What Color Pen Should Be Used When Writing Checks

The Best Pens for Writing Checks

Even in this age of electronic transactions, checks remain indispensable for paying small businesses that don't accept credit cards or online payments. There are much better options for filling them out than the random ballpoint you're offered when it's time to pay, however. Keep reading to learn what to look for in a check-writing pen and see our picks for the best pens for writing checks.

Hand holding a Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen.

Before and after of a check written with the Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, dipped in acetone. The ink showed no effect.

Before and after of a check written with the Uni-ball Signo, dipped in acetone.

The Uni-ball Signo is the check-writing pen of your dreams. Its reliably smooth ink can keep up no matter how quickly you scribble your signature, and it makes a vivid line for easy scanning. In addition to providing an excellent writing experience, the Signo's ink can rebuff check washers and accidents alike with its fraud-resistant, waterproof ink. The black Signo was entirely unaffected by acetone, rubbing alcohol, and mineral spirits in our tests. We also performed informal tests with a selection of the Signo's off-black colors against acetone. Some ran slightly, but all remained entirely legible.

You can find Signo ink in several different pens, including the ever-popular Uni-ball Signo UM-151, classy Uni Pure Malt Gel Pen, and handy Uni Style Fit Multi Pen gel refills. No matter your style, you're sure to find a pen you like.

Considerations

Water Resistance

A check with water spots on it, showing that the ink has run.

Always write checks with waterproof or water-resistant ink.

We recommend always using pens with waterproof or water-resistant ink to write checks. It might not be the end of the world if you had to rewrite a water-damaged check, but it could be very inconvenient.

Check Washing Resistance

Two checks written with Uni-ball Signo ink and standard ballpoint ink, dipped in acetone. The ballpoint ink has run, but the Signo ink has not.

Checks written with Uni-ball Signo ink (left) and standard ballpoint ink (right), dipped in acetone.

A lot of check fraud these days is digital, but criminals still commit fraud using physical checks as well. Fraudsters may steal checks from your mailbox or other location, or even take advantage of checks you used to pay them. Once they have your check, criminals use solvents to "wash" the ink you used from the check and alter the information in their favor.

To prevent check washing, use pens that are resistant to solvents. Contrary to popular belief, most ballpoint pens are poor check-writing pens. Standard ballpoint ink is a mixture of alcohols and fatty acids, colored with dyes. When exposed to common solvents like rubbing alcohol and acetone, it simply melts away.

Instead, choose pens that use pigment ink. These inks contain tiny particles of color that get stuck between the paper fibers as you write. This makes them very difficult to remove. Gel ink is usually made with pigment, so a gel pen is the safest bet if you're not sure what type of ink a particular pen uses. Pigment, iron gall, and Noodler's Bulletproof fountain pen inks are also effective.

Do not use the Pilot FriXion or other erasable gel pens to write checks. Even if no one deliberately erases them, the ink will disappear if exposed to high temperatures.

The best pens for writing checks are:	The worst pens for writing checks are:
Gel pens. Other pigment-based pens. Pigment and iron gall fountain pen inks. Noodler's Bulletproof fountain pen inks.	Standard ballpoint pens. Other dye-based pens. Erasable gel pens. Dye-based fountain pen inks.

Ink Color

A check written in red-black ink.

Always write checks with dark ink that will scan clearly.

Checks do not have to be written in black or blue ink. Banks may ask that you do so, but as far as US law is concerned, using your favorite sparkling green ink does not make your check invalid. That said, black is the best color for writing checks. If you must use other colors, restrict your self-expression to dark colors that will scan clearly.

The reason dark ink colors are best is the way banks process checks. When you deposit a check, a high-speed scanner generates an image of the check. The image is used in place of the paper check and the original is nearly always destroyed. This system makes check processing much faster, but it also means that there is no way to confirm what was written on the check if the image is unclear.

A check written in a light or bright color like red, orange, or green may be deposited without difficulty, but it may also be hard to read or appear blank when scanned. This can delay or prevent the processing of your check. In some cases, it could trigger a fraud alert. Using black ink is an easy way to avoid these problems.

The best ink colors for writing checks are:	The worst ink colors for writing checks are:
Black. Dark, easily scannable colors.	Light colors. Bright colors.

Writing Pressure

Pencil rubbed over the signature line of a check, clearly showing the indentations of a signature.

Use smooth-writing pens to keep your signature from indenting the check beneath.

It's not just a device from detective shows—if someone were to steal your checkbook, they could rub a pencil over the signature line of the next check to see exactly how you write your name. Pens that require heavier pressure to write are more likely to mark the check beneath, so we recommend choosing smooth-writing pens to minimize this risk. If your checkbook includes duplicate checks, however, you will need to use more pressure to make an effective carbon copy for your records.

Tip Size

A check written with a fine-tip pen.

Use fine-tip pens to ensure that you don't run out of room.

There is limited space to write out the amount and payee on each check, so it's best to choose pens with relatively fine tips. Your writer still pays rent by check and has found that pens with 0.5 mm tips or smaller are best to ensure that the full amount fits on the line.

Recommendations

Hand holding a Sakura Gelly Roll Classic Gel Pen.

Before and after of a check written with the Sakura Gelly Roll Classic Gel Pen, dipped in acetone. The ink showed no effect.

You didn't think the Gelly Roll was just for crafting, did you? All colors of the Gelly Roll Classic are archival, but the black, blue, royal blue, purple, and burgundy pens have extra fraud resistance that makes them especially good for writing checks. Gelly Roll ink simply did not budge when we tested it against acetone, rubbing alcohol, or mineral spirits.

If you're not a fan of the Gelly Roll's super-straight, capped style, try the Sakura Ballsign Knock and Sakura Ballsign 4*1 Multi Pen. The Ballsign is the Japanese version of the Gelly Roll and features the same great ink.

Hand holding a Uni-ball Eye Rollerball Pen.

Before and after of a check written with the Uni-ball Eye Rollerball Pen, dipped in acetone. The ink showed no effect.

Before and after of a check written with the Uni-ball Eye, dipped in acetone.

The classic Uni-ball Eye is delightfully smooth and pigmented, and features a handy viewing window so that you never unexpectedly run out of ink. It was entirely unaffected by acetone, rubbing alcohol, and mineral spirits in our tests. Other Uni-ball rollerballs tested just as well, so they are all safe choices if you prefer their style.

Hand holding a Sakura Pigma Micron Pen.

The Sakura Micron is an art kit staple that was developed with museum archivists in mind. Its permanent, deeply pigmented ink scans easily and is highly fraud resistant. This makes it a great choice for writing checks as well as casting ballots. The Micron showed no effect from our tests. As a drawing pen, it is available in wonderfully fine tip sizes and requires almost no pressure at all to write. This means that there's no danger of it marking the blank checks beneath the one you're writing on.

If you like Sakura Pigma ink but find the Micron's fineliner tip too delicate, try the Sakura Pigma Micron PN. This everyday version of the Sakura Micron features a sturdy plastic tip that is more forgiving of writing pressure.

Hand holding a Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Pen.

Before and after of a check written with the Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Pen, dipped in acetone. The ink bled but remained easy to read.

Before and after of a check written with the Uni Jetstream, dipped in acetone.

Most ballpoint pens are not suitable for check writing because their alcohol-based ink makes them acutely vulnerable to common solvents. The Uni Jetstream is a delightful exception. Not only is it a pleasure to use, but it was the only ballpoint pen we tested that resisted our check-washing attempts. The ink did bleed when exposed to acetone and rubbing alcohol, but a strong core of clear writing remained undisturbed on the paper. Mineral spirits had no effect on Jetstream ink.

Hand holding a Zebra Sarasa Mark On Gel Pen.

The Zebra Sarasa Mark On is a special version of the popular Zebra Sarasa Push Clip that was formulated to almost never smear when highlighted. Its ink is waterproof, passed our fraud tests with flying colors, and dries quickly—within five seconds for the 0.4 mm tip, and 10 seconds for the 0.5 mm tip. This makes it a great check-writing and general-use pen for lefties and righties alike.

Hand holding a pen filled with Noodler's Heart of Darkness.

Before and after of a check written with Noodler's Heart of Darkness, dipped in acetone. The ink showed no effect.

Noodler's Heart of Darkness performed perfectly in our tests, which is hardly surprising: as a member of Noodler's line of Bulletproof inks, Heart of Darkness was made with fraud prevention in mind. Rather than using pigments, Bulletproof inks are made with special dyes that bind to the cellulose found in paper. All are resistant to water, UV light, bleach, and other solvents used in fraud. Heart of Darkness is also exceptionally dark, which means that it should show up very well when scanned. Check out our Guide to Noodler's Fountain Pen Inks to learn more about Bulletproof inks.

Hand holding a pen filled with Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin.

Before and after of a check written with Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin, dipped in acetone. The ink showed no effect.

If you want to be absolutely sure that no one can forge your checks or other important documents, keep a pen charged with Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin and use it for every check, signature, and form. It is part of Noodler's line of Warden Forgery-Resistant inks. In addition to the protection offered by all Bulletproof Noodler's inks, Warden inks also resist removal by lasers. Is a laser-wielding forger likely to come after your checks? No. But if one does, you'll be ready.

Noodler's Warden inks' fraud resistance also extends to verifying original documents, so they're ideal for signing legal documents. The inks are typically mixed on a per-bottle basis and contain special signature chemicals that age over time. Since no two bottles of ink are the same, even the most convincing forgery can be identified through forensic analysis.

Compare These Pens & Inks

Our writers draw on their personal expertise, consult our in-house subject matter experts, and do extensive research to make our guides as accurate and comprehensive as possible. We then test every finding that makes it through the research stage. Only the techniques and tools whose performance we personally confirm make it into our guides as recommendations.

Conclusion

Do you have a go-to pen for writing checks? Let us know what it is in the comments below! You can also find more great pen picks in our Best Pens Guide.

Name	Tip Sizes	Water Resistance	Fraud Prevention Claim
Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin Fountain Pen Ink	N/A	Water resistant	Yes
Noodler's Heart of Darkness Fountain Pen Ink	N/A	Water resistant	Yes
Sakura Gelly Roll Classic Gel Pens	0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm	Waterproof	Yes
Sakura Pigma Micron Pens	003, 005, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 08, 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm	Waterproof	Yes
Uni-ball Eye Rollerball Pens	0.5 mm	Water resistant	Yes
Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Pens	0.38 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 1.0 mm	Waterproof	Yes
Uni-ball Signo Gel Pens	0.28 mm, 0.38 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm	Waterproof	Yes
Zebra Sarasa Mark On Gel Pens	0.4 mm, 0.5 mm	Waterproof	No