Check OCR
Scan checks into rows: payee, date, amount, memo and routing number. LedgerBox reads the amount twice, in numbers and in words, and both have to match.
A sample business check. Switch to see what happens when the two amounts do not agree.
Chase
What you get from one check
Nine fields, one row. Export many checks together and each one is a row in the same CSV.
- Check number
- 1042
- Date
- 2026-03-14
- Payee
- Paper Trail Supplies
- Amount
- 1,850.00
- Written amount
- One thousand eight hundred fifty and 00/100
- Memo
- March supplies
- Bank
- Chase
- Account, last 4
- 4417
- Routing number
- 123456789
check_number,check_date,payee_name,amount,amount_in_words,memo,bank_name,account_number_last4,routing_number 1042,2026-03-14,Paper Trail Supplies,1850.00,One thousand eight hundred fifty and 00/100,March supplies,Chase,4417,123456789
Open it in Excel or Google Sheets. JSON with the same fields is also available.
How to scan checks into Excel
Front of the check, one check per file. Printed and handwritten checks work the same way.
Upload the check
A flatbed scan, a PDF or a phone photo. Upload up to 20 files at a time.
Check the amounts
LedgerBox reads the number box and the written line separately and compares them. If they disagree, the check is flagged and you fix it before export.
Download the CSV
One row per check, with the written amount next to the number. It opens in Excel or Google Sheets.
The written amount has to match the number
Every check says its amount twice. When a scan is hard to read, the two versions almost never go wrong in the same way.
Match
Does not match. Fix the amount to approve this check.
Check images with routing numbers
The line of magnetic ink at the bottom of a check is called the MICR line. It holds the routing number, the account number and the check number, and LedgerBox treats each one differently.
Handwritten checks and phone photos
Who scans checks with LedgerBox
Bookkeepers
A bank statement shows "Check 1042" and an amount, not who it paid. Scan the check to get the payee and memo for that line.
Bank statement converterProperty managers
Turn a stack of rent checks into a list of who paid, how much and when.
LedgerBox for property managersNonprofits
Record donation checks with the donor, amount, date and memo, ready for your donor records.
LedgerBox for nonprofitsIs it safe to upload checks?
Check OCR pricing
10 pagesfree, no card
- Share LedgerBox with a colleague200 free pages
- Starter, 60 pages a month$25 a month
- Pro, from 640 pages a monthfrom $135 a month
Check OCR questions
What is check OCR?
Check OCR reads a scan or photo of a check and turns what is printed and written on it into data: the payee, date, amount, memo and bank details.
How do I scan a check into Excel?
Upload a scan or photo of the front of the check, then download the CSV. It opens in Excel with one row for the check.
What does the amount check do?
A check states its amount in the number box and in words. LedgerBox reads both, turns the words into a number and compares them. If they differ by even a cent, the check is flagged and cannot be approved until you fix it.
Can it read handwritten checks?
Yes. Handwritten payees, dates and amounts are read the same way as printed ones. Anything LedgerBox cannot read with confidence is flagged.
Does it work with a photo of a check?
Yes. Phone photos in JPG, PNG or HEIC work, and so do scans and PDFs.
Which fields come out of a check?
Check number, date, payee, amount, written amount, memo, bank name, the last 4 digits of the account number, and the routing number.
Is the full account number stored?
No. Only the last 4 digits are kept, and no field can hold more. The routing number is kept in full because it names the bank, not your account.
Can I send checks to QuickBooks?
Not directly. Checks export as CSV or JSON. To get the payments into QuickBooks, convert the bank statement and send those rows. Bank statement converter.
Can I scan many checks at once?
Yes. Upload up to 20 files at a time, one check per file. Export them together and each check is a row in one CSV.
Is check OCR free?
Your first 10 pages are free, with no card. Share LedgerBox with a colleague to get 200 free pages. After that, plans start at $25 a month.