This money counter adds the face value of your notes and coins from the number of pieces you enter. Choose dollars, pounds or euros, count each denomination, and read the running total. You can retain a starting float, compare the drawer with an expected balance, and download a count sheet for a second check.
How to count cash without losing your place
- Separate notes from coins, then sort each group by denomination.
- Select the currency before entering any quantities. A $20 note and a £20 note belong to separate counts.
- Enter the number of pieces in each row. Ten $5 notes means a quantity of 10 in the $5 row, not 50.
- Check the notes and coins subtotals separately before relying on the grand total.
- If this is a cash drawer, enter the cash that must remain for tomorrow and, optionally, the expected closing balance.
- Download the count sheet or print the result. Recount any denomination that differs from your own tally.
Money counter formula
Total cash = Σ(denomination × quantity). Each denomination is stored in cents or pence, so the arithmetic adds whole minor units instead of repeatedly adding decimal currency values. The display converts the final integer back into dollars, pounds or euros. This avoids an unnecessary rounding step for every coin.
Currency choices use the denominations listed by the U.S. Currency Education Program, U.S. Mint, Bank of England, Royal Mint and European Central Bank. Notes and coins with the same value still have separate rows: a dollar coin and a dollar note contribute equally to the total, but belong to different subtotals.
Worked example: notes, coins and a retained float
| Denomination | Quantity | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| $20 notes | 5 | $100.00 |
| $5 notes | 3 | $15.00 |
| 25¢ coins | 12 | $3.00 |
| Total | 20 pieces | $118.00 |
The note subtotal is $115 and the coin subtotal is $3. If $50 must remain in the drawer, the available deposit is $118 − $50 = $68. If the expected total was $120, the over/short comparison is $118 − $120 = −$2, meaning the drawer is $2 short. These amounts are an illustrative count, not a bank’s required float.
Cash drawer reconciliation
The retained float and expected balance serve different purposes. The float is cash you intend to keep; the expected balance is cash your records say should be present. Enter the full expected drawer balance, including opening float if your records include it. Comparing a sales-only number against cash that includes yesterday’s float would create a false discrepancy.
Available deposit = max(0, cash total − retained float). If the requested float exceeds the available cash, the calculator shows the shortfall rather than a negative deposit. Over/short = counted cash − expected cash: positive means over, negative means short.
What the result includes
This is a denomination calculator for cash you physically counted. It does not authenticate a banknote, count money from a photograph, estimate collectible value, or convert currencies at exchange rates. An old €500 note can be included because the ECB says first-series euro notes retain their value, even though the €500 denomination is no longer issued.
Blank quantity boxes count as zero. Negative or fractional piece counts are rejected. Currency counts stay separate when you switch between dollars, pounds and euros; reconciliation amounts reset so a retained dollar float is not silently treated as pounds.
Related pay calculations
For earnings before you receive the cash, use the work hours calculator, overtime calculator or hourly salary calculator. A cash count is a record of money on hand; it does not establish income or tax owed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count money by denomination?
Multiply each note or coin value by the number of pieces, then add the subtotals. Keep currency counts separate.
Can I count coins and notes with the same face value?
Yes. They have separate rows so you can check the notes and coins subtotals independently.
What does a negative over/short result mean?
Counted cash is below the expected balance. Recount the cash and check which transactions and opening float are included in your expected amount.
Does the money counter convert dollars to euros?
No. Each currency is a separate face-value count. The tool does not use exchange rates.
Can I save or print the count sheet?
Download the CSV breakdown or use Print. The share link also records the entered quantities, so only share it with people who should see the count.
Why can I enter a €500 note?
The ECB states that first-series notes retain their value. The €500 note is no longer issued but can still be included in a face-value count.
Sources & method
- U.S. Currency Education Program — current note denominations
- U.S. Mint — circulating coin denominations
- Bank of England — current banknotes
- Royal Mint — UK coin designs and specifications
- European Central Bank — current euro banknotes
- European Central Bank — euro coin denominations
Results are estimates for general information. Found an error? It helps everyone — see our methodology.