How to Write an Amount in Words on a Cheque (Pakistan and India)
By the Logicox team 3 min read
The amount in words is the most important line on a cheque. Banks read it alongside the figures, and if the two do not match, or the words have been corrected, the cheque can be returned. Here is how to write it correctly, with examples for both Pakistan and India.
The basic format
Write the amount in words, add the currency, and end with Only. Most people in Pakistan and India put “Rupees” first:
- 1,25,000 → Rupees One Lakh Twenty-Five Thousand Only
- The other common order is One Lakh Twenty-Five Thousand Rupees Only. Both are accepted.
“Only” closes the amount so nobody can add words after it.
Lakh and crore
Cheques in Pakistan and India use the South Asian number system, where digits are grouped as 1,00,000 rather than 100,000.
| Figure | In words |
|---|---|
| 1,00,000 | One Lakh |
| 10,00,000 | Ten Lakh |
| 1,00,00,000 | One Crore |
| 1,00,00,00,000 | One Arab (Pakistan) or One Hundred Crore (India) |
Write lakh and crore in the singular: “Two Lakh”, not “Two Lakhs”. Numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine take a hyphen, such as Twenty-Five and Ninety-Nine.
Amounts with paisa
If the amount has paisa (Pakistan) or paise (India), write them after the rupees with “and”:
- 48,750.50 in Pakistan → Rupees Forty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty and Fifty Paisa Only
- 48,750.50 in India → Rupees Forty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty and Fifty Paise Only
In the figures box, write 48,750.50 or 48,750/50 as your bank prefers. For a round amount, many people write 1,25,000/- so nothing can be added after the last digit.
Step by step
- Write the date and the payee’s full name first.
- Write the figures close to the ₹ or Rs sign, with no gap.
- Start the words at the far left of the line, with no space before them.
- End with “Only” and draw a line through the rest of the space.
- Read the words and the figures together once more before you sign.
Mistakes that get cheques returned
- Corrections. In India, under the Reserve Bank of India’s CTS-2010 rules, no change is allowed on a cheque except the date. If you get the amount or the payee’s name wrong, write a new cheque. In Pakistan, banks may also return a corrected cheque, so a fresh one is the safest choice in both countries.
- Words and figures that do not match. Even a missing thousand is enough for a bank to return the cheque.
- Gaps. Spaces before or between words leave room for someone to add to the amount.
- Light or erasable ink. Use dark blue or black ink that cannot be rubbed out.
Get the words right first time
The Number to Words converter writes any amount the way it should appear on a cheque. Type the Number or amount, choose the Number system (Pakistani, Indian or International) and the Currency, then pick the Cheque style you prefer. Tap Copy words and use the result as your guide while you write. It also handles amounts in arab and kharab for very large figures.