How to Write Numbers in Words for Cheques (Lakh and Crore)

On an Indian cheque, write the amount in words using the Indian system (thousand, lakh, crore), start right after the printed word "Rupees" and finish with "Only". ₹1,25,000 becomes "One Lakh Twenty-Five Thousand Only", and the figures box reads ₹1,25,000/-. The words and the figures must say exactly the same amount.

The number to words converter writes any whole number up to 999,999,999,999 in both the Indian system and the international system (million, billion). This guide shows how to turn its output into correct cheque wording, how the two systems differ, how to handle paise, and the cheque rules and mistakes that get cheques returned.

What the converter does, and what you add yourself

Type the number as plain digits, without commas or spaces (125000, not 1,25,000), and press Convert. You get three lines: the international wording, the Indian wording, and the number with digit grouping. For 125000 it shows "one hundred twenty five thousand" and, on the Indian line, "one lakh twenty five thousand".

Four things to know before you copy it onto a cheque or form:

• Whole rupees only. The converter drops anything after the decimal point: 2575.50 comes out as "two thousand five hundred seventy five". Write the paise yourself (see below).
• No "Rupees" or "Only". Add them, and capitalise each word if you like: "Rupees Two Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-Five Only".
• No hyphens or "and". It writes "twenty five" and "one hundred one". On a cheque, "Twenty-Five" and "One Hundred One" are the usual forms; British-style "One Hundred and One" is also understood. Pick one style and keep to it.
• Minus signs are ignored. A negative number is converted as if it were positive, which never matters for a cheque.

Indian vs international numbering

The two systems group digits differently. The international system groups in threes: 100,000 and 10,000,000. The Indian system groups the last three digits, then pairs: 1,00,000 (one lakh) and 1,00,00,000 (one crore). A lakh has five zeros and a crore has seven.

Handy equivalents: 10 lakh = 1 million, 1 crore = 10 million, and 100 crore = 1 billion. Above 99,999 crore the converter keeps counting in crore ("ninety nine thousand nine hundred ninety nine crore…"), which is how Indian banks and newspapers write large sums; the old words arab (100 crore) and kharab are rarely used.

Use the Indian system on Indian cheques, demand drafts, bank forms, rent agreements and court papers. Use the international system for invoices to foreign clients and for documents in US dollars or other currencies.

How to write the amount on a cheque, step by step

1. Date: write it in full in the boxes (DD MM YYYY).
2. Payee: the person's or company's name exactly as on their bank account. Strike out "or bearer" so the cheque cannot simply be cashed by whoever holds it, and draw two parallel lines across the top-left corner with "A/c Payee" between them so the money can only be credited to the payee's account.
3. Amount in words: start right next to the printed "Rupees", with no gap, write the Indian wording, end with "Only", and draw a line through any space left on the line.
4. Amount in figures: write the digits right next to the ₹ sign, with Indian commas, and close with "/-" (₹1,25,000/-) so nobody can add digits.
5. Sign exactly as your signature appears in the bank's records.

Some worked examples, using the converter's Indian line with "Rupees … Only" added:

Writing paise

Convert the rupees and the paise separately and join them with "and Paise": ₹2,575.50 is "Rupees Two Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-Five and Paise Fifty Only". In the figures box write ₹2,575.50 (the "/-" mark is only for whole rupees). Where you can, round to whole rupees for cheques; it removes a common source of mismatch.

Cheque rules that affect the amount

• Words win over figures in law, but do not rely on it. Section 18 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 says that if the amount is stated differently in figures and in words, the amount in words is the amount to be paid. In practice a mismatch is a standard reason for a bank to return a cheque unpaid; SBI's list of return reasons includes "amount in words and figures differs".
• No corrections. For cheques cleared through the Cheque Truncation System (CTS), the RBI says no changes or corrections can be made other than to validate the date. Any change to the payee's name, the amount in figures or the amount in words needs a fresh cheque leaf. This has applied since 1 December 2010.
• Three months' validity. Since 1 April 2012, banks do not pay cheques presented more than three months after the date written on them.
• Positive Pay for ₹50,000 and above. Banks offer Positive Pay for cheques of ₹50,000 or more: before the cheque is presented, you send the bank its key details, such as date, payee and amount, through net banking, the mobile app, SMS or the branch, and the bank matches them when the cheque arrives. Banks may make it mandatory for cheques of ₹5 lakh and above.
• Ink. The RBI has not prescribed a particular ink colour. Use a dark pen that does not smudge, because the bank works from a scanned image of the cheque.

Common mistakes

• Mixing the systems. "Twelve Lakh Fifty Thousand" and "One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand" are the same amount, but "Twelve Million Fifty Thousand" mixes them and is wrong. Write the whole amount in one system.
• Miscounting zeros. ₹12,50,000 is twelve lakh fifty thousand, not one lakh twenty-five thousand. Count the digits, or let the converter read it back to you.
• Spelling. The usual slips are "fourty" (forty), "ninty" (ninety), "lack" (lakh) and "thousend". A misspelt amount may be questioned.
• Leaving gaps. Space before or after the words lets someone add "Ninety" in front of "Thousand". Start at the printed "Rupees" and strike through what is left.
• Forgetting "Only" and "/-". Both close the amount so it cannot be extended.
• Writing over a mistake. Overwriting, cutting or correction fluid on the amount makes the cheque unusable; write a new one.

Amounts in words also appear on invoices, receipts and salary certificates. If you bill clients, the invoice generator handles the figures, and our guide to making a professional invoice covers what else an Indian invoice must show. For payments without a cheque, see how to create a UPI QR code. Need Roman numerals for a document or clock face? Use the Roman numeral converter.

Frequently asked questions

How do I write 1,50,000 in words on a cheque?

"Rupees One Lakh Fifty Thousand Only", with ₹1,50,000/- in the figures box. In the international system the same number is one hundred fifty thousand.

Should I write "lakh" or "lakhs"?

Both are seen and understood. "Lakh" and "crore" in the singular ("Ten Lakh", "Two Crore") is the more common written form and matches what the converter produces.

How many zeros are in a lakh and a crore?

A lakh is 1,00,000 (five zeros) and a crore is 1,00,00,000 (seven zeros). Ten lakh make a million, and a crore is ten million.

What happens if the words and figures do not match?

Under Section 18 of the Negotiable Instruments Act the amount in words prevails, but the bank may simply return the cheque for the mismatch. Write a fresh cheque rather than trying to fix it.

Can I correct a mistake on a cheque?

No. Under the RBI's CTS rules, only the date may be validated; a change to the payee or the amount needs a new cheque leaf. Write "Cancelled" across the spoilt leaf and keep it for your records.

Sources: Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, section 18 (India Code); RBI FAQ on cheque clearing (January 2026) and CTS-2010 standard circular (22 June 2010); RBI circular on the validity period of cheques (4 November 2011); RBI circular on the Positive Pay System (25 September 2020); SBI list of cheque return reasons. Examples generated with EthicalFusion's number to words converter.