How to write a check for cents (or less than a dollar)

Step by step: a check for 75 cents

1. Date and payee

   Fill these in exactly as you would for any other check: today's date and the full name of the person or business.

2. Amount box: 0.75

   Start right next to the dollar sign and write a zero before the decimal point: 0.75. The leading zero shows nothing is missing, and the decimal point shows where dollars end and cents begin. Writing just ".75" or "75¢" is easier to misread or alter.

3. Amount line: "Zero and 75/100"

   On the long line, write Zero and 75/100, then draw a line to the end of the space. The word "Dollars" is usually already printed at the end of the line.

4. Memo (optional)

   A short note such as "Refund, invoice 1188" tells the payee why such a small check arrived.

5. Sign

   Sign as usual. A small amount doesn't need anything special.

That's the whole method. If you're writing a larger amount, the cents part works the same way; see how to write a check amount in words for full-dollar examples.

Two accepted ways to write the words

For amounts under a dollar, you'll see two styles. Both are clear, and banks accept both.

The fraction style: "Zero and 75/100"

Matches the way every other check amount is written: dollars in words, cents as a fraction of 100. It's the most common choice and the one check-writing software prints, because it fits the pre-printed "Dollars" at the end of the line.

The spelled-out style: "Only seventy-five cents"

Some people prefer spelling out the cents, starting with "Only" so nothing can be added in front. If you use this style, cross out the printed word "Dollars" at the end of the line, so the line can't be read as seventy-five dollars.

Why the written amount matters most

Under the Uniform Commercial Code (§ 3-114), when a check's terms contradict each other, words prevail over numbers. If the box says 0.75 but the line says "Seventy-five", a bank could read the words as $75. That's the real risk with tiny checks: not that they're refused, but that a sloppy amount line can be read as a much larger sum.

The CFPB puts it the same way for consumers: a check whose words and figures disagree is still valid, and the amount spelled out in words is the one used.

So the rule for any amount, large or small:

• The amount line should state the dollars, even when it's zero.
• Cents go as a two-digit fraction: 05/100, not 5/100.
• Fill or strike out the empty space so nothing can be added.
• The figures and the words should match exactly.

Cents on checks for more than a dollar

Cents trip people up on bigger checks too. A few patterns worth knowing:

The most common mistake is dropping the leading zero on single-digit cents: "Seven and 8/100" is understandable, but "08/100" keeps the format consistent with the figures in the box and leaves no room for a second digit to be squeezed in.

Common mistakes with small amounts

Worked example: a 42-cent refund

Jane Doe overpaid an invoice from John Sample's small business by 42 cents, and John wants to refund it exactly. He writes:

He records check 1024 for $0.42 in his register, and if it hasn't cleared after a couple of months he follows up with Jane rather than leaving it open indefinitely.

Quick checklist for a check under a dollar

• Box: a zero, a decimal point and two digits (0.42).
• Line: "Zero and 42/100", or "Only forty-two cents" with "Dollars" crossed out.
• A line drawn through any leftover space.
• Words and figures say the same amount.
• A memo explaining the small amount.
• Logged in your register so it doesn't get forgotten.

Is it even worth writing a check for cents?

Sometimes there's no better option: a business refunding a small overpayment, a landlord returning the last bit of a deposit, or settling a balance exactly. There's no legal minimum for a check; a check only needs to be for a fixed amount of money. Still, think about the practicalities:

• Bank fees. If your account charges per check or per item, a check for cents can cost more than it's worth. Check your fee schedule.
• The payee's effort. Depositing a tiny check takes the same time as a large one. Mobile deposit makes it easier, but some recipients may not bother.
• Outstanding checks. Small checks are often never cashed, which leaves them hanging in your register. Note them and follow up. Under UCC § 4-404 a bank isn't obliged to pay an ordinary check presented more than six months after its date (though it may), so a tiny check that sits in a drawer can go stale. See outstanding checks.
• Alternatives. For a refund under a dollar, a credit on the next invoice may be simpler for everyone.

Printing a check for cents

Check-writing software takes the guesswork out of this. In Quick Check Writer you type 0.75 into the amount field and it fills in "Zero and 75/100" for you, prints both amounts in neat type, and adds the check to your register. Want to see how a check looks before you print it? Try the printable check template or learn the full routine in how to write a check.

Related guides

• How to write a check amount in words (with cents)
• How to write a check, step by step
• Parts of a check, explained
• Printable check template that fills itself in
• Outstanding checks

Sources

• UCC § 3-114 (contradictory terms: words prevail over numbers), Cornell LII
• UCC § 3-104 (negotiable instrument: fixed amount of money), Cornell LII
• CFPB: A check where the words and the numbers for the amount are different
• UCC § 4-404 (bank not obliged to pay check more than six months old), Cornell LII

Last updated November 1, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Quick Check Writer is check printing software; it is not a bank and does not move money.