as 00/100 for a whole dollar amount or 50/100 for 50 cents. Include the cents next to the written-out dollar amount.

So for a check worth $1,600, you can write either: "One thousand six hundred 00/100" or "Sixteen hundred 00/100."

You can write the purpose of the check on the line marked "memo." This part is optional but can be useful if you get a scanned copy of the check back and can't remember why you wrote it. Some companies also ask you to include further information, which may not be printed on the check, such as your account number or phone number. You can include that information on the memo line.

Put the finishing touch on the check by signing your name on the signature line at the bottom right-hand corner of the check. The recipient can't deposit or cash the check unless it's signed, so don't forget this step!

Think of a check as a key to your checking account. When you give someone a check, you're giving them limited access to the money in your account. There have been cases of people stealing checks or changing the amounts on them. These tips will help you protect yourself: 

Never write a check in pencil, as someone could easily erase what you've written and write a different amount or recipient. Use black gel ink pens to write your checks, as they're difficult to erase.

Wait until you know the final amount before you hand a check to someone, and always write the correct recipient's name. If you hand someone a blank check, the recipient could write a much larger amount on the check. Avoid writing checks out to "cash," as anyone could take the check and cash it.

Don't leave space in the amount box or the dollar line, as someone could add in numbers or a few extra zeros. In the section where you write out the check amount, draw a line between the end of the dollar amount and the cents fraction to fill in any empty space, like this: "Five hundred ------------50/100."

Your checkbook likely came with a little booklet full of lines and boxes. That's the check register, which gives you a way to keep track of the money going in and out of your account. You can use the check register to record all your checking account transactions, including paper checks you've written, debit card payments, deposits and ATM withdrawals.

When you balance your checkbook, you ensure all transactions are accounted for. You can also see how much money remains in your account to make sure you don't overdraw it.

Even if you don't write checks often, keeping tabs on the comings and goings in your checking account can still be worth it. It helps you avoid overdraft fees and spot any errors or issues.