To write cents on a check, put them two ways: as two digits after a decimal in the amount box (for example, $125.75), and on the written line as a fraction over 100 after the word “and” (for example, “One hundred twenty-five and 75/100”). Both fields need to match, because if they don’t, your bank will follow the written line.
Cents in the Amount Box
The amount box is the small rectangle on the right side of the check, next to the pre-printed dollar sign. Write the dollar figure, a decimal point, then the cents as two digits. A payment of $250.49 goes in as 250.49. Always use two digits after the decimal, even when the cents are under ten: write 250.05, not 250.5.
Start your numbers at the far left of the box and keep them tight. Extra space in front of or between the digits gives someone room to add a number and change the amount. If space remains after the last digit, draw a line through it.
Cents on the Written Line
The written line (sometimes called the legal line) sits below “Pay to the order of” and ends with the pre-printed word “Dollars.” Spell out the dollar amount in words, write “and,” then write the cents as a fraction with 100 as the denominator.
For a check of $1,298.24, the line reads: “One thousand two hundred ninety-eight and 24/100.” The fraction means twenty-four cents out of a possible hundred. After the fraction, draw a horizontal line all the way to the pre-printed word “Dollars” so no one can insert extra words or numbers in the blank space.
Use “and” only once, between the dollars and the cents fraction. “One hundred and twenty-nine and 39/100” adds a second “and” that can create confusion. The correct form is “One hundred twenty-nine and 39/100.”
Round Dollar Amounts With No Cents
Even when the check is for a round number, the cents portion still needs to be filled in on both fields. In the amount box, add .00 after the dollar figure, such as $50.00. Leaving the decimal off can make the check look incomplete and makes it easier to alter.
On the written line, spell the dollars, write “and,” then use 00/100. A fifty-dollar check reads: “Fifty and 00/100.” Some writers use “no/100” or “xx/100” in place of “00/100”; all three signal zero cents and are generally accepted. Draw a line through any remaining space to the word “Dollars.”
Checks for Less Than One Dollar
For an amount under a dollar, such as 50 cents, write 0.50 in the amount box: a zero, a decimal, then the two-digit cent amount. Some people also circle the figure or add a note like “only 50 cents,” though the numerical format alone is enough.
On the written line, start with “Zero” for the dollar portion, then “and,” then the cents fraction. For 50 cents: “Zero and 50/100.” For seven cents: “Zero and 07/100.” Then draw a line through the remaining space to the word “Dollars.” Starting with “Zero” blocks anyone from inserting a larger dollar amount ahead of your fraction.
What Happens if the Words and Numbers Don’t Match
If the amount box and the written line disagree, the written line wins. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, words prevail over numbers, and handwritten terms prevail over both typewritten and printed terms.1Cornell Law – Legal Information Institute. UCC 3-114 – Contradictory Terms of Instrument The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau states the same rule: when there is a difference, the bank uses the amount spelled out in words.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I Received a Check Where the Words and the Numbers for the Amount Are Different
That rule can work against you. If you write $89 in the amount box but spell out “Eighty-nine hundred” on the written line, the bank could pay $8,900 and be legally justified in doing so.3HelpWithMyBank.gov. Do Banks Pay the Numeric Amount or Amount in Words on Checks Before signing, read both fields against each other.
If You Make a Mistake
The safest response to an error in either field is to void the check and start over. Write “VOID” in large letters across the face and record the voided check number in your register so you can account for it later.
Some banks will accept a check with a small correction, such as a crossed-out word with your initials beside it, but many will not, especially when the correction touches the dollar amount. A visible change to the amount looks like the kind of unauthorized alteration banks are trained to flag, so a corrected check has a real chance of being rejected or delayed.4HelpWithMyBank.gov. I Wrote a Check for $300 but the Bank Paid It as $3,000 Writing a fresh check avoids the risk.