How to Get a Voided Check: 5 Ways (Most Are Free)

Bottom line: A voided check is one of your own checks with the word VOID written across the front. It has no dollar amount and cannot be cashed, but it still shows your account number and routing number (the nine-digit number that identifies your bank), so a company can set up direct deposit or automatic payments. There are five ways to get one, and most cost nothing.

You are usually asked for a voided check when setting up direct deposit for a paycheck, turning on autopay for rent or a utility bill, or arranging an ACH transfer (ACH just means an electronic bank-to-bank payment). Here is every method, from the fastest free option to the paid ones.

1. Write VOID on a check you already have

This is the simplest way, and it is free. If you own a checkbook, pull out any blank check. Grab a pen with dark ink (black or blue) and write VOID in large letters across the front.

Keep the numbers along the bottom readable. Those are the whole reason you are sending the check. Do not sign it, and do not fill in the date or amount. For the exact steps and the mistakes that get a check rejected, see our guide on how to actually void the check.

Snap a photo or make a copy before you hand it over, so you have a record of who received your account details.

2. Ask your bank or credit union

No checkbook? Your bank can help, either at a branch or over the phone. This is usually free, or a couple of dollars at most.

At a branch, ask a teller for a counter check. That is a single check they print for you on the spot with your name and account numbers already on it. Bring a government photo ID such as a driver's license. Ask them to stamp or write VOID on it so there is no doubt about its purpose.

Over the phone, tell them you are setting up direct deposit. Many banks will mail you a check or point you to a direct deposit form, which is covered further down.

3. Print one from online banking

Many banks and credit unions let you download what you need straight from their website or app, often for free. Log in and look for a section called Documents, Forms, or Account Services.

You are usually looking for one of two things:

• A pre-filled direct deposit form, which is an official PDF with your routing and account numbers already on it.
• A sample or specimen check image you can print.

Not every bank offers this. If yours does, it is often the quickest free route, because you can email the file the moment you download it.

4. Use an online voided check generator

If you have no checks, do not want to visit a branch, and your bank has no printable form, an online generator makes one in about a minute. You type in your bank name, routing number, account number, and your name and address, and it produces a clean voided check as a PDF you can print or email.

This option is not free. Our tool charges a one-time $14.95. It earns its keep when you are in a hurry and the free routes are not open to you. You can create a voided check and have the PDF in hand right away.

Whatever generator you use, double-check the routing and account numbers before you download. A single wrong digit is the most common reason a voided check gets rejected.

5. Use an accepted alternative

You do not always need an actual check. Many employers and companies accept substitutes that carry the same account details.

• Direct deposit form: A short form, from your employer or bank, where you write your routing and account numbers. Employers hand these out during onboarding all the time.
• Bank letter: A signed letter from your bank, on its letterhead, confirming your account and routing numbers. Ask a branch or call customer service. This helps when a company specifically wants proof from the bank.
• Bank statement: Some payroll teams accept a recent statement that shows your name and account number. Leave off anything you do not need to share.

Ask what the requester accepts before you go get one. It can save you a second trip.

Which method should you pick?

If you have a checkbook, method one is instant and free. If you do not, check your online banking first, then ask your bank. Reach for the online generator when speed matters and the free options are not available to you. And if the person asking will take a direct deposit form or a bank letter, that is often the easiest path of all.

Get any of these accepted the first time

• Never sign a voided check. The signature line is what authorizes payment, so leave it blank.
• Keep the routing and account numbers clear and easy to read.
• Make your name match the name on your other paperwork. A small mismatch like "Jen" versus "Jennifer" can trip up an automated payroll system.
• Send digital copies as a PDF to a verified address, such as an official company email, not a personal one. Never post a check image on social media.

Before you send anything, confirm with the employer or company that they accept the format you are using. Most take a clear photo or PDF, but a few still want the physical paper.