How to Correctly Send a Check by Mail

Sending a check through the mail remains a common method for various financial transactions, ranging from paying bills to sending monetary gifts. This process requires careful attention to detail to ensure the payment reaches its intended recipient securely and accurately.

Gathering Your Materials

Gather all necessary items before sending a check. This includes a check from your checking account, which serves as a written order instructing your bank to pay a specific amount from your account to the named payee. You will also need a standard business-sized envelope and a current domestic first-class postage stamp.

Have a pen ready, preferably with blue or black ink, as these colors are generally recommended for financial documents due to their permanence and legibility. Obtain the recipient’s full and accurate mailing address, including their name, street address, city, state, and zip code. Finally, ensure you have your own return address information readily available.

Preparing the Check and Envelope

Properly filling out a check is a precise process that helps prevent errors or potential fraud. Begin by writing the current date in the designated field, typically located at the top right corner of the check. Next, write the full legal name of the person or organization receiving the payment on the “Pay To The Order Of” line.

In the small box to the right of the payee line, write the numeric dollar amount clearly, using a decimal point to separate dollars and cents. Directly below the payee line, write out the dollar amount in words, ensuring it matches the numeric amount exactly. For example, “One hundred twenty-three and 00/100” clearly states the payment amount and helps prevent alterations. The memo line, while optional, can be used to include important information such as an account number, invoice number, or a brief description of the payment’s purpose.

Sign the check on the signature line, typically located at the bottom right. Your signature authorizes your bank to release the funds. Once the check is complete, prepare the envelope by writing the recipient’s full mailing address, including their name, street number and name, city, state, and zip code, in the center of the front of the envelope.

Your return address, consisting of your name and full mailing address, should be placed in the top left corner of the envelope. This ensures the mail can be returned to you if it cannot be delivered to the recipient.

Mailing Your Check

After the check is completely filled out and the envelope is properly addressed, carefully fold the check, typically into thirds, so it fits neatly inside the standard business-sized envelope. Once the check is inside, securely seal the envelope flap to ensure its contents remain protected during transit.

Affix a current domestic first-class postage stamp to the top right corner of the envelope. It is advisable to confirm the current rate to avoid postage due issues. Incorrect postage can delay delivery or result in the mail being returned.

Several convenient options are available for mailing the envelope. You can deposit it into a blue United States Postal Service (USPS) collection box. Alternatively, you can drop off the envelope at any local post office during business hours. Another option is to hand the sealed and stamped envelope directly to a uniformed mail carrier during their regular delivery rounds.

Square, oversized, or unusually shaped envelopes may require more postage.