Guide
Counting a till by denomination and comparing it with what should be there
Closing a till is a small ritual with large consequences. A mistake in the count means a shortfall that someone must explain, or a surplus that hides a different mistake. Counting by denomination is the reliable way: sort the cash into piles, count each pile, multiply by its value and add. This page does the multiplication and addition, compares the total with what the sales records say should be there, and tells you how much to take to the bank.
How to use it
Choose the currency, then type how many notes and coins of each value you have. The page shows only the denominations for that currency, from the largest note to the smallest coin. Counts must be whole numbers; a decimal is rejected with the name of the denomination. Add the cash you expected to find and the float you want to leave in the till for the next day, if you want the comparison and the deposit.
What it works out
The total counts every note and coin and adds their values. The page also reports how many pieces there are, which helps when you check a bag before sealing it. With an expected amount, it says whether the count is exact, over or short, and by how much. With a float, it tells you the cash to take out and deposit, or the shortfall against the float if there is not enough in the till.
A worked example
The default is a rupee till with 14 notes of 500, 6 of 200, 22 of 100, 18 of 50, 25 of 20, 30 of 10, and 12, 20 and 35 pieces of 5, 2 and 1. They add up to 7,000 + 1,200 + 2,200 + 900 + 500 + 300 + 60 + 40 + 35 = 12,235 in 182 pieces. If the sales record says 12,100 should be there, the till is 135 over. With a float of 3,000 left for tomorrow, 9,235 goes to the bank. The US dollar sample counts one 100, two 50s, 14 twenties, nine tens, 11 fives, 25 ones and 30, 22, 40 and 60 coins of 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. That is 662.30 in 214 pieces. Against an expected 678.50 the till is 16.20 short, and with a 200 float, 462.30 is deposited.
Why the page adds in cents
Computers store decimals in binary, so 0.1 + 0.2 is stored as 0.30000000000000004. On a long list of coins such errors could creep into a total and show a penny that is not there. Converting each denomination to a whole number of cents or paise, adding the integers and converting back at the end, keeps the total exact. It is the same method that accountants use when they work in the smallest unit.
Edge cases
Leaving a field empty counts as zero, and a count of zero is fine. Switching the currency shows a different set of boxes, and counts you entered for another currency are kept for when you switch back. A float larger than the total gives a shortfall instead of a deposit. An expected amount of zero is allowed.
Limits
The page counts what you type, so a miscount or a fake note will go undetected. It handles four currencies and the denominations in everyday use; scarce or withdrawn notes and commemorative coins are left out, so add them to a neighbouring line by value if you have any. It does not record the count, so write down the result or copy it. Cash handling procedures, such as having two people count, are a matter for your own business.
Related tools
- Tip Calculator divides a bill and the tip between several people.
- Discount Calculator works out the price after a percentage off at the till.
- GST / VAT / Sales Tax adds tax to a sale before it is rung up.
- Invoice Generator records sales that are paid later rather than in cash.
Checked against the current version of the Cash Denomination and Till Counter on .