Text Tools
Number to Words Converter
Convert numbers to written words instantly. Spell out numbers for checks, legal documents, essays, and formal writing. Supports integers and decimals up to trillions.
Use Number to Words Converter to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
Your results will appear here.
About this tool
Converting numbers to words is essential for formal documents, legal contracts, check writing, and academic papers. Writing "One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars" on a check prevents fraud and alterations. Legal documents spell out amounts to avoid ambiguity. Academic writing often requires numbers under 10 (or 100) to be written as words per style guides like APA, MLA, or Chicago Manual of Style.
Our Number to Words Converter handles any number from zero to 999 trillion, plus decimal values. It follows standard American English conventions: uses "and" before cents/decimals, includes hyphens in compound numbers (twenty-one), and properly handles commas in large numbers. The tool supports multiple formats: standard words, currency format with "dollars and cents," and ordinal numbers (1st → first, 2nd → second, 3rd → third).
The converter is particularly useful for: Writing checks (spell out payment amount), filling out legal forms and contracts (property values, loan amounts), academic writing (following style guide rules), creating invoices and receipts, financial reports and statements, and any formal document where numbers must be spelled out for clarity and legal purposes.
Unlike simple converters that only handle small numbers, our tool processes numbers up to 999 trillion, handles negative numbers correctly, converts decimal places accurately, and provides proper hyphenation and spacing. It even includes a character count feature to help with forms that have space limits for written amounts.
Usage examples
Writing a Check
Convert $1,234.56 to words for check
Input: 1234.56 (Currency mode). Output: "One Thousand Two Hundred Thirty-Four Dollars and Fifty-Six Cents"
Legal Document Amount
Spell out property value
Input: 450000. Output: "Four Hundred Fifty Thousand" or "Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars" in currency mode
Small Numbers for Essay
Write numbers under 10 as words
Input: 7. Output: "Seven" - Following AP style that numbers 0-9 should be spelled out in text
Ordinal Numbers
Convert ranking or position
Input: 21 (Ordinal mode). Output: "Twenty-First" - Used for dates, rankings, race positions
Large Number
Convert millions or billions
Input: 5000000000. Output: "Five Billion" - For financial reports, government budgets
How to use
- Enter any number in the input field (supports up to trillions)
- Choose the format: Standard, Currency (dollars), or Ordinal (first, second, third)
- Optionally select "Title Case" for capitalized words
- Click "Convert" to see the number spelled out in words
- Copy the result for use in checks, legal documents, or formal writing
- Decimal numbers are automatically converted with "and" separator
Benefits
- Convert any number up to 999 trillion instantly
- Perfect for check writing - prevents fraud and alterations
- Legal document compliance - unambiguous amount representation
- Academic style guide adherence (APA, MLA, Chicago)
- Currency mode with automatic "dollars and cents" formatting
- Ordinal mode for dates, rankings, and positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
- Proper hyphenation for compound numbers (twenty-one)
- Title case option for formal documents
- Handles negative numbers and decimals correctly
- Character count to check form space limits
- Free, no registration required
- Works offline, 100% private
FAQs
How do I write dollar amounts in words on a check?
Write the dollar amount in words with the first letter capitalized, then add "and" before the cents written as a fraction over 100. Example: $1,234.56 becomes "One Thousand Two Hundred Thirty-Four and 56/100." Our currency mode automatically formats this correctly. Always match the words to the numerical amount in the box to prevent check fraud.
When should numbers be spelled out in writing?
Common rules: (1) Numbers zero through nine (or ten) in running text. (2) Numbers at the beginning of a sentence. (3) All amounts in legal documents and contracts. (4) Check amounts (to prevent alteration). (5) Approximate or casual amounts ("a thousand times"). However, use numerals for: statistics, percentages, dates, times, addresses, measurements, and page numbers. Always follow your specific style guide (AP, APA, MLA, Chicago).
How do you write ordinal numbers in words?
Ordinal numbers indicate position or rank: 1st = first, 2nd = second, 3rd = third, 4th = fourth, etc. For compound ordinals, only the last word takes the ordinal form: 21st = twenty-first, 52nd = fifty-second, 103rd = one hundred third. Use ordinal words for: dates (the fifth of May), centuries (twenty-first century), rankings (finished second), and sequences (the third quarter).
Should I use a hyphen in compound numbers?
Yes, hyphenate compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine when writing them out: twenty-one, thirty-seven, eighty-nine, etc. Also hyphenate compound fractions: two-thirds, three-quarters, forty-five hundredths. Do NOT hyphenate at hundred, thousand, million: "one hundred," "five thousand three hundred forty-two." Our converter follows these rules automatically.
How do you write negative numbers in words?
Prefix with "negative" or "minus": -50 = "negative fifty" or "minus fifty." For temperatures, use "minus" (-10°F = "minus ten degrees"). For financial debts, write "negative" (-$500 = "negative five hundred dollars"). In spoken form, "negative" is more common; in mathematical contexts, "minus" is standard.
Can this convert decimal numbers to words?
Yes! The converter handles decimals properly. For standard numbers, it uses "point" (3.14 = "three point one four"). For currency, it uses "and" with cents (3.14 dollars = "three dollars and fourteen cents"). For percentages, convert the percent value (0.05 = 5% = "five percent"). Very small decimals are read digit by digit after the decimal point.
How do style guides differ on writing numbers?
AP Style: Spell out numbers one through nine, use numerals for 10+. APA Style: Spell out numbers zero through nine, numerals for 10+ (with exceptions for measurements). Chicago Style: Spell out numbers one through one hundred, round numbers (two thousand), and any number at sentence start. MLA: Similar to Chicago but more flexible. Always spell out numbers at sentence beginnings, regardless of style. Legal/Business: Spell out all significant amounts.
What is the largest number this converter supports?
The converter handles numbers up to 999,999,999,999,999 (999 trillion, 999 billion, 999 million, 999 thousand, 999). This covers all practical needs for checks (max check amounts rarely exceed millions), legal documents (property values, business deals), and financial reporting. Larger numbers (quadrillions, quintillions) are rarely needed in everyday documents but follow the same pattern.
Related tools
View all toolsCamel Case Converter
Convert text to camelCase, PascalCase, snake_case, kebab-case, or CONSTANT_CASE instantly. Perfect for programming variable names, API endpoints, and code formatting with our free case converter.
Text ToolsCase Converter
Convert text to UPPERCASE, lowercase, Title Case, Sentence case, or aLtErNaTiNg CaSe instantly. Fix text formatting in seconds with our free online case converter tool.
Text ToolsCharacter Counter
Count characters, words, sentences, and paragraphs instantly. Perfect for Twitter/X (280 chars), SMS (160 chars), meta descriptions (160 chars), and social media character limits.
Text Tools