Coin Change Calculator
Break an amount into the fewest bills and coins.
Make change with the fewest pieces
Breaking an amount into bills and coins with the fewest pieces is a classic problem, and for US currency the greedy approach — take the biggest denomination that fits, then repeat — always gives the minimum.
The amount 36.47 breaks into a 20, a 10, a 5, a 1, a quarter, two dimes, and two pennies. It is handy for cash drawers, teaching, and quick counting.
Exact and private
It works through US denominations in your browser, so the calculation is instant and nothing you enter is uploaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does it work?
It uses the greedy method with US denominations, taking the largest that fits at each step, which gives the fewest pieces for US currency.
Which denominations are used?
Bills of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1, plus quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.
Does greedy always give the fewest?
For the US denomination set, yes. Some hypothetical coin systems can defeat the greedy method, but standard US currency does not.
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