Free printable check register

A clean one-page register with 26 lines. Type into it, or print it blank and fill it in by hand.

Click any box to type before you print, or print it blank and fill it in by hand.

Check register

Account name:

Month and year:

Starting balance:

Check #	Date	Payee or description	Payment (-)	Deposit (+)	Cleared	Balance

Balance = previous balance - payment + deposit. Tick Cleared when the item shows on your bank statement.

A check register is the notebook that keeps your checkbook honest. It records every check and deposit and the balance after each one, so you always know what you can spend even before the bank has processed your checks. The sheet above is free to print as often as you like.

How to use the register

Start with your balance. Write today's account balance in the Starting balance box. Use the balance from your bank's website or latest statement.
Record each check when you write it. Fill in the check number, the date, who it is for, and the amount in the Payment column. Doing it straight away is what stops a check from being forgotten.
Record each deposit. Put the amount in the Deposit column with the date and a short note, such as the customer or the source.
Update the balance on every line. Take the balance from the line above, subtract the payment, add the deposit, and write the result in the Balance column.
Tick items as they clear. When your bank statement arrives, tick the Cleared box for every item that appears on it.

How to check your register against the bank statement

Your bank balance and your register balance are rarely the same, because checks you have written but not yet cashed have not left the account. To match them, start with the statement's ending balance, subtract every check in your register that is not ticked as cleared, and add any deposits you made that the statement does not show yet. The answer should equal the balance on your last register line. If it is off, look for a transposed number, a check recorded for the wrong amount, or an item written down twice. Our guide to reconciling printed checks with a bank statement walks through it with an example.

Want the register to fill itself in?

If you print your own checks, a paper register means entering every check twice. Check Writer 123 saves each check you print with its payee, amount, date and check number in a searchable register, so there is nothing to copy. You can print a register report for any month, filter it by bank account, and download it as a spreadsheet file. Setup takes about ten minutes, and you can try it free for 14 days with no card.

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Check register questions

What is a check register?

A check register is a running record of every check you write and every deposit you make, with the balance after each entry. It shows what is in your account once all your checks clear, which your bank balance alone does not.

How do I fill out a check register?

For each check, write the check number, the date, who it was paid to, and the amount in the Payment column. For a deposit, use the Deposit column. Then work out the new balance: take the previous balance, subtract payments and add deposits.

How do I balance a check register with my bank statement?

Tick each item in your register that appears on the statement, then add up the ones that have not cleared. Take the statement's ending balance, subtract the checks that are still outstanding, add any deposits not yet shown, and the result should equal your register balance.

Can I type into the register before printing?

Yes. Click any box in the register above, type your entries, and press the print button. Only the register prints, without the rest of the page. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere, so print it before you leave the page.

Is there a way to keep a check register automatically?

Yes. Check Writer 123 saves every printed check with its payee, amount, date and number in a searchable register, prints a register report for any month, and downloads everything as a spreadsheet file. There is a 14-day free trial with no card needed.