How to fill out a money order correctly – avoid common mistakes
A money order lets you pay someone securely without writing a check or exposing your bank account. People often use it for rent, small monthly charges, or any payment where they want a paper record. It’s straightforward to buy, but the form leaves no room for error. A missing name, a misplaced signature, or a blank field can make the whole thing unusable.
This guide walks through how to fill out a money order from start to finish. It covers the information you need, the steps to complete each field, and the problems people run into when they rush through the form.
What is a money order, and how does it work?
A money order is a prepaid payment slip. You buy it with cash or a debit card, and the issuer guarantees the amount you hand over. The recipient can cash it or put it in their account, but none of your banking details appear on the form. Replacements are possible if one goes missing, though the process usually requires a receipt and comes with a fee.
A check works differently. It pulls money from your bank account and carries your routing and account numbers. A money order reveals none of that information because the funds are paid before you leave the counter.
To fill out a money order, you need the recipient’s name and the amount you want printed on the slip. Add your mailing address so the issuer can reach you if something needs to be returned. If the payment goes toward a bill, include the account or invoice number in the memo line so the company can match the payment to your file.
You can buy a money order at:
- USPS post offices
- Western Union agent locations
- Banks
- Credit unions
- Retailers
- Grocery/Convenience stores
- Check-cashing stores
USPS sets a $1,000 limit1 on each domestic money order, but they no longer cashes international money orders2 from several countries.
The $1,000 cap is a common ceiling on domestic slip, but banks like Wells Fargo, retailers, and some Western Union money order agents may set their own limits. USPS also sets flat fees3 for domestic money orders. It charges $2.35 for amounts up to $500 and $3.40 for those between $500.01 and $1,000. Military post offices charge less.
These limits, along with the prepaid setup, keep money orders simple for small payments. This background helps when filling out money order forms, since the next steps rely on knowing how the document works and what information the issuer expects.
What you need before filling out a money order
So, how to fill out money order? Ensure you have the details the issuer will ask for. Most money order instructions use the same basic set of information.
Use the exact spelling the payee uses.
|The clerk prints this for you, so be certain of the total you plan to send.
Issuers use it when a money order needs to be returned.
Some locations ask for one.
Add an account number, invoice number, or a brief note such as “rent” or “utilities.”
These are the standard funding methods for a prepaid money order.
Keep it in case you need tracking or a replacement.
These items cover the essentials of how to write a money order. Now let’s walk through a money order example, step by step.
How to fill out a money order step-by-step
Most money order instructions follow the same sequence, no matter where you buy the slip.
Write the recipient’s name (“Pay to the Order Of”)
Write the name of the person or business you’re paying. If it's a person's name, put it down exactly as they use it on their paperwork. If it's the name of a company, don't abbreviate. A wrong name can stop the payment from being cashed. A blank line is even worse because anyone could try to claim it. If it’s filled in incorrectly, the issuer won’t fix it, and you’ll have to start over with a new slip.
Fill in your name
Add your name in the “Purchaser,” “Sender,” or “From” field. This identifies you as the buyer and answers the common question of who is the purchaser on a money order. The field usually sits near the top or along the side. Write your name the same way you use it on your ID. This lets the issuer match the slip to you if they need to look it up or check a claim.
Add your address
Write your mailing address in the purchaser’s address section. This may appear under your name or close to the memo line. Some issuers also request a phone number, so make sure to provide an active one.
Write the payment details
Most people use the memo line to mark what the payment is for (ex., Rent for March) or to list a reference number the recipient needs (ex., Payment for invoice #5238). A clear memo keeps the payment from getting misfiled.
Sign the front
Sign your name on the purchaser’s signature line. This is the only place your signature belongs, so don’t sign the back (that’s reserved for the payee). An unsigned slip may be rejected or delayed.
Keep your receipt
Detach the receipt or stub and keep it somewhere safe. It contains the tracking number that the issuer uses if the slip is lost or requires a replacement.
What does a filled-out money order look like? (Example)
Below is a money order example that reflects how most issuers arrange the information. You can use these as a quick reference for how to sign a money order example when you’re completing your own slip.
Example 1: Rent Payment
Purchaser Name: Jordan Smith
Purchaser Address: 412 Market Street, Apt. 3B, Newark, NJ 07104
Memo: Rent – November 2025
Amount: $900.00
Purchaser Signature: Jordan Smith
Example 2: Utility Bill
Purchaser Name: Denise Alvarez
Purchaser Address: 56 Hawthorne Drive, Cleveland, OH, 44113
Amount: $87.64
Payment For: Account #417355 – Water Bill
Purchaser Signature: Denise Alvarez
Common mistakes when filling out a money order
These are the errors people run into most, along with what usually happens after the fact.
A blank space can be picked up by anyone at the receiving end, so issuers refuse to process it. You’ll need to buy a new form.
Misspellings derail the process because the line can’t be corrected once written.
If you’re thinking, Do I sign the back of a money order, the answer is always no. That area belongs to the payee. Your signature belongs only on the purchaser line on the front.
Handwriting that spills into other fields causes scanning issues. Clerks sometimes refuse to accept slips with crowded entries because the machines won’t read them cleanly.
Smudges make it harder for the receiving office to verify the details. If the amount becomes unreadable, the form is usually rejected on the spot.
Once the stub is gone, the tracking number is gone with it. That number is what issuers use to check whether the slip was cashed or misplaced. Without it, tracing takes longer or becomes impossible.
Corrections make the form look tampered with. Teller windows reject slips with tape, scratch marks, ink rewrites, or white-out.
Utility companies, apartment offices, and lenders rely on the memo or account field to link the payment to the right file. A wrong digit can send the payment to someone else’s ledger.
Money order vs. other payment methods
People use different tools depending on the amount, the timing, and how much tracking they need. The table below puts each option side by side so the differences are clear.
| Payment method | Key traits | When it works | Where it falls short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money order |
|
Small local payments | Cross-border use or large transactions |
| Digital transfer |
|
When timing matters, cross-border transfers | Needs a phone, data access, and a payment method tied to the app |
| Cashier’s check |
|
Large deposits, car purchases, transactions that need bank backing | Higher fees that require in-person processing |
| Personal check |
|
Payment between people who already know each other | Includes routing and account numbers, can bounce |
| Wire transfer |
|
High-value transfers, domestic/international deadlines | Expensive, requires detailed information |
When a money order is not a good idea
Money orders aren’t built for speed, large transfers, or anything that needs ongoing tracking.
People sometimes look up how to fill out a Western Union money order for cross-border use, but the form doesn’t function that way. These slips stay inside the country where they’re issued.
Paper takes time. If you mail the slip or drop it at an office, it can sit in a stack until the next processing cycle. Anyone on a deadline needs something faster than that.
A larger payment turns into several slips, each with its own fee and receipt. That means extra signatures, extra tracking, and more risk of losing one of the stubs.
Some payments, like loan services or online billing, require a clear trail. Paper stubs don’t give that level of detail. A money order example won’t produce a digital record that fits the biller’s system, and a misplaced receipt removes the only proof you had.
A faster, digital alternative for sending money internationally
Money orders work for nearby payments. They stop being useful once the money needs to cross a border or reach someone quickly.
Apps like BOSS Money close those gaps. Everything runs through a phone, so you skip the search for a post office and the wait at a counter. The app keeps your recipient’s details, shows the full cost before you commit, and records the transfer once it’s sent.
Costs shift by corridor, but digital transfers can be less expensive than buying several slips when the amount exceeds a single limit. BOSS Money displays the fee and the exchange rate upfront so you know the total before you continue.
The app also holds the reference number and the history of past transfers. People who send money regularly benefit from having the details saved.
When the payment goes overseas or needs faster confirmation, BOSS Money offers options that a paper form can’t provide.
Do I put my address on a money order?
Yes. Most issuers ask for your mailing address so they can return the slip if something goes wrong.
Who signs a money order?
You sign the purchaser's line on the front. The recipient signs only when they cash or deposit it.
Do I sign the back of a money order?
No. The back is for the payee.
Can you cancel a money order?
Often, yes. You’ll need the receipt and the tracking number. Issuers charge a fee, and processing can take time.
What to do if the money order is filled out wrong?
You can’t correct the form. If a name, amount, or signature is wrong, request a replacement using the receipt.
What does a money order look like?
Layouts differ by issuer. A typical slip shows the payee line, your information, the amount, a memo field, and the purchaser's signature area.
How to fill out a money order for rent?
Write the landlord’s full name on the payee line. Add your address and the unit number, then note the month in the memo.
How to track a money order?
Use the tracking number on the receipt. Enter it on the issuer’s website or call their service line for a status update.
Can you send a money order internationally?
No. Most issuers cash them only in the country where they’re sold. For cross-border payments, digital transfers work better.
Sources: all third party information obtained from applicable website as of December 10, 2025
- https://www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm
- https://www.usps.com/international/money-transfers.htm
- https://www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm
This article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to address every aspect of the matters discussed herein. The information in this article is not intended as specific personal advice. The information in this article does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory or other professional advice from IDT Payment Services, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “IDT”), and should not be taken or used as such by any individual. IDT makes no representation, warranty or guaranty, whether express or implied, that the content in this article is current, accurate, or complete. You should obtain professional or other substantive advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information in this article.
