What is a journal entry?
A journal entry records the debit and credit sides of a transaction before posting it to accounts.
Accounting Checker
Journal Entry Checker
Enter debit and credit lines to check whether total debits equal total credits in a basic journal entry.
Account nameDebitCreditActions
Enter at least one account line to check the journal entry.
Total debits
0.00
Total credits
0.00
Difference
0.00
Status
Waiting for lines
This checker confirms the math balance only. It does not verify whether every account choice is correct.
Explanation
What a journal entry checks
Total Debits = Total Credits
A journal entry records the debit and credit sides of a transaction before it is posted to accounts.
Debits and credits must balance because double-entry accounting records equal value on both sides of the entry.
This checker confirms the math balance only. It does not prove every account choice or debit/credit treatment is correct.
Worked example
Balanced journal entry
Debit Cash1,000
Credit Service Revenue1,000
Total debits1,000
Total credits1,000
StatusEntry balances
Common mistakes
Mistakes to avoid
Entering both debit and credit on the same line
Forgetting one side of the entry
Using the wrong account even though the entry balances
Confusing debit/credit rules with increase/decrease
Leaving blank lines in the entry
Related tools
Keep practicing debit and credit checks
Use the debit/credit checker, trial balance calculator, and accounting equation calculator to review related accounting basics.
FAQ
Journal Entry Checker FAQs
How do I know if a journal entry balances?
A journal entry balances when total debit amounts equal total credit amounts.
Does a balanced journal entry mean it is correct?
No. A balanced journal entry means the totals match, but the account choices can still be wrong.
Can one line have both debit and credit?
For a clear basic journal entry, one line should normally have either a debit amount or a credit amount, not both.
Why must total debits equal total credits?
Double-entry accounting records equal value on both sides of an entry, so total debits should equal total credits.
Can this checker help with accounting homework?
Yes. It can help check whether your journal entry balances, but you should still review the account choices.