NumbersHow to write an amount in words on a cheque
A cheque carries the amount twice: in figures in the box and in words on the line. The two must agree. People who rarely write cheques often stop at the words line, unsure of the spelling or the form. This page shows the usual way of writing it in India. It describes common practice, not the rules of any one bank. If your bank or the person receiving the cheque asks for a particular form, follow that.
The usual form
Rupees One Lakh Twenty-Five Thousand Four Hundred Only
- Start right after the printed word "Rupees", leaving no gap.
- Write the amount in the Indian system, with lakh and crore.
- End with the word Only, so that nothing can be added after it.
- Many people draw a line through any space left on the words line.
The figures box
In the box, write the amount with Indian commas and close it with "/-": for example 1,25,400/-. Start close to the ₹ sign so that no digit can be slipped in before your amount.
Examples
| In figures | In words |
|---|---|
| 500/- | Rupees Five Hundred Only |
| 1,250/- | Rupees One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Only |
| 15,000/- | Rupees Fifteen Thousand Only |
| 40,040/- | Rupees Forty Thousand Forty Only |
| 99,999/- | Rupees Ninety-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine Only |
| 1,25,400/- | Rupees One Lakh Twenty-Five Thousand Four Hundred Only |
| 5,00,000/- | Rupees Five Lakh Only |
| 10,50,000/- | Rupees Ten Lakh Fifty Thousand Only |
| 25,00,000/- | Rupees Twenty-Five Lakh Only |
| 1,00,00,000/- | Rupees One Crore Only |
Amounts with paise
Most cheques are for whole rupees. If you must include paise, write them after the rupees: "Rupees Two Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Paise Only" for ₹2,500.50, and write the figures as 2,500.50.
Good habits
- Write the words first, then the figures. It is easier to copy figures from words than the other way round.
- Use capitals at the start of each word, or all capitals. Both are common. What matters is that it is clear.
- Check lakh against the commas. One lakh has five zeros: 1,00,000. A slip of one zero changes the amount tenfold.
- Do not overwrite. If you make a mistake in the amount, it is safer to cancel the cheque leaf and write a fresh one.
- Use a pen with ink that cannot be rubbed out.
- Read both amounts once more before signing.
Spellings that cause trouble
Forty has no "u". Ninety keeps its "e". Lakh is the standard spelling, though "lac" is still seen. Hyphens in twenty-five and the like are good practice, and a cheque is not refused for a missing hyphen. More on the number spelling page.
Use the converter
Type the amount into the converter on the home page. Among the results is a line headed "On a cheque" with the amount written in this form, ready to copy. Add paise after a point, for example 2500.50.
This page is a writing help, not banking or legal advice. For what your bank accepts, or what to do about a mistake on a cheque you have issued, ask your bank. Written on 12 November 2026.