Type the amount due and the cash handed over to get the change owed, broken down into the fewest bills and coins to count back. Works with US dollars and euros, cash rounding to 5 cents and the largest note in your drawer.
Last updated:
Many tills do not give large notes as change.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Change Calculator
Enter the amount due on the receipt.
Enter the amount tendered, the cash the customer gave you.
Pick the currency and the largest bill or note you give as change.
Tick cash rounding if your shop rounds cash totals to 5 cents.
Press Calculate change and count back the bills and coins listed.
The change formula and making change
Change = amount tendered − amount due. To hand it back with the fewest pieces, take the largest denomination that fits, repeat until it no longer fits, then step down to the next smaller one.
Example: $20.00 − $8.47 = $11.53 → one $10 bill, one $1 bill, two quarters, three pennies (7 pieces). If the customer adds 47 cents and pays $20.47, the change is an even $12.00: one $10 and two $1 bills.
Bills and coins in circulation
Currency
Notes / bills
Coins
US dollar
$1, $2 (rare), $5, $10, $20, $50, $100
1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ (rare), $1 (rare)
Euro
€5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 (€500 no longer issued)
1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2
Cashier tips
Leave the customer's bill on top of the drawer until the change has been counted, so there is no doubt about what was handed over.
Count back from the amount due up to the amount paid, coins first, then bills.
Large bills are often not given as change; set the largest bill to $20 to match a typical till.
When cash totals are rounded to 5 cents, the rounding applies to the total, not to each item.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate change?
Subtract the amount due from the amount paid. For a $37.63 bill paid with $50, the change is $50.00 − $37.63 = $12.37: one $10 bill, two $1 bills, one quarter, one dime and two pennies.
How do I give change with the fewest coins and bills?
Start with the largest bill or coin that is not more than the remaining change, use as many as fit, then move to the next smaller one. For US and euro denominations this greedy method always gives the fewest pieces.
What is counting back change?
Counting back means starting from the amount due and adding coins and bills out loud until you reach the amount paid, for example $37.63, 64, 65, 75, $38, $39, $40, $50. It lets both the cashier and customer check the change.
What is cash rounding to 5 cents?
Some places round cash totals to the nearest 5 cents because 1 and 2 cent coins are rare or not used, as several euro countries do. In the United States the Mint stopped producing pennies for circulation in 2025, and some businesses now round cash totals. Card payments are normally not rounded.
Why might the customer give extra coins?
Adding coins can reduce the change. If the change would be $12.37, a customer who adds 63 cents gets back an even $13 in four bills instead of seven bills and coins. The calculator suggests this when it saves pieces.
Which euro notes and coins are used?
Euro coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, €1 and €2. Notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200. The €500 note is no longer issued but stays legal tender, so it is off by default.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.