How to Void a Check
Learn how to void a check the right way in just a few steps. Covers what pen to use, where to write, common mistakes to avoid, and what to do if you do not have a checkbook.
Voiding a check is one of those things that sounds like it should be obvious, but there is actually a right way and a wrong way to do it. Write too small and someone could still alter the check. Sign it by accident and you have just created a security risk.
A voided check is usually requested when you set up direct deposit at work, enroll in automatic bill payments, or link a bank account to a new service. The check itself is never used as payment. It just gives the other party a reliable way to verify your routing number and account number without the risk of typos.
If you have already written a check and need to know how to write a check properly first, we have a separate guide for that. This one is about making sure a blank check can never be used for anything other than confirming your bank details.
A blank check from your checkbook A blue or black pen (gel pen recommended) A phone or scanner for making a copy A shredder or scissors for disposal
Start with a blank check
Pull a blank check from your checkbook. A voided check should not have anything filled in beforehand. No date, no payee name, no amount, and definitely no signature. If you do not have a checkbook, skip to our alternatives section in the FAQs below. A direct deposit form from your bank, a counter check, or a bank verification letter can take its place.
Grab a blue or black pen
Use a standard ballpoint or pigment-based gel pen in blue or black ink. Pigment-based gel pens are ideal because the ink particles embed into the paper fibers, making them extremely difficult to wash off or alter. Do not use a pencil (it can be erased), a felt-tip marker (ink bleeds through and interferes with bank scanners), or a highlighter.
Good to know: Pigment-based gel pens (like the Uni-ball 207) offer the best fraud protection. The pigment bonds with the paper in a way that resists chemical washing, a technique fraudsters use to alter checks.
Write "VOID" in large letters across the front
Take your pen and write the word VOID in large capital letters across the entire front of the check. Make the letters big enough to cover the payee line, amount line, and date area. You want "VOID" to be unmistakable. Anyone who looks at this check should immediately see that it cannot be used for payment.
Heads up: Do not write over the numbers printed along the bottom edge of the check. Those are your routing number and account number, and whoever receives this voided check needs them to set up your direct deposit or automatic payment.
Do not sign the check
A voided check should never have your signature on it. If the check falls into the wrong hands, a signature makes it easier to alter or misuse, even with VOID written across it. If someone asks why you did not sign it, the answer is simple. A voided check is not a payment. It is just a piece of paper that proves your bank account details.
Make a copy for your records
Before you hand the check over, take a photo or make a photocopy. Store it somewhere safe, like a password-protected folder on your phone or computer. Also record the voided check number in your check register (or a simple note) with the date and what you used it for. This helps you keep track of every check in your book, even the ones that were never cashed.
Submit the voided check
Hand the voided check to your employer, landlord, or whoever requested it. Ask whether you can submit a clear photo or scanned PDF instead of the paper original. If you are submitting it electronically, use a secure method. Upload it through your employer's HR portal or a secure file-sharing service. Do not send a voided check as a plain email attachment. If email is the only option, encrypt the file or use a password-protected PDF. If you are setting up a budget with automatic bill payments, your bank or service provider may also ask for a voided check during enrollment.
Shred the original after use
Once the voided check has been submitted and confirmed, destroy the original. Use a cross-cut shredder if you have one. If not, tear the check into small pieces and make sure to separate the sections that contain your routing number and account number before discarding them. Never toss a voided check into the recycling bin or regular trash. Even with VOID written across it, the account details on the bottom are still perfectly readable.
That is all there is to it. Seven steps, one word, and your check is permanently locked down. If you are ever unsure whether a voided check is necessary, ask whether your bank's online direct deposit form or a bank verification letter would work instead.
Questions we get asked about this
Answers from experience, not a textbook.
Yes, but it depends on whether you still have the check. If the check is in your hands, write "VOID" across both the front and back, since the front already has details filled in. However, if you have already given the check to someone and it has been cashed or deposited, voiding is no longer an option. In that case, contact your bank to place a stop payment order before it clears. Stop payments typically cost $30 to $35 at most major banks, though some (like Wells Fargo) waive the fee entirely.
A voided check cannot be cashed or deposited at a bank. However, the routing and account numbers printed at the bottom are still visible and could theoretically be used to set up unauthorized ACH withdrawals. This is the same risk that comes with writing any regular check. To protect yourself, only give voided checks to trusted parties, submit them through secure channels, and shred the originals once they are no longer needed.
You have several alternatives. Check whether your bank offers a direct deposit authorization form through its online banking portal or mobile app. You can also visit your bank branch and ask for a counter check (a temporary blank check they print on the spot), then void it normally. A bank verification letter on official letterhead with your routing and account numbers works too. Ask whoever requested the check whether one of these will do instead, since Nacha (the organization that governs ACH payments) has stated that voided checks are not required for direct deposit setup.
No. Unlike a regular check that becomes stale after six months, a voided check has no expiration date. It remains valid as a reference document as long as your bank account is still open and the routing and account numbers have not changed. If you voided a check months ago and someone needs it now, it should still work.
Voiding and stopping are two completely different things. Voiding is physical. You write "VOID" on a check you still hold, which makes it permanently unusable for payment. A stop payment is a bank order that prevents a check you have already sent to someone from being processed. Stop payments typically cost $30 to $35, last six months if placed in writing (only 14 days if requested verbally), and must be placed before the check clears. If you need to cancel a check you have already handed over, a stop payment is your only option.
Master Your Money
How to Make a Budget
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How to Write a Check
How to Save Money
How to Negotiate a Salary
How to Calculate Tip
How to Void a Check
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