This free number to words converter spells out an amount the way you need it: in the Indian system with lakh and crore, or in the international system with million and billion. It also gives a cheque-ready line in Rupees and Paise.
How to use the number to words converter
- Type a number. Whole numbers up to 99 crore 99 lakh (99,99,99,999) are supported, and you can add up to two decimal places for paise.
- Read the result in the Indian system (thousand, lakh, crore) and the international system (thousand, million, billion).
- Use the cheque format for a line such as Rupees … and … Paise Only.
- Check the number with Indian comma grouping, such as 12,34,56,789, and press a Copy button to copy any result.
The Indian numbering system
In India, the first comma comes after three digits from the right, and after that a comma comes every two digits. That is why ten lakh is written 10,00,000 and not 1,000,000. The two big names to remember are the lakh and the crore:
| Indian name | Indian grouping | International grouping | International name |
|---|---|---|---|
| One thousand | 1,000 | 1,000 | One thousand |
| One lakh | 1,00,000 | 100,000 | One hundred thousand |
| Ten lakh | 10,00,000 | 1,000,000 | One million |
| One crore (100 lakh) | 1,00,00,000 | 10,000,000 | Ten million |
| Ten crore | 10,00,00,000 | 100,000,000 | One hundred million |
| Hundred crore | 1,00,00,00,000 | 1,000,000,000 | One billion |
So a flat priced at ₹85,50,000 is eighty-five lakh fifty thousand rupees in India, and eight million five hundred fifty thousand in the international system. The digits are the same; only the grouping and the names change.
Writing an amount on a cheque
Banks compare the amount in figures with the amount in words, so the two must match. The cheque format follows the common Indian style. For example, ₹12,345.50 becomes:
Rupees Twelve Thousand Three Hundred Forty-Five and Fifty Paise Only- Start close to the word “Rupees” printed on the cheque, and leave no wide gaps between words.
- End with “Only” so nobody can add more words after the amount.
- Draw a line through any empty space left on the amount line.
- Write the figures right next to the ₹ sign, for example ₹12,345.50, so no digit can be squeezed in front.
- Do not overwrite or correct the amount. If you make a mistake, cancel the cheque and write a new one.
Tip: Paise are the hundredths of a rupee, so only two decimal places make sense. 12.5 means 12 rupees and 50 paise, not 5 paise.
Where else this is useful
Invoices, receipts, rent agreements, salary letters and legal documents in India often show the amount in words as well as figures. The GST invoice generator on this site already adds the amount in words for you.
If you build forms or reports yourself, JavaScript can format numbers with Indian grouping using Intl.NumberFormat and the en-IN locale. It formats digits only; turning a number to words needs your own code, as in our lessons on JavaScript functions and arrays.
const inr = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-IN');
console.log(inr.format(123456789)); // 12,34,56,789
console.log(inr.format(8550000)); // 85,50,000Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How many lakhs make one crore?
One crore is 100 lakh, which is 1,00,00,000 or ten million.
How many lakhs make one million?
One million is 10 lakh (10,00,000). One billion is 100 crore.
Should I write "Lakh" or "Lakhs" on a cheque?
Both are seen in practice, but the singular “Lakh” after a number, as in “Five Lakh”, is the usual style, just as you write “Five Thousand” and not “Five Thousands”.
Is "Only" required at the end?
It is a widely followed custom on Indian cheques and invoices because it closes the amount and stops anyone adding to it. Banks expect the words to match the figures.