Cheque amount in words: euros and cents

This tool writes a euro amount in words, ready to copy onto the "pay" line of a cheque or into a contract, invoice or receipt that asks for the sum in words. It also works backwards: paste an amount written in words to recover the figures and confirm that both versions match. It writes euro amounts only, which is what euro cheques in Ireland and across the euro area use.

The amount is split into euros (the whole part) and cents (two decimals, rounded to the nearest cent). For 1,234.56 you get "one thousand two hundred thirty-four euros and fifty-six cents". The singular is used for one: 1.05 becomes "one euro and five cents". An amount without cents is written without the cents part, and 0.99 gives "zero euros and ninety-nine cents".

Large numbers use the short scale: one billion is 10^9 and the tool accepts amounts up to 999,999,999,999. Compound numbers between 21 and 99 are hyphenated ("twenty-one", "ninety-six"). The tool writes "one hundred one" rather than "one hundred and one", which is the American style also common on cheques; you can add "and" by hand if your bank prefers it.

When words and figures disagree, the words normally win. This is the rule of the 1931 Geneva uniform law on cheques in the countries that adopted it, and of section 9 of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882, which still applies in Ireland. Banks may nonetheless refuse a cheque with a discrepancy, so check both before signing.

To prevent alteration, start the words at the far left of the line, leave no gap, and draw a line through any remaining space. Do the same around the figures. Only euro cheques are covered here: for other currencies, use the number mode and add the currency name yourself.