What Is a Voided Check, and How Do You Get One Without a Checkbook?
A voided check is a check marked "VOID" so it can't be cashed, used only to share your bank's routing and account numbers for direct deposit setup. Here's how to get one if you don't have paper checks.
What is a voided check used for?
A voided check is a real (or facsimile) check with "VOID" written across it in large letters, so it's permanently unusable as a payment instrument. Employers and payroll systems ask for one specifically to read the routing number and account number printed along the bottom — the exact numbers needed to set up direct deposit — without the risk of that check actually being cashed.
It's also commonly requested when setting up automatic bill pay, linking a bank account to a new payroll provider, or verifying account details for a refund.
How to void a check properly
Take a blank check from your checkbook and write "VOID" in large letters across the front, in ink, without covering the routing or account numbers at the bottom — those are the entire point of the document. Some people write it diagonally across the whole check; either way is fine as long as the numbers stay legible and the check can't be filled in and cashed.
What if you don't have any paper checks?
This is increasingly the normal case — many checking accounts today are opened entirely online and never come with a physical checkbook. In that situation, you have three options: order checks from your bank (usually takes a week or more and often costs money), ask your bank for a direct-deposit form or a letter confirming your account details instead, or generate a properly formatted voided check facsimile using your real routing and account numbers, which most employers and payroll systems accept in place of a physical one.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a voided check the same as a blank check?
No — a blank check is unused and still negotiable. A voided check has "VOID" marked on it specifically so it can never be cashed or altered.
Where do I find my routing and account numbers without a check?
Both are almost always visible in your bank's mobile app or online banking under account details, even if you've never had a physical check.
Will every employer accept a digital voided check?
Most will, since what they actually need is the routing and account numbers, but it's worth confirming with your specific payroll or HR contact if you're unsure.