Writing A Check With Zero Cents

While writing a check is quickly becoming a thing of the past, you still need to know how to write a check from time to time.

Unfortunately, there are many different types of checks you may have to write depending on your circumstances.

Thankfully, filling out a check is a pretty easy process and you just need to change a couple items here or there to fill out each different type of check.

Today, we'll be covering how to write a check with zero cents.Check out the end of the post for an image of a completed check based on our example below.

Writing a check without cents is fairly common as many major payments, such as writing a rent check to your landlord, usually require whole dollar amounts without cents.

If you need to write a check with cents or a different type of check, here are a few other check writing and check knowledge guides we have:

How To Write A Check With Zero Cents
How To Write A Void Check And Why You May Need To
Writing A Check To Cash Isn't Good And How To Write It Anyway
Routing Numbers: How To Find My Bank's Routing Number Fast

Check Writing Steps For How To Write A Check With Zero Cents

how to write a check with zero cents

Step 1 – Enter the Date

First, you need to write the date on the check. In the United States, you can write the check date on the line on the top right hand corner of the check as MM/DD/YYYY (05/07/2018) or Month Day, Year (May 5, 2018).

It is important you write the correct date, especially the year, because checks cannot be deposited before the date of the check.

Additionally, after a certain number of months (usually three, six or twelve months) a bank will no longer cash a check that is viewed as stale or too old.

Step 2 – Write Who The Check Is For

Next, you'll want to write the name or company name of the person you're paying with the check. You'll write the name in on the line that starts with the words "Pay to the order of" or something similar.

In this example, which you can see below, we've written the check to our landlord, Jack Wilson. If our landlord was a company, such as Rental House, LLC, we'd replace Jack Wilson with Rental House, LLC.

Step 3 – Write Check Amount In Numbers Without Cents

In step 3, you'll write the amount of the check in numbers in the box to the right of the "Pay to the order of" line.

You'll notice this box already has a dollar sign either in or just outside of the box. Due to this fact, you won't have to write a dollar sign for the numerical amount of the check. Instead, just write the amount, in this case 950.00.

To be as safe as possible when writing a check with zero cents, you should put a decimal and two zeros to the right of the decimal to show this is the complete amount of the check.

Without the decimal zero zero, it is easier to alter the amount of the check.

Step 4 – Write Check Amount In Words With No Cents

Next, you'll want to write the amount of the check in words on the line that ends with dollars. Since we're writing a check for zero cents, you'll want to write and no/100 at the end of the dollar amount to specify the check is for zero cents.

It also helps to fill in any blank space with a line through the middle of the space so no one can alter the amount the check is for by adding additional words.

Step 5 – Add Any Memo Info

The "For" or "Memo" line in the bottom left hand corner of the check is to write any information required by the person you're paying or, if they don't require any information, for your own purposes.

In this case, we'll write the check is for May Rent Due 5/15/18. However, you can also write information such as your account number, if required, or nothing at all.

Step 6 – Sign The Check

Finally, in order for the check to be valid, the account holder must sign the check on the line in the bottom right hand corner of the check.

Here's a picture of the completed check to Jack Wilson for 950 dollars and no cents.

signed personal check example written to landloard jack wilson for $950 for May rent due May 15 2018 dated may 7 2018

Learning how to write a check for zero cents isn't that difficult. Once you get the hang of it the first time, each time after will be super easy.

What questions do you have about writing a check with zero cents? Let us know in the comments and we'll answer them for you.

headshot of Lance Cothern, CPA

Lance Cothern, CPA holds a CPA license in Indiana. He's a personal finance, debt and credit expert that writes professionally for top-tier publications including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Investopedia, Credit Karma, Business Insider and more.

Additionally, his expertise has been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, Reader's Digest, The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Kiplinger, Reuters, CNBC and more.

Lance is the founder of Money Manifesto. He started writing about money and helping people solve their financial problems in 2012. You can read more about him and find links to his other work and media mentions here.