Official coin face values and denominations currently in US circulation: penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar, dollar
Methodology: Count Cash — multiplies each denomination quantity by face value and sums results rounded to 2 decimal places. Add Amounts — sums all entered dollar amounts. Make Change — subtracts purchase price from amount tendered; calculates the optimal denominations for change using a greedy algorithm (largest denominations first).
⏱ Last reviewed: April 2026
How to Count and Calculate Money
Whether you're counting a cash drawer, splitting a bill, or calculating change, working with money accurately is a fundamental everyday skill. The key principle is always the same: multiply each denomination's quantity by its value, then sum all results.
US Currency Denomination Reference
Denomination
Type
Face Value
10 units =
100 units =
$100 bill
Paper
$100.00
$1,000
$10,000
$50 bill
Paper
$50.00
$500
$5,000
$20 bill
Paper
$20.00
$200
$2,000
$10 bill
Paper
$10.00
$100
$1,000
$5 bill
Paper
$5.00
$50
$500
$1 bill
Paper
$1.00
$10
$100
Half dollar
Coin
$0.50
$5
$50
Quarter
Coin
$0.25
$2.50
$25
Dime
Coin
$0.10
$1.00
$10
Nickel
Coin
$0.05
$0.50
$5
Penny
Coin
$0.01
$0.10
$1
How to Count a Cash Drawer
Counting a cash register drawer correctly ensures your till balances at end of day. Start with the largest bills and work down to pennies. Count each denomination separately, record the subtotal, then add everything together. Most retail registers begin with a standard float — the difference between expected and actual cash is the drawer's over/short amount.
Making change is simply subtraction: Change = Amount Tendered − Purchase Price. For a $13.47 purchase paid with a $20 bill: $20.00 − $13.47 = $6.53 change due. A good technique is to count up from the purchase price to the tendered amount rather than subtracting — this minimizes errors and makes it easier to determine the right denominations.
Coin Equivalencies
Understanding how coins relate to each other helps with making exact change and mental math. The most important equivalencies to remember: 4 quarters = 1 dollar; 2 half dollars = 1 dollar; 10 dimes = 1 dollar; 20 nickels = 1 dollar; 100 pennies = 1 dollar. For partial dollars: 2 quarters = 50 cents; 5 dimes = 50 cents; 3 quarters + 2 dimes + 1 nickel = 1 dollar.
💡 Cash Drawer Pro Tip: When making change, always use the fewest bills and coins possible. Start with the largest denomination that doesn't exceed the change amount, then work down. For $6.53 in change: one $5 bill + one $1 bill + 2 quarters + 3 pennies = 7 pieces total. This is faster and reduces coin handling errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sort bills and coins by denomination, count each group separately, then multiply each group's quantity by its value and add the results. For example: 3 twenties ($60) + 2 fives ($10) + 4 quarters ($1) = $71. Working from largest to smallest denomination speeds up the process and reduces errors.
4 quarters make one dollar. Each quarter is worth $0.25, so 4 × $0.25 = $1.00. Other coin equivalents for $1: 10 dimes, 20 nickels, 100 pennies, or 2 half dollars.
Align the decimal points and add column by column from right to left. If the cents column sums to 100 or more, carry 1 dollar. Example: $12.75 + $8.30 = $21.05. When adding multiple amounts, it often helps to add the dollars first, then the cents separately, then combine.
Subtract the purchase price from the amount paid. Change = Tendered − Price. For a $13.47 purchase paid with $20: $20.00 − $13.47 = $6.53. A useful cashier technique is counting up from the price to the tendered amount: "$13.47 to $14 is $0.53, then $14 to $20 is $6.00 — so $6.53 total."
The largest US bill currently in circulation is the $100 bill. Higher denominations ($500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000) were printed historically but are no longer produced. They remain legal tender but are now rare collector items worth far more than face value.
10 dimes make one dollar. Each dime is worth $0.10, so 10 × $0.10 = $1.00. Dimes are the smallest US coin in physical size despite being worth more than pennies and nickels.
Count each denomination separately from largest to smallest. Record the quantity and subtotal (quantity × face value) for each. Sum all subtotals for the grand total. Compare to expected cash (starting float + sales) to find the over/short amount. Most businesses count the drawer at the start and end of each shift.
20 nickels make one dollar. Each nickel is worth $0.05, so 20 × $0.05 = $1.00. A roll of nickels from the bank contains 40 nickels worth $2.00.
US coins in circulation include the penny ($0.01), nickel ($0.05), dime ($0.10), quarter ($0.25), half dollar ($0.50), and dollar coin ($1.00). The most commonly used in everyday transactions are the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter. Half dollars and dollar coins are produced but rarely circulate widely.
Look at the third decimal place (thousandths). If it is 5 or greater, round the cents up by 1. If it is less than 5, leave the cents unchanged. Example: $4.576 rounds to $4.58 (6 ≥ 5, round up). $4.574 rounds to $4.57 (4 < 5, keep). This is the standard "round half up" method used in most financial calculations.