Counting larger amounts

To count money quickly, start with the biggest and work down.

A reliable order

1. Bills first ($20,$10, $5,$1).
2. Big coins — quarters (25¢).
3. Small coins — dimes (10¢), nickels (5¢), pennies (1¢).

If you mix the order you can still get the right answer — but it's slower and easier to forget a coin.

In the UK the order is the same: notes (£20, £10, £5), then £2 and £1 coins, then 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p.

Example

1 × $10+1\times$5 + 2 quarters + 2 dimes

• Bills: 10 + 5 = $15.
• Quarters: 25 + 25 = 50¢.
• Dimes: 10 + 10 = 20¢.
• Coins together: 50 + 20 = 70¢.
• Total: 15 dollars 70 cents (or $15.70).

Watch the units

• "$10" is 10 dollars.
• "10¢" or "10 cents" is 10 cents — a hundred times smaller.
• 100 cents = $1.

Try it

• 💵 Count money
• 🪙 Combine coins

Summary

• Count bills first, then quarters, then small coins.
• $1 = 100 cents.
• Always include the unit: "$12.30" or "12 dollars 30 cents", not just "12.30".

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