Number to Words (Indian Format)
Write any amount in words, in the lakh and crore system.
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Commas, a ₹ sign and a decimal point are all accepted.
Grouped
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In words
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Title case
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Cheque wording
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How to use Number to Words
- Type or paste the number. Commas, a rupee sign and a decimal point are all fine.
- Choose the Indian system for lakh and crore, or the international one for million and billion.
- Read the three versions: plain words, title case, and the cheque wording with paise and "Only" at the end.
- Press Copy next to whichever line you need.
Indian and international systems
The two systems group digits differently, which is why the same number reads so differently in each. The Indian system groups in two digits after the first three, giving thousand, lakh and crore. So 12,34,567 is "twelve lakh thirty-four thousand five hundred and sixty-seven". The international system groups in threes, giving thousand, million and billion. The same number is 1,234,567 there, and reads "one million two hundred and thirty-four thousand five hundred and sixty-seven".
Writing a cheque
The cheque line follows banking convention. It starts with "Rupees", uses title case, adds the paise when there are any, and ends with "Only" so nothing can be added after it. For ₹1,234.50 that gives "Rupees One Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty-Four and Fifty Paise Only".
Write the same amount in figures in the box, draw a line through any space left over, and keep the words and figures in agreement. A bank will return a cheque where they disagree.
A worked example
Type 1234567.50 and you get 12,34,567.50 grouped, "twelve lakh thirty-four thousand
five hundred and sixty-seven" in words, and the full cheque line with the paise attached. Switch
to the international system and both the grouping and the wording change, while the number stays
the same.
Limits worth knowing
- Numbers up to 1015 are supported, which is far beyond any cheque.
- Paise are rounded to two decimal places, as a bank would. Anything past the second decimal cannot be written in rupees.
- The output is English wording. Devanagari numerals and Hindi number words are a different problem, and not what a cheque in India is written in anyway.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Indian and international systems?
How the digits are grouped. The Indian system groups in twos after the first three, so 12,34,567 reads as twelve lakh thirty-four thousand. The international system groups in threes, so the same number is 1,234,567 and reads as one million.
How should I write an amount on a cheque?
Start with "Rupees", write the amount in words, add the paise if there are any, and finish with "Only" so nothing can be added after. Write the figures in the box too, and draw a line through any space left over.
What if the words and figures disagree on a cheque?
The bank will usually return it unpaid. That is why the amount is written twice. Copy the line from here instead of retyping it, and the two cannot drift apart.
How large a number can it handle?
Up to a thousand lakh crore, far beyond anything you will write on a cheque or a contract.
How are paise handled?
Rounded to two decimal places, as a bank would. Rs 1,234.50 becomes "Rupees One Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty-Four and Fifty Paise Only".