Learn How to Write a Check: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Updated July 2025

10 min read

Financial Education Team

Checks may seem like something from the past, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. About 61% of Americans learn how to write a check for everything from paying the snowplow driver during the winter to donating funds for the school PTA bake sale.

Writing a check is still very much a crucial skill for managing personal, family, and business finance. It doesn’t matter if you’re just opening a first bank account or paying a contractor for finishing a mother-in-law apartment, understanding the essential steps prevents costly errors and helps protect your finances.

This guide is designed to break down each part of the check-writing process using clear instructions, practical tips, and check examples that answer most questions you may have.

Understanding a Check: What You’re Really Filling Out

Before going through the steps, it helps to better understand what the document you’re filling out is. A check is a promise to pay. It works like money in that you’re giving a “note” with all your account information and the amount being paid to a recipient that they can then take to a bank to deposit or cash.

Most checks have six required sections:

Date
Payee line (who is receiving money)
Amount in numbers (amount being paid, like $450.00)
Amount in words (amount being paid, like “four hundred fifty dollars and zero cents”)
Memo line (what the payment is for)
Signature (your authorization to release the funds)

The more you correctly fill out the check, the easier it will be to remember how to write in each space correctly. Let’s get into the details of how to write a check with cents, dollars, hundreds, and more.

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Fill Out a Check Properly

Step 1: Fill in the Date

A date on a check will be in the upper right-hand corner. You want to use the current date you are writing the check in a standard format like 08/03/2025 or “August 3, 2025.” The date must include the day of the month, month of the year, and year.

Never postdate or backdate checks unless absolutely necessary. That would mean filling in a date that was in the past or the future. That can cause confusion and lead to mistakes if you don’t account for the funds and incur overdraft fees.

Most checks are only good for up to six months from the date filled in on the appropriate space. Some business checks will say “only good for 90 days” or similar guidelines.

Step 2: Write in the Payee (Recipient's Name)

There is a line on the check that usually has “pay to the order of” underneath. That is where you are to write the “payee” or “recipient” of the money. If you’re writing a check for a cat adoption organization, you would write “Happy Paws, LLC” in that space.

The trick is to ensure the payee fits the “legal” name of the entity. For individuals, you want to use the legal name used on their government-issued ID. For businesses, write out the whole business or who the company is “doing business as,” which they can clarify.

In those cases when you want to write a check to yourself to cash out, you can use your own name or pay to the order of “CASH.” Always take the time to double-check spelling before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Enter the Check Amount (in numbers)

A crucial step in how to write out a check is entering the amount. In the middle of the check will be a long line. To the right of that is a box. That is where you write the amount of the check in numbers.

If you’re paying someone $1,500 for a used set of car tires, you would write “$1,500.00” in that space. Be sure your decimal point is in the correct space and you’re using commas for any amount of thousands or more.

Never leave space next to the amount where someone can write in additional numbers. You want to avoid any tampering that may result in additional fees on your bank accounts.

Step 4: Enter the Check Amount (in words)

Checks are designed for redundancy. The bank wants to be sure you’re issuing the correct amount of money to reduce potential errors. You need to spell out the amount of the check in that long line to the left of the small box you just used.

In our example, we write “$1,500.00” for a payment. On this line, we will write out “One thousand five hundred dollars and zero cents.” You capitalize only the first letter and draw a solid line through any remaining space so no one can write out additional numbers.

Be sure your spelled-out amount matches your numerical amount before you hand over the check. You can also use a fraction for cents if you’d like. So, in our example, there are no cents, but we could write 0/100 instead of “and zero cents” at the end.

Step 5: Complete the Memo Line

While the memo line is optional, it is a good idea for tracking your spending to fill it out. How to fill out a check has more to do with hitting the details than leaving spaces blank.

In the bottom left-hand corner is a memo space where you would put what the money is for, like “August Rent,” “party supplies,” or “medical bill-Acct 2284.” Some vendors require a memo for their own tracking, so it never hurts to ask before issuing payment.

Step 6: Sign the Check

The final step in learning how to write a check is your authorized signature in the bottom right-hand corner. This should be in cursive and represent that you agree to release the designated funds to the identified recipient.

You must use blue or black ink (no red) and sign your full legal name that matches your government-issued ID or name on the bank account the money is coming from.

Never leave a check without a signature. Never sign a check without all the information filled out. Either way, you will flag the bank that the check isn’t valid.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Check

How to fill out a check takes practice and attention to detail. Take your time in the beginning so you know every space is correctly filled out. Otherwise, you could run into several common mistakes that could lead to bounced checks, invalidated payments, or bank fees. Those include:

Leaving Blank Spaces: Banks will not cash a check with blank fields (except the memo space). Every section has to be filled out to be authorized for payment or deposit.
Incorrect Numbers: If the amount you wrote in numbers does not match the amount you spelled out in words, the check is not valid and should be ripped up after writing “VOID” across the middle.
Wrong Payee: Always be sure the person or business you’re writing the check to has the correct name. This happens a lot with people who changed their maiden name to a married name or a company going through a transition. The name has to match.

How to Protect Your Checks from Fraud

Around 47% of organizations experienced check fraud in 2023. Criminals will find a way to use checks found by accident to get money. Your goal is to reduce that chance as much as possible. To ensure your checks are secure, be sure to:

Use gel pens that prevent “check washing” (erasing ink to change payee or amount)
Never leaving blank lines or space after numbers and names
Keep your physical checks stored in a locked area of your home
Only order checks from your bank and not a third party who isn’t verified
Never post an image of your check to social media or in a text
Monitor your associated bank account for unexpected check cashing or activity
Shred or void unused checks or those with errors in the spaces
Mail checks in security envelopes that cannot be seen through

A little preventive care goes a long way to reducing errors, avoiding bank fees, or side-stepping fraud.

When to Use a Check vs. Digital Payments

There are many reasons to use a physical check or opt for a digital transaction. In some cases, it could be that the person you’re sending payment to never learned how to read a check. In others, it is simply convenience.

When to Use Checks:

Paying rent to a landlord who doesn’t accept online transactions
Dealing with small businesses or vendors who prefer paper trails
Mailing payments to government agencies
Sending money for a gift or bill through the mail
Or if you don’t have digital access to other payment systems

When to Use Digital Payments

Online banking or mobile app payments (Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, etc.)
Debit and credit cards at a restaurant, store, or other location
Signing up for automatic bill pay
Conducting wire transfers
Utilizing a digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)

Plenty of modern bank apps will let you use both physical checks and digital payment tools. That will give you time to learn how to write a check correctly before sending a letter or dealing with a local business.

Questions About Check Writing?

Need additional help with check formatting or have specific questions about banking standards?

contact@checkwritingsim.com

Ready to Practice?

Now that you understand the fundamentals, try our interactive check writing simulator to practice your new skills.

Try the Interactive Simulator

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to write a check enables you to have an additional payment option, especially when you’re traveling to new locations. Take your time and be sure to fill out all spaces correctly so you avoid any fees or errors, and you should be all set.

FAQs

How do you write $1500 on a check?

Writing a $1500 check means entering “$1,500” in the numeric box and spelling out “One thousand five hundred dollars and zero cents” on the longer line to the left of the box.

Is there a template for writing checks?

Yes, you can use our Check Writing Simulator simulator to see where important information about your transaction shows up on a physical check.

How do I pay someone with a check?

As long as every space is filled correctly, you can hand over the check for them to take to a bank, credit union, or third-party check cashing agency. The funds will be removed from your account and credited to the payee’s account, usually in 24 to 72 hours.