What this calculator does
Every US banknote weighs about a gram regardless of denomination, which makes the weight of a pile of cash depend entirely on the face value of the notes in it. A million dollars in hundreds is 10,000 notes and about 10 kg. The same million in ones is a million notes and a tonne.
Coins work differently and rather more elegantly. A dime, a quarter and a half dollar all weigh exactly 2.268 g per dollar of face value, because the Mint kept the weight-to-value ratio constant across the three when it changed the metal. A hundred dollars in any of them weighs 2,268 g. Only the count changes.
The formula
The amount is divided by the face value of the chosen denomination to give the number of pieces, and that count is multiplied by the weight of one. Note weights are taken as 1 g each, which is the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing figure for all denominations. Coin weights are the US Mint specifications.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Face value | What the note or coin is worth, as distinct from what it weighs. |
| Weight per dollar | The weight of one dollar of face value in a given denomination, which is what makes the comparison meaningful. |
| Note weight | About 1 g for every US denomination, since all are printed on the same paper at the same size. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Amount ($) | The dollar amount to weigh. |
| Denomination | Which note or coin the amount is made up of. The weight of each one is shown in the option. |
When to use it
Working out whether an amount is physically carryable
Cash has a weight and a volume that films tend to ignore. A million dollars in hundreds is a heavy but manageable 10 kg; in twenties it is 50 kg and needs a trolley.
Weighing coins instead of counting them
Because weight per dollar is constant within a denomination, a bag of one kind of coin can be valued by weighing it far faster than by counting. This is how coin counting machines work.
Settling a question out of curiosity
Most uses of this are idle, and that is a fine reason to run it. The result for pennies is usually the surprising one.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
What does a million dollars weigh in different denominations?
The same million dollars made up of five different denominations.
| Denomination | In kilograms | In pounds | Number of notes/coins |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 notes | 10.00 kg | 22.05 lb | 10,000 |
| $20 notes | 50.00 kg | 110.23 lb | 50,000 |
| $1 notes | 1,000.00 kg | 2,204.62 lb | 1,000,000 |
| Quarters | 22,680.00 kg | 50,000.88 lb | 4,000,000 |
| Dimes | 22,680.00 kg | 50,000.88 lb | 10,000,000 |
What does $100 weigh in each coin?
A hundred dollars made up entirely of each denomination of US coin.
| Coin | Total weight | Number of notes/coins | Weight of one |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennies | 25,000.0 g | 10,000 | 2.500 g |
| Nickels | 10,000.0 g | 2,000 | 5.000 g |
| Dimes | 2,268.0 g | 1,000 | 2.268 g |
| Quarters | 2,268.0 g | 400 | 5.670 g |
| Half dollars | 2,268.0 g | 200 | 11.340 g |
| Dollar coins | 810.0 g | 100 | 8.100 g |
Questions
Do all US banknotes really weigh the same?
Yes, near enough. Every denomination is printed on the same cotton and linen paper at the same dimensions, so each weighs approximately one gram. A new note is fractionally heavier than a worn one, and a very dirty note heavier again, but a gram is the working figure and is what the Bureau of Engraving and Printing quotes.
Why do dimes, quarters and half dollars weigh the same per dollar?
Because the ratio was deliberately preserved. Those three were once silver at a weight proportional to face value, and when the composition changed in the 1960s the weight-per-value relationship was kept so that coin-operated machinery and bulk counting by weight would continue to work. It gives 22.68 g per dollar in all three.
Why are pennies so heavy for their value?
Because a coin has to be big enough to handle regardless of what it is worth. A penny weighs 2.5 g and is worth one cent, which is 250 g per dollar, over ten times the rate for quarters. It is also the reason the penny has repeatedly cost more to produce than its face value.
Does this work for other currencies?
No, the weights here are US specifications only. Other currencies differ considerably, and many use notes of varying size by denomination, which breaks the one-gram-per-note simplification entirely.
For the value of a mixed quantity of US coins, see the US coin value calculator. For the weight and value of precious metal instead, see the gold weight calculator.