How to write an amount on a cheque
- Write the words starting right at the left edge of the line, and end with “only” so nothing can be added: “Rupees One lakh twenty-five thousand only”.
- In the figure box, write it with Indian commas and close it with “/-”: ₹1,25,000/-.
- For paise, write “Rupees Four thousand five hundred and Paise Fifty only”, and ₹4,500.50 in figures.
- The words and the figure must match. If they don’t, the bank can return the cheque.
Lakh and crore vs million and billion
| Number | Indian | International | Zeros |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,00,000 | 1 lakh | 100 thousand | 5 |
| 10,00,000 | 10 lakh | 1 million | 6 |
| 1,00,00,000 | 1 crore | 10 million | 7 |
| 10,00,00,000 | 10 crore | 100 million | 8 |
| 1,00,00,00,000 | 100 crore (1 arab) | 1 billion | 9 |
| 1,00,00,00,00,000 | 1 lakh crore (1 kharab) | 1 trillion | 12 |
The Indian system puts the first comma after three digits and then after every two: 12,34,56,789 is twelve crore thirty-four lakh fifty-six thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. The international system groups in threes: 123,456,789.
Common amounts in words
| Amount | In words |
|---|---|
| ₹1,000 | One thousand rupees |
| ₹5,000 | Five thousand rupees |
| ₹10,000 | Ten thousand rupees |
| ₹15,000 | Fifteen thousand rupees |
| ₹25,000 | Twenty-five thousand rupees |
| ₹50,000 | Fifty thousand rupees |
| ₹75,000 | Seventy-five thousand rupees |
| ₹1,00,000 | One lakh rupees |
| ₹1,50,000 | One lakh fifty thousand rupees |
| ₹2,50,000 | Two lakh fifty thousand rupees |
| ₹5,00,000 | Five lakh rupees |
| ₹10,00,000 | Ten lakh rupees |
| ₹25,00,000 | Twenty-five lakh rupees |
| ₹50,00,000 | Fifty lakh rupees |
| ₹1,00,00,000 | One crore rupees |
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Questions people ask
How do you write 1,50,000 in words?
One lakh fifty thousand rupees. On a cheque: “Rupees One lakh fifty thousand only”.
How many zeros are in 1 crore?
Seven: 1,00,00,000. One lakh has five zeros, and 10 lakh (one million) has six.
How many lakhs make a million?
Ten. 10 lakh = 1 million, and 1 crore = 10 million.
Should I write “and” in the amount?
Both “one thousand two hundred” and “one thousand two hundred and fifty” are accepted by banks. What matters is that the words match the figure and end with “only”.