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Free check register template

Download a free check register for Excel or as a CSV, or print a blank check transaction register. Enter an opening balance and the spreadsheet keeps a running balance, totals uncleared items and shows the balance you should see on your bank statement.

Updated October 23, 2026 · Aequo editorial team

Download the check register template

The spreadsheet has an opening-balance row, 60 transaction rows with a running balance, and a reconciliation block at the bottom.

Download for Excelxlsx Download CSVcsv

Columns: date, check number or reference, payee or description, category, payment, deposit, cleared, balance. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets (File, Import), Numbers and LibreOffice.

Printable check transaction register

One page, 25 lines. Print as many copies as you need.

Check register

Account: ______________________Page: _____

Date	Check # / ref	Payee or description	Payment (−)	Deposit (+)	✓	Balance
		Balance forward

Check register template from Aequo (free to use and adapt)

How to use a check register

Start from a known balance, record every payment and deposit as it happens, and reconcile against the bank statement each month.

Enter the opening balance. Start with the balance on your last bank statement, or the balance when you open the account.
Record every transaction. For each check, card payment, transfer or deposit, enter the date, check number or reference, payee and amount.
Keep the running balance. Subtract each payment and add each deposit. The spreadsheet versions do this for you.
Mark cleared items. When a transaction appears on your bank statement, mark it cleared (the spreadsheet uses an x).
Reconcile monthly. Register balance + uncleared payments − uncleared deposits should equal the statement balance. Investigate any difference.

Worked example: reconciling the register

Uncleared checks are added back and deposits in transit are taken off, which turns the register balance into the balance the bank should show.

Register balance at month end: $8,450.
Checks written but not yet cleared: #1042 for $1,200 and #1045 for $300, so $1,500.
Deposit recorded on the 31st, not yet on the statement: $2,000.
Expected statement balance = $8,450 + $1,500 − $2,000 = $7,950.

If the statement shows a different figure, look for bank fees, interest, a missed entry or a transposed amount.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a check register?

A check register is a running log of every payment and deposit on a bank account, with a balance after each entry. It shows what you have available once checks you have written but the bank has not yet paid are taken into account.

How do you balance a check register?

Start from the register balance, add back payments that have not cleared the bank, and subtract deposits that have not cleared. The result should equal your bank statement balance. If it does not, look for missing entries, bank fees, interest, or transposed numbers.

Is there a printable check register?

Yes. Print the blank check transaction register on this page; it has 25 lines per page with date, check number, payee, payment, deposit, cleared and balance columns. Print as many pages as you need.

Do businesses still need a check register?

If you write checks, yes: a check can take days or weeks to clear, so the bank balance alone overstates the cash you have. Most businesses record the same information in their accounting software, which keeps the register when bills are paid there.

Should I record debit card and online payments too?

Yes. Record every transaction that touches the account, including card payments, transfers, fees and deposits, or the running balance will drift away from the bank.