Cash Denomination Breakdown Calculator
Break any dollar amount into the fewest bills and coins — perfect for cash drawers, payroll envelopes and change.
How it works
Greedy: for each denomination (largest first) count = ⌊remaining ÷ value⌋, subtract, repeat
This uses the greedy method: take as many of the largest denomination as fit, subtract, then move to the next size down. For the U.S. bill-and-coin system the greedy result is always the minimum number of pieces, which is why cashiers and payroll clerks reach for it instinctively. Working in whole cents throughout avoids the rounding errors that creep in when you divide dollars as decimals.
Worked example
$187.63 gives one $100, one $50, one $20, one $10, one $5, two $1 (that is $187), then two quarters, one dime, and three pennies for the 63 cents — 12 pieces in all.
Frequently asked questions
Does the greedy method always use the fewest pieces?
For standard U.S. denominations, yes. Greedy is provably optimal for this coin/bill set. For arbitrary custom denominations it can occasionally miss the true minimum, but that does not happen with real currency.
Can I change the denominations?
This version uses U.S. bills from $100 down to the penny. The same greedy logic works for any currency once you list its denominations largest to smallest.
Why work in cents instead of dollars?
Floating-point dollars like 0.1 + 0.2 do not add up cleanly. Converting to whole cents first keeps every subtraction exact.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.