Coin Roll Wrappers 683x1024

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Want to learn how to roll coins the fast and easy way? Tired of paying fees to the bank or to Coinstar machines? This guide will help you get started in rolling your own coins and avoid bank fees!

Whether you are a coin collector, have a small business that handles cash, or just want to count up the savings in your piggy bank, converting your coins to cash doesn’t have to be time-consuming or costly. It’ s easy to wrap and roll coins at home! (I even think it’s fun!)

Most banks will accept coins as a deposit into your account {it is money and legal tender!} – but they usually require that the coins are already rolled and wrapped. While almost all banks do have their own coin counting machines, many typically charge fees for this service.

Learning to roll your own coins can save you a LOT of money over time. If you’re tired of all the service fees charged by services like Coinstar or your bank, rolling coins yourself can save you a significant amount.

This post will cover everything you need to know about how to start rolling loose change – and we even have a free printable at the end of this post you can download to calculate how much your coin rolls are worth!

There are two main ways to roll coins to deposit into your bank. You can either roll the coins by hand, or you can buy a coin sorting machine.

Rolling coins by hand is NOT as time-consuming or as hard as you might think – the way I do it is very relaxing and almost meditative in nature.

Coin sorting machines come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and flavors. Some are very basic plastic containers that show you how much to fill each roll. Other coin-sorting machines are more sophisticated that sort by size and weight – you just dump in your coins and wait.

If you’re looking to avoid paying fees by your bank or other coin sorting machine vendors, hopefully this post will help you turn that loose change into cash quick and easy!

I’m going to start with my manual sorting by hand method, just because it is the simplest and most cost-effective – but if you want to learn more about other methods for sorting using coin counters and coin machines, just scroll down to the second part of this post!


How to Roll Coins By Hand

Rolling coins by hand is probably the cheapest and most economic method to sort and cash in your loose change.

My mother taught me how to roll coins when I was a very young girl. Our family was very poor. Those quarters, pennies, dimes, and nickels often made all the difference on whether we’d be able to pay for electricity or buy groceries. I’m grateful for the experience honestly – I learned all about Mercury Dimes, Buffalo Nickels and Wheat Pennies this way!

This method for coin rolling is super simple, very economic, and doesn’t require electricity or batteries. If you are ever coin roll hunting or metal detecting while traveling, this method is also super portable!

If you still don’t like the idea of manually sorting and counting coins, another option is to find a kid to do this for you. It’s a great way for kids to learn and practice their money and counting skills! Plus, who knows, you might even inspire them to start their own coin collection someday!

Step 1: Get Some Coin Wrappers

In order to roll coins, you will need to wrap the coins in paper. They sell coin wrappers which are the perfect thing you need to wrap coins because they are just the right size and they show how much each roll is worth.

I’ve seen coin wrappers for sale at most retail stores near me, including Wal-Mart and Dollar Tree. The most important thing when rolling and counting by hand is you get the kind that lay flat like the ones shown below.

The lay-flat wrappers really do make a HUGE difference in how fast and easily you can put the coins in them. Most sets of coin wrappers include a variety that covers all the common types of coins, such as pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

Because they lay flat, they also take up way less space for storage! If you’ve ever used the ones that are round tubes, they easily start to get all crumpled up after awhile.

These types of wrappers are great for most electronic coin sorting machines but can get crumpled up quickly and take up much more storage space than the flat-style of wrappers.

Some banks may even have free coin wrappers they will give you if you ask nicely. If they do not keep coin wrappers stocked, they may be able to order them for you for free in bulk. However, it’s usually just easier to buy your own.

{Note: If you are using an electronic coin sorting and counting machine, they usually require the tube-shaped wrappers}

Step 2: Prepare Your Work Space & Gather Supplies

Where you wrap coins and how you set up your work space can make all the difference in how efficient you can be in getting them sorted and counted.

While everyone has their own personal preferences, I wanted to show how I set up my space to easily go through all of my pocket change I want to roll.

Here is a diagram showing my setup for sorting and counting coins.

Coin rolling workspace setup labeled diagram

To make it easier to understand what you’re looking at above, I’ve labeled each part of the photo.

  1. Handful of coins to count and sort
  2. Coins sorted into stacks of 10
  3. Interesting coins found while sorting
  4. Assorted flat coin wrappers
  5. Coins that have been counted and rolled

Some people suggest working on a soft surface like a bed or carpeted floor. While that might sound like a good idea, it’s usually really, really, really hard to count and stack stuff if you don’t have a hard, stable surface.

I do the majority of my sorting and counting at either my kitchen table or my office desk.

My office desk has a habit of getting piled up with various projects and different things, so the kitchen table, which is always clear, is my favorite place to work.

If you are worried about your table or desk getting scratched up or dented, it’s helpful to invest in a good, sturdy mat to work on. If you’re a collector, having a coin sorting mat is great way to to keep track of coins and prevent coins from being damaged.

I actually found my new favorite mat from a different hobby of mine – I’m using a wool pressing pad meant for ironing and quilting. It might be called a “Quilting Ironing Pad for Quilters” but it is also fantastic for protecting your table surface and coins while sorting!

You don’t *have* to have a mat to use for coins, but it definitely will help protect the surface you are working on and prevent the possibility of damaging or scratching it.

I can see why quilters love it {it really is great for ironing!} but as a coin collector I especially love that it is sturdy and durable and things don’t slide around on it. It is really sturdy and thick!

Seriously, I use mine all the time. Although if you like quilting and sewing like me, you’ll probably want two separate ones so you don’t get that grime and dirt from money all over your fabric!

Step 3: Figure Out How Many Coins Go in a Roll

Each denomination has a different amount that goes into a coin wrapper. These are standard amounts and what the bank expects to find in the wrapper.

Here’s a breakdown of how many coins are in each roll:

  • Pennies: 50 pennies = 50 cents {2 rolls make $1}
  • Nickels: 40 nickels = $2 {5 rolls make $10}
  • Dimes: 50 dimes = $5 {2 rolls make $10, 4 rolls make $20}
  • Quarters: 40 quarters = $10 {2 rolls makes $20, 5 rolls make $50}

You can also use this handy dandy reference chart that shows how many coins each go in a roll:

number of coins per roll chart

Understanding how many coins need to go in each roll makes it much easier for the next step, which is to quickly sort and count.

Obviously, quarters and dimes will make the biggest difference in your bank account balance but don’t discount those pennies or nickels either – every cent adds up!

Want Something Easier? If you are rolling coins with kids or maybe just don’t want all the mental labor involved after a long day to actually count, check out our free printable coin counting worksheets – these are a super easy way to know exactly how many coins you have and what they are worth with no counting!

Step 4: Start Making Stacks

When I sort all of my loose change, I start by quickly sorting by each type and start making stacks of 10. Here’s how I stack each denomination:

  • Pennies: 5 stacks of 10 Pennies each
  • Nickels: 4 stacks of 10 Nickels each
  • Dimes: 5 stacks of 10 dimes each
  • Quarters: 4 stacks of 10 quarters each OR 10 stacks of 4 quarters {depends on how much table space and how many quarters I have to sort!}

You can choose whether to focus on just one coin type to start, or you can just attack the pile at once and sort as you go. I find that sometimes it’s easier to focus on just one type of coin that is easy to spot.

For example, quarters are the biggest, so they are easy to pick through, and pennies are copper colored so also tend to stand out better.

When you have nothing left but a pile of dimes and nickels, it’s much easier to sort through the bigger nickels from the dimes.

If you have a hard time keeping track of your coins and stacks, we also have a number of free printable coin counting worksheets – great for teaching kids how to count and roll coins ye olde fashioned way!

They are also good for us older adults who tend to get sidetracked or forget what we were counting.

Step 5: Put the Coins in the Wrappers

Putting the coins in the wrappers seems tricky at first, until you learn the secret way to make sure they all go in easily without getting stuck.

Remember when I said I only like to use the lay-flat wrappers? This is exactly why I love the flat wrappers over the tube wrappers!

The first thing to do is place your finger in one end of the wrapper to open it up and puff it out. Fold down the bottom part over your finger.

This part is sort of hard to describe with just words, so I’ve taken a couple of photos to show you exactly how I do it. I put each stack of change into the wrapper one at a time. I use my index finger to keep the coins from sliding out.

If you have a hard time fitting in the stacks, it can sometimes be helpful to ever so slightly tilt the stack a bit so the coins slide in easier. The first stack is usually the trickiest to start with. Fortunately, with a little practice, you can do this very fast and easy once you get the basics down.

how to put coins in wrappers

So, for example, if I’m filling up a wrapper with nickels, I will take one stack of 10 nickels and put it in the wrapper. Then I put another stack of 10, and then another – until I’ve filled the wrapper with the 4 stacks of 10.

When you are all finished getting the coins inside the wrapper, all you need to do is gently fold over the edges on each side to keep the coins securely in place.

Step 6: Calculate The Value Amount

Once you have everything wrapped up and rolled, you are ready to take it to your bank to deposit. The only thing left to do now is to calculate the value of all those rolls.

Calculating the value is pretty simple to do. First I count the number of each coin I have. Then I multiple that number by the value of the roll. So for example, if I have 4 rolls of quarters, I would multiply 4 x $10 = $40.

coin roll value calculator

If you want to keep track of this and how much you deposit each time you can download a free printable of this coin roll deposit calculator sheet at the bottom of this post. If you have a large number of rolls, this sheet is super helpful for keeping track of things.

Once you have all of your rolls wrapped up and you calculated the total amount, you are ready to take them to your nearest bank to deposit them into your account.


Now, I find this method super relaxing and fun – not to mention it’s a great chance to sort through the pocket change for any potential error coins – but at the same time I do understand if you want to do something that is even faster and doesn’t require as much table space.

If hand-rolling isn’t your cup of tea, no worries! Now we’re going to talk about rolling coins with coin machines.

How to Roll and Wrap Coins With Coin Counting Machines

If you’ve ever looked at a commercial coin counting machine and wished you could have something smaller to use at home or at your business, the great news is you can.

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There are lots of different options out there to choose from, and most importantly you want to think about whether it is something that will actually save you time and money or whether it may cause you more grief.

There are two main types of counting machines – analog and digital.

Analog coin sorters aren’t really machines as much as they are well-designed sorting funnels that make it easy for coins to be sorted for wrapping. You’ll still have to wrap the coins yourself, but at least you don’t have to sort and count everything one by one.

Digital coin rolling machines are more like miniature desktop versions of the commercial grade machines you might see at a bank or even in the front of a grocery store.

The digital and electronic machines are typically a little bit more expensive, but they provide significant time savings if you are handling massive quantities of coins.

Some machines like the Royal Sovereign 4 Row Electronic Coin Counting Machine boasts of sorting and wrapping 312 coins per minute. Now that’s fast!

Need help deciding on what type of counter to get? Check out our complete guide: Best Coin Counting Machines for Home Use

Coin rolling machines take out all of the steps and guesswork of sorting and counting. If you can load coins into the machine and push a button, you can have things instantly sorted for you.

Because each of these machines are different, it’s most important to follow the manufacturer’s specifications and directions. Some may require you to use specific types of wrappers or may have a certain order of operations to follow.

Another thing that is VERY important when using these sorts of machines is that you thoroughly check whatever coins you are dumping into it. If you have a jar of coins that has other stuff mixed in it like paper, marbles or thread you can cause a pretty big jam.

These machines is they generally require the tube-shaped coin wrappers. I know I said I like the flat coin wrappers better for hand rolling, but if you are rolling coins with a coin counting machine it is VERY important to use the right type of wrappers that are specified by the manufacturer.

Still, that is a minimal amount of work compared to hand rolling massive amounts of coins by hand. Most of the machines operate all in the same way: Dump, Press the Button, Take Your Wrapped Coins to the Bank!

Obviously, if you go through a LOT of loose change and are pressed for time, one of these machines will pay for itself in no time. It can also be a great gift idea for the serious collector who likes coin roll hunting.


Frequently Asked Questions About Rolling Coins

Now that we’ve covered the basic methods of how to roll coins either by hand or by machine, you might still have a couple of questions, especially if you haven’t done this before. Here are some common questions I’ve been asked:

Should I Clean Coins Before Rolling Them?

Coin collectors everywhere will yell at you “NO!!! DO NOT CLEAN COINS!!! NEVER CLEAN COINS!!!!”

So while the general rule for coin collectors is to NEVER clean coins, there are some instances in where cleaning coins in my opinion is totally okay and acceptable.

If the coins are filthy or sticky, then yes, by all means you should probably clean them first. If you’re the kind of person who throws all your loose change in a cup holder of a car that you spill sugary soft drinks all over, you probably will want to wash them.

For those who use the electronic coin counting machines, it is absolutely essential to make sure that coins are not sticky and that you have removed any potential debris from them. Little scraps of paper, string, foil, pocket lint – all those things can cause a jam in an electronic coin sorting machine.

Keep in mind washing and cleaning coins will make them have ZERO collector value, so make sure before you clean them you make sure you’ve checked for any potential valuable error coins!

Learn How to Clean Coins Easily

Should I Wear Gloves While Handling Coins?

I personally don’t wear gloves while handling coins – but I know some people are afraid of germs and grime that might be on loose change. It’s a matter of personal preference, but you definitely don’t need them.

Many collectors worry about keeping their coins in pristine condition, but remember even the professional graders don’t wear gloves. As revealed in a CoinWeek interview Ron Drzewucki, gloves can actually do more harm than good!

Will My Bank Take Coin Rolls?

Most banks where you deposit the coins will require you have an account with them. Almost every bank I’ve ever had an account with will accept coins as deposits as long as they are rolled properly.

If you have a business checking or commercial checking account with that financial institution you will definitely find it easier to deposit large amounts of coins, since many types of businesses do encounter cash transactions.

Since there are so many different banks and they all have their own rules, policies, and procedures, I recommend calling the bank you want to work with directly and ask if you are able to bring in rolled coins to deposit into your account.

Can You {Should You} Put Tape the End of Rolls?

You should not need to tape the end of the rolls, and usually this is a bad idea because tape is sticky and sticky things are not good for coins or machines at the bank that may sort them.

Tape also can be difficult to remove for the bank employees or small business owners who will of course need to get to the coins inside the wrapper.

If you are really concerned about the wrappers coming loose, it is generally better to use rubber bands, and of course you will want to remove them once you get your rolls safely to the bank.

Generally speaking however, if you press the wrappers firmly enough and keep the wrapped rolls in a container such as a shoebox or coffee can, they will not come unwrapped between your house and the bank.

Should I Write Anything on the Rolls?

Generally you shouldn’t really write anything on the paper rolls because some banks may have rules that you can’t write all over the wrappers. Keep in mind the rolls you turn in may be going to other customers and businesses.

If you need to mark wrapped coins in any way, it’s best to do with a pencil in a discreet manner {such as making a dot or x mark}. This way, you can easily erase the mark before you deposit it at the bank.

Some banks, if they are not a bank you have an account with, used to require you write your name, telephone number and address on each roll. I am not sure if this is still standard practice.

Again, ASK THE BANK DIRECTLY – they are your best source of information on what they require!

I’m Nervous or Embarrassed About Taking Rolls of Coins to the Bank

I am super shy and introverted so can completely understand if you might feel nervous about cashing in your coin rolls. Some people are embarrassed at the thought of doing this.

I’ve actually had people ask me, what if someone sees me and thinks I’m poor? What if someone makes fun at me? What if the people at the bank are mean?

Well, as someone who as actually been poor, and collected regular coins to deposit in the bank because I had to pay my bills – I can tell you firsthand from living in poverty for 95% of my life, not one person at any of the 5 different banks I’ve done business with have ever made fun of me or acted mean about it.

And if you are worried about what people might think about you, here is another pearl of wisdom I learned as a child: If you have friends who don’t like you because you are poor, they aren’t your real friends and they definitely aren’t the kind of kids you want to be friends with anyways.

Still nervous or worried? Calling in advance to check with the bank to make sure they will accept your deposit first is a great way to eliminate some of your fears and get over the wall of dread of actually driving to the bank to make a deposit.

Do banks accept foreign coins in rolls?

Most banks in the U.S. will only accept U.S. currency and will not take foreign coins unless they are a bank that specifically handles foreign exchange and deposits.

Keep in mind that currency exchange rates vary greatly and never put foreign coins in coin wrappers marked for U.S. currencies. If in doubt, call your bank to find out.


We all know that loose change can be cumbersome to deal with and use, but fortunately, it is very easy to convert your loose change into cash that you can deposit in your bank.

Of course, rolling coins isn’t the only thing you can do with too much loose change – see this list of creative ways to use and spend your pocket change. Yes, it IS possible to spend and use your loose change without angering cashiers, waitstaff or a long line of customers behind you!


Download Your FREE Coin Rolling Printables

If you are teaching someone how to roll coins, these 2 free printable coin rolling worksheets can be so helpful for them to learn the basics of how many coins go in each roll and how to calculate how much their rolls are worth when they are finished.

This is also a great activity for homeschooling or even helping keep kids busy on those cold boring days stuck at home.

Here are a couple of photos of how you might use these worksheets:

This makes it very easy for kids to visualize how to stack rows of 10 coins to come up with enough quarters, nickels, dimes, or pennies to make a roll.

Once your coins are wrapped, you will then of course want to add them up and see how much they are all worth! The second worksheet included in this download makes it easy to keep track.

Below is an example of how it would look if you filled it in. Basically you just count the number of rolls of each coin type and multiply it by the value.

Click the button below to access the free download:

As always, our printables are free for your own personal and educational use. If you enjoy them, please share this page on Pinterest or Facebook so others can find and enjoy our free downloads!


I hope this guide for how to roll coins is helpful for you and of course if you have any questions just ask, I’m happy to help!

Do you have any other tips for rolling and sorting coins? What do you think – is it fun and relaxing or do you dread rolling your loose change? Tell me your thoughts in the comments section below!

2 Comments

  1. So happy to have found your article. My parents taught me the value of rolling up my change at a young age. It’s something I’ve always done, even now at age fifty. When I was a young adult and just starting out on my own I rolled coins when I was short on money to pay bills or buy food. But even after I started my career and at times when I made the most money, I would continue rolling up my spare change. I’m always surprised at the end about the total dollar amount of the coins.
    Tomorrow I’m going to be teaching a young neighborhood boy how to roll coins. Not only will it help me out in getting my change rolled, but it will be educational for him, and I’ve told him that I am going to give him a cut of the total dollar amount of the coins. Your free tools on rolling coins are perfect for me to use to teach this lesson. Thank you!

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