What Is a Cashier's Check?

By Kristi Waterworth – Updated Feb 25, 2025 at 10:37 AM EST

Key Points

Cashier's checks are secure payments, backed by banks, making them nearly bounce-proof.
They are ideal for large transactions, with limits often between $250,000 and $500,000.
Compared to money orders, cashier's checks are more secure and support higher transaction values.

If you need to make a large payment for a purchase or obligation, like paying off a mortgage, you'll likely be asked to do so with a cashier's check. These are special types of checks that are extremely secure and welcome almost anywhere.

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Person handing you a large paper check. — Image source: Getty Images.

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In general, cashier's checks tend to be a lot cheaper than a money order, at least in terms of percentage. Where cashier's checks are just a few dollars to buy -- even for one that's worth enough to purchase a whole house -- money orders are loaded with fees, for both the buyers and the recipients who cash them.

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About the Author

Kristi Waterworth has been a contributing real estate and financial expert at The Motley Fool, covering real estate, investing, and personal finance topics, since 2020. Kristi has been interviewed by various TV media outlets and podcasts for her real estate investing expertise – from residential real estate to digital real estate and everything in between. Kristi’s journalist career spans over 25 years, and she has written about real estate investing, homeownership, and home construction specifically for the last decade. She was also previously a licensed Realtor and general building contractor before the Great Recession and housing market collapse. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American history from Columbia College in Missouri.

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