Money Counter (Cash Drawer Calculator)
- Float stays in drawer
- Cash to deposit
The drawer is short by $2.87. Recount once, then check voids, refunds and paid-outs before you log it.
How the money counter (cash drawer calculator) calculation works
Count each denomination
Enter how many of each bill and coin you have. Wrapped coin rolls go in their own box: a quarter roll is $10, dimes $5, nickels $2 and pennies 50¢.
Total is count × face value, added up
25 twenties is $500, 36 loose quarters is $9. The calculator adds every row to the cent.
Take out the starting float
The float is the change you started with and stays in the drawer. $1,212.13 counted − $200 float = $1,012.13 to deposit.
Compare the deposit with expected cash sales
If the register says $1,015 in cash sales and you have $1,012.13, the drawer is $2.87 short.
Worked example. A drawer holds 2 hundreds, 3 fifties, 25 twenties, 18 tens, 22 fives, 47 ones, 36 quarters plus a $10 roll, 41 dimes, 28 nickels and 63 pennies: $1,212.13 in total. After the $200 float, the deposit is $1,012.13, which is $2.87 short of the $1,015 in expected cash sales.
Money Counter FAQ
How do I count a cash drawer?
Count each bill and coin type, multiply by its face value and add the rows. Then subtract the starting float to get the cash to deposit.
How do I calculate over/short on a register?
Subtract the starting float from the counted total, then subtract the expected cash sales from the register report. A positive result is over, a negative result is short.
How much money is in a roll of quarters?
A standard roll of quarters holds 40 coins, which is $10. Dime rolls hold 50 coins ($5), nickel rolls 40 ($2) and penny rolls 50 (50¢).
How much should a starting cash drawer have?
Many small shops start with $100 to $300 in small bills and coins. Use the same amount every shift so over/short figures are comparable.
What is an acceptable cash drawer variance?
Each business sets its own limit. Many treat a few dollars as normal and look into anything larger or any pattern that repeats.