Count cash quickly and get it right
Counting cash is simple until there is a lot of it and the numbers start to swim. Sort the notes and coins into piles, count each pile, type the counts in here, and the money calculator gives you the total, split into notes and coins.
It is built for cashing up a till at the end of a shift, checking a float before a market or an event, counting a club's takings, or finding out what that jar of coins is actually worth. It covers US dollars, euros, pounds sterling and Indian rupees.
How to count with it
- Choose the currency.
- Sort your cash into piles, one for each note and coin.
- Count each pile and type the number in its box. Leave boxes for notes or coins you do not have at 0.
- Read the total, plus how much is in notes and how much in coins.
- Press Copy result to paste the total into a cash-up sheet or a message.
How the total is worked out
line total = count × value of the note or coin
grand total = all line totals added togetherEvery value is handled in cents, pence or paise as whole numbers, so the total never picks up a stray fraction of a cent the way a spreadsheet sometimes can. Each line with a count is shown in the working, which makes it easy to spot a typo.
Worked example: cashing up a till in dollars
At the end of the day the drawer holds three $100 notes, seven $20s, four $5s, twelve $1s, nine quarters and six dimes.
- 3 × $100 = $300.00
- 7 × $20 = $140.00
- 4 × $5 = $20.00
- 12 × $1 = $12.00
- 9 × 25¢ = $2.25
- 6 × 10¢ = $0.60
That comes to $474.85 in total: $472.00 in 26 notes and $2.85 in 15 coins. If the till started the day with a $150 float, the takings are $324.85.
Coin roll amounts
Banks often hand out and take coins in rolls. Knowing what a full roll is worth helps when you count by the roll instead of by the coin.
| Coin | Coins per roll | Value of a roll |
|---|---|---|
| 1¢ | 50 | $0.50 |
| 5¢ | 40 | $2.00 |
| 10¢ | 50 | $5.00 |
| 25¢ | 40 | $10.00 |
Tips for an accurate count
- Count each pile twice, or have a second person count it. Most cash-up errors are a pile counted one short.
- Face notes the same way. It is faster and stray notes of another value stand out.
- Keep the float separate. Take the starting float out before you count the takings, or subtract it at the end.
- Write the total down with the date. A copied result is easy to paste into a cash-up sheet or a message to whoever checks the books.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count money quickly?
Sort everything into piles by value first, then count each pile in bundles of ten. Type the count for each pile into the calculator rather than adding up amounts as you go. That way you only ever count objects, which is faster and much less error-prone than keeping a running total in your head.
How do I cash up a till?
Count everything in the drawer using the boxes above, then subtract the float the till started with. The rest should match the cash sales on the till report. If it does not, count again before looking for the difference. Small gaps are often a single note or coin in the wrong pile.
Which currencies does the cash counter support?
US dollars, euros, pounds sterling and Indian rupees, with each currency's common notes and coins. If your currency is not listed but has similar values, pick one with the same notes and coins and ignore the symbol. Totals are always worked out in whole cents, pence or paise.
Does it save my count?
No. Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere. If you want to keep a count, press Copy result and paste it into your own notes, or press Copy link to keep a link with the counts in it. The numbers in that link stay on your device until you share it.
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