Most Americans pay by card or phone, but you still need to know cash.
Penny: 1 cent (1¢). Copper color.
Nickel: 5 cents. Silver color, thicker than a dime.
Dime: 10 cents. The smallest coin, even though it is worth more than a nickel and a penny.
Quarter: 25 cents. The most useful coin: laundry machines, parking meters and vending machines take it.
Half dollar (50¢) and dollar coins: real money, but rare.
Coins show the value in words, not big numbers. Look for "ONE CENT", "FIVE CENTS", "ONE DIME", "QUARTER DOLLAR".
The US Mint stopped making pennies for everyday use in November 2025. Pennies are still legal money and you can still pay with them. Some shops now round cash totals to the nearest 5 cents when you pay with cash. Card payments are charged the exact amount.
US bills come in $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. The $2 bill is real but rare.
All bills are the same size, and most look green and similar. Check the number in every corner before you pay.
ATMs usually give $20 bills.
Many small shops, gas stations and buses do not accept $50 or $100 bills. Some shops accept no cash at all.
$4.25 is "four twenty-five" or "four dollars and twenty-five cents".
A "buck" is a dollar. "Five bucks" is $5.
The price on the shelf usually does not include sales tax. The tax is added at the register (see the guide on sales tax and tipping).
A jar of coins can be deposited at many banks for free. Coin machines in supermarkets usually charge a fee unless you take a gift card.
Keep a few quarters for laundry and parking until you set up apps.
Giving a dime as if it were a nickel because it is smaller.
Handing a $100 bill for a coffee. Carry $20s or smaller.