How to complete a money order

Quick insights

• Provide the recipient’s name, your name, your address and any relevant account information in the designated fields when filling out a money order.
• Sign the front of the money order—not the back where the recipient signs— to help confirm its validity.
• If you fill out a money order incorrectly, the recipient may not be able to cash it, and you may need to cancel it and pay for a new one.  

Despite the rise of digital payment apps, you can still send funds via money order. Money orders can be used in many scenarios, from rent payments to utility bills to sending money internationally. While a money order resembles a traditional check, it is a prepaid payment method. Due to this, money orders can’t bounce like checks.  

Filling out a money order correctly can help you avoid fees. Errors like misspelling a name or entering information in the wrong field could mean you’ll need to cancel or replace the money order, which usually requires you to pay a fee.  

Below, we’ve outlined the steps to complete a money order, so that your funds reach the right person or business.

How to fill out a money order

Money orders aren’t available online, so you’ll need to fill them out in person at specific locations (like banks or credit unions). You’ll need to know the amount you want to pay—money orders are typically capped at $1,000—and bring relevant information like the recipient’s full name as it appears on their identification documents and, if paying a bill, your account number.  

Here are the steps to fill out a money order:  

1. Write in the recipient’s name

On the money order, you’ll typically find a line labeled “Pay to the Order Of.” That’s where you’ll put the name of the person or business who will receive the money order.

The recipient listed on this line is the only person or company authorized to cash the money order. Double-check the spelling to help facilitate the cashing process.  

2. Fill in your address in the purchaser section

Another section of the money order is for the purchaser’s information. The purchaser is the person who sends the money order. This section may be labeled as:

• From
• Remitter
• Sender

Fill in your information here so the recipient knows who to contact if they have difficulty cashing the money order.

3. Add your account number if you’re paying a bill

Many service providers accept money orders as payment. Some money orders have a field—usually labeled “Payment For/Account Number”—where you can list your account number, which may help facilitate your bill payment. You can often find your account number on your monthly billing statement.  

If you don’t see this field, you’ll usually have a memo field, which is an acceptable place to put the account number or clarify what the payment is for. For instance, you can write things like “July Rent: 348 Hillcrest LN, APT 2” or “Car repair – Invoice #67890.”

4. Sign the bottom under ‘Purchaser’s Signature’

The money order must be signed by the purchaser before the recipient can cash it. The signature line is generally at the bottom of the money order. Sign this line, not the back of the money order. The back is where the recipient’s signature goes.

5. Hold on to your receipt

There’s a detachable part of the money order that serves as your receipt. The cashier may also give you a separate receipt when you purchase the money order. Keeping these receipts can be helpful if the money order is lost, stolen or filled out incorrectly.

You’ll usually need the receipt to cancel the money order or get it reissued, though some issuers may still cancel it without one. There’s typically a fee for these requests.  

Where to get a money order

You may purchase money orders at the following locations:

• Banks
• Credit unions
• Money order issuers
• U.S. Post Office locations
• Grocery stores
• Big box stores
• Convenience stores  

Banks and credit unions may waive fees if you hold a checking account with them. If you don’t already have one, you may want to consider opening a checking account online or at a local branch in your neighborhood. Checking account fees may be lower than you expect.

Money order issuers may have different rules and fees that apply if a money order is lost or stolen. If you’re concerned about the money order getting lost in transit— such as when sending one internationally—it may be worthwhile to research the policies of any money order issuers you’re considering in advance.  

Pros and cons of money orders

If you’re considering using a money order, it may be helpful to understand the pros and cons of this payment method. This way, you can decide if it’s the right option or look into alternatives like cashier’s checks, digital payment apps, electronic transfers or cash.  

Pros

• Only the recipient listed on the money order can cash it, which may make this payment method preferable to cash in some cases.  
• Unlike personal checks, you won’t need to worry about this prepaid payment method bouncing.  
• You don’t need a checking account to obtain a money order.
• Many countries accept international money orders, making them a popular option for sending money abroad.  
• Money orders tend to be more affordable than cashier’s checks or wire transfers, but prices may vary.

Cons

• You may need to pay a fee to obtain a money order.  
• Money orders typically can’t be ordered online, requiring a visit to a specific location that issues them.
• If you need to cancel a money order or get it reissued, you’ll likely incur a fee.  
• Once a money order has been cashed, you usually cannot recover the funds.
• Money orders generally have a maximum transaction limit of $1,000.

In summary

When filling out a money order, you’ll typically need to provide the recipient’s full name, your name, your address and any relevant account information. You can use the “memo” field as you would on a check, indicating what the payment is for.

On the front of the money order, you’ll need to sign where it says “purchaser’s signature” or similar. The recipient will sign the back of the money order before cashing it. Keeping your receipt may be helpful if the recipient has difficulty cashing the money order or if it’s lost or stolen.  

Banks, credit unions, big box, grocery and convenience stores, money order issuers and U.S. Post Offices are among the locations that generally sell money orders.