Make a voided check in less than 60 seconds.

How to void a paper check

1. Take an unused check — Take a check from your checkbook that hasn't been signed or filled in.
2. Write VOID across the front — In pen, write "VOID" in large letters across the entire front of the check.
3. Cross out the signature, payee and amount lines — Make sure VOID crosses through the signature line, the payee line and the dollar amount box — but leave the printed routing and account numbers at the bottom untouched and readable.
4. Don't sign it — A voided check should never carry a signature, since that's what would make it usable.
5. Hand it over and keep a record — Give the voided check (or a clear photo or scan of it) to whoever requested it, and note which check number you used for your own records.

What if you don't have physical checks

Plenty of banks — especially online-only ones — no longer send paper checks by default. If you don't have one to void, you've got a few options:

1. Ask your bank for a starter check, or a letter confirming your routing and account number.
2. Check your online banking portal — some banks let you download a voided-check PDF directly.
3. Use a voided check generator like this one, which creates a properly formatted, watermarked facsimile with your real routing and account numbers, ready to download as a PDF.

Where to find your routing and account numbers

Both numbers are printed along the bottom of every check in magnetic ink (the MICR line). Reading left to right: the 9-digit routing number identifies your bank, the account number after it (length varies by bank) identifies your specific account, and the last group is the check number.

Why employers and payroll ask for this

A voided check is the standard way payroll and HR departments set up direct deposit, since it gives them your routing and account numbers in the exact format your bank prints them, with no risk of a typo. It's also commonly requested when setting up automatic bill pay or certain benefit and tax-refund direct deposits.

The three numbers at the bottom of a check

The numbers along the bottom edge are printed in special magnetic ink, called the MICR line, so bank machines can read them. Reading from left to right, the usual order is the routing number, then the account number, then the check number, although the order and the small symbols between them can vary slightly by bank.

1. Routing number — always 9 digits. It identifies your bank. It is also called the ABA number or RTN.
2. Account number — identifies your specific account. The length varies by bank, commonly between 8 and 12 digits.
3. Check number — the number of that particular check. It matches the number printed in the top right corner of the check.

What the other parts of a check mean

1. Top left — the account holder's name and address.
2. Top right — the check number and the date line.
3. Pay to the order of — who the check is made out to.
4. The dollar box and the written amount line — the amount, in numbers and in words.
5. Bank name — printed near the lower left, with the bank's logo on many checks.
6. Memo (or For) line — an optional note about what the payment is for.
7. Signature line — where the account holder signs. A voided check should never be signed.

Voided check, deposit slip or bank letter?

Employers and payroll companies usually accept one of three things to set up direct deposit. Ask which one yours accepts before you send anything:

1. A voided check — the most widely accepted, because the numbers are printed in the format your bank uses.
2. A direct deposit form or bank letter — a document from your bank that confirms your name, routing number and account number. This works well for accounts that do not have checks, such as many savings accounts.
3. A deposit slip — accepted by some employers, but not by all, so confirm first.

Common mistakes that delay direct deposit

1. Signing the check or writing over the routing and account numbers, so they can't be read.
2. Sending a photo that cuts off the bottom edge, or one that is blurry or dark.
3. Using the wrong account, such as a checking account number with a savings routing number.
4. Typing the numbers by hand and swapping a digit. Copy them from a check or your online banking instead.
5. Sending a voided check for a closed account, or one that has been replaced by a new account number.

Keeping your banking details safe

Your routing and account numbers are sensitive. Send a voided check only to a payroll or HR contact you trust, through a secure channel where possible. Check your statements for any activity you do not recognize, and tell your bank right away if something looks wrong. Voided checks from this page are kept for 1 year and then permanently deleted, along with your banking details.