There are 40 nickels in 2 dollars, because each nickel is worth 5 cents and 2 dollars is 200 cents (200 / 5 = 40). In addition, by US Mint specifications, those 40 nickels weigh exactly 200 grams, or about 7.05 ounces, and make one standard bank roll of nickels.
Weigh Your Nickels: Grams to Ounces and Pounds
Because every nickel weighs 5 grams, a scale can count nickels for you. So enter the weight of your pile in grams below. The converter then shows the same weight in ounces and pounds; after that, divide the grams by 5 to get the number of nickels.
Why 40 Nickels in 2 Dollars Is Handy to Know
The quick math is easy, of course. However, the nickel is also one of the few things in your pocket with a precisely defined size and weight, and that makes it handy for more than shopping. The US Mint coin specifications list the 5-cent coin at 5.000 grams, 21.21 mm (0.835 inch) across and 1.95 mm (0.077 inch) thick. In addition, it is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel, and it is the only circulating US coin that is not clad.
So the answer to how many nickels in 2 dollars comes with a few bonus facts. For instance, forty nickels weigh 200 grams, stack about 78 mm (3.07 inches) high, and fill exactly one paper roll. As a result, you can check a roll by weighing it, measure a stack with a ruler, or use a nickel as a rough 5-gram test weight for a kitchen scale.
However, the older version of this page also had a few errors. For example, it said five nickels make a dollar (the right number is 20), that nickels have a reeded edge (the edge is plain), and that nickels are magnetic (they are not). As a result, those are fixed below.
Nickels in 2 Dollars and Other Amounts: Chart
First, each row below multiplies the dollar amount by 20 nickels. In addition, the weight and stack height use the Mint’s 5.000 g and 1.95 mm figures, so they describe new, uncirculated coins.
| Amount | Nickels | Weight (g) | Weight (oz) | Weight (lb) | Stack height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 dollar | 20 | 100 g | 3.53 oz | 0.22 lb | 39 mm (1.54 in) |
| 2 dollars | 40 | 200 g | 7.05 oz | 0.44 lb | 78 mm (3.07 in) |
| 3 dollars | 60 | 300 g | 10.58 oz | 0.66 lb | 117 mm (4.61 in) |
| 4 dollars | 80 | 400 g | 14.11 oz | 0.88 lb | 156 mm (6.14 in) |
| 5 dollars | 100 | 500 g | 17.64 oz | 1.10 lb | 195 mm (7.68 in) |
| 6 dollars | 120 | 600 g | 21.16 oz | 1.32 lb | 234 mm (9.21 in) |
| 7 dollars | 140 | 700 g | 24.69 oz | 1.54 lb | 273 mm (10.75 in) |
| 8 dollars | 160 | 800 g | 28.22 oz | 1.76 lb | 312 mm (12.28 in) |
| 9 dollars | 180 | 900 g | 31.75 oz | 1.98 lb | 351 mm (13.82 in) |
| 10 dollars | 200 | 1,000 g | 35.27 oz | 2.20 lb | 390 mm (15.35 in) |
Printable tip: similarly, this chart fits on one page if you print in landscape. Also, for the 1-dollar case on its own, see how many nickels make a dollar.
Recommended Tools for Counting and Weighing Nickels
Counting by hand works well for one roll, of course. For a jar of change, though, a tray or a scale saves a lot of time. First, a ridged coin tray lines nickels up in rows so you can see 40 at a glance. Next, crimped or preformed nickel wrappers hold exactly 40 coins. Finally, a pocket scale with 0.1 g resolution or better and at least 500 g capacity can confirm a roll or count a pile by weight.
As an Amazon Associate, Measuring Expert earns from qualifying purchases.
How Much Do the Nickels in 2 Dollars Weigh?
To begin with, forty nickels weigh 40 x 5.000 g = 200 g. In US units, that is 200 / 28.3495 = 7.05 ounces, or a little under half a pound (0.44 lb). By comparison, a typical smartphone weighs roughly the same, so a full roll of nickels feels surprisingly heavy for its value.
Size is just as easy to work out. For example, each coin is 1.95 mm thick, so a neat stack of 40 stands about 78 mm, or 3.07 inches, tall. Likewise, the diameter of 21.21 mm (0.835 inch) sets the width of a nickel roll, which is why nickel wrappers are wider than dime or penny wrappers.
| Measurement | One nickel | 40 nickels (2 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 5.000 g (0.176 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz, 0.44 lb) |
| Thickness / stack height | 1.95 mm (0.077 in) | 78 mm (3.07 in) |
| Diameter | 21.21 mm (0.835 in) | 21.21 mm (roll width before the wrapper) |
| Composition | 75% copper, 25% nickel | same |
| Edge | plain (smooth) | – |
For a deeper look at a single coin, read how much a nickel weighs. Similarly, if you want to turn grams into other units, see how much is an ounce.
Nickels in 2 Dollars vs Other Coins
People often mix up coin counts; for example, they confuse nickels and dimes. So here is 2 dollars made from each common coin, with the Mint weights. Note, however, that the dime is the smallest coin even though it is worth more than a nickel.
| Coin | Value | Coins in 2 dollars | Weight of one | Weight of 2 dollars | Coins per standard roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penny | 1 cent | 200 | 2.50 g | 500 g (17.64 oz) | 50 |
| Nickel | 5 cents | 40 | 5.000 g | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 40 |
| Dime | 10 cents | 20 | 2.268 g | 45.36 g (1.60 oz) | 50 |
| Quarter | 25 cents | 8 | 5.670 g | 45.36 g (1.60 oz) | 40 |
In short, 2 dollars in nickels weighs more than four times as much as 2 dollars in dimes or quarters. Interestingly, 20 dimes and 8 quarters weigh exactly the same, because the Mint sets clad coin weights in proportion to their value. For pennies, see how many pennies are in 100 dollars.
How to Count the Nickels in 2 Dollars Fast
- Sort out the nickels. First, pull them from mixed change; they are the large silver-colored coins with smooth edges.
- Make stacks of 10. Ten nickels are worth 50 cents, so four stacks of 10 make 2 dollars.
- Check the stacks side by side. Next, line the four stacks up; any short stack then stands out at once.
- Weigh the group if you have a scale. Tare an empty bowl, add the coins, and look for about 200 g (7.05 oz); then divide grams by 5 for the count.
- Wrap them. Then slide the 40 coins into a nickel wrapper and fold or crimp both ends.
- Label the roll. Finally, write your name or account number on it if your bank asks for that.
After that, most banks accept rolled coins from customers. Even so, policies vary by bank, and some ask for your account number on every roll, so check with yours first.
Nickel Facts People Get Wrong
Coin trivia spreads fast, and as a result some of it is simply wrong. Here are the corrections that matter most for counting and measuring:
- Edge: the nickel has a plain, smooth edge, whereas dimes and quarters are reeded.
- Magnetism: a US nickel is not attracted to a household magnet, because its copper-nickel alloy is mostly copper.
- Size: a nickel (21.21 mm) is larger than a penny (19.05 mm) and a dime (17.91 mm), but smaller than a quarter (24.26 mm).
- Design: Thomas Jefferson has been on the front since 1938; meanwhile, Monticello appears on the back in most years.
- History: the first 5-cent nickel (the Shield nickel) came out in 1866. Then, from 1942 to 1945, “war nickels” were made of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese.
Do and Don’t for Counting Nickels
Do
- Count in stacks of 10 first, then multiply.
- Also weigh a full roll to confirm 200 g.
- Use wrappers sized for nickels instead of generic tubes.
- Tare the scale first, before adding coins.
- Set aside 1942-1945 nickels to check.
Don’t
- Mix nickels into a quarter wrapper, because both hold 40.
- Assume 5 nickels make a dollar; instead, it takes 20.
- Rely on a 200 g scale for a 200 g roll.
- Weigh dirty or damaged coins for an exact count.
- Forget foreign coins hiding in the jar, either.
Honest Limits of Counting by Weight
Keep in mind that the 5.000 g figure is the Mint’s target for a new coin, not a guarantee for every coin in your jar. In practice, circulated nickels lose a tiny amount of metal over decades of use, and dirt or grime can add a little. As a result, a weighed pile of old nickels can come out slightly under or over the exact count. Even so, for a single roll, the difference is usually less than one coin. For a large jar, however, small errors add up, so treat a weight-based count as an estimate and hand-count anything you need to be exact about.
Scales matter too, of course. For instance, a cheap pocket scale with a 200 g limit may show an error at exactly 200 g. Therefore, pick one with headroom and check it with a known weight first.
When an Exact Count Really Matters
For a piggy bank, close is usually good enough. Still, some situations need an exact number. For example, cash drawers at the end of a shift, coin deposits at a bank, and fundraiser totals all depend on a correct count. In those cases, therefore, count by hand in stacks of 10, then confirm with a scale or a tray. Meanwhile, teachers can use 2 dollars in nickels as a counting exercise: grouping by 10s and by 20s shows clearly why 40 nickels equal 2 dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nickels in 2 dollars?
There are 40 nickels in 2 dollars. After all, each nickel is worth 5 cents, and 200 cents divided by 5 equals 40.
How many nickels make 1 dollar?
Twenty nickels make 1 dollar, because 20 x 5 cents = 100 cents.
How much do the nickels in 2 dollars weigh?
In short, forty new nickels weigh 200 grams, which is about 7.05 ounces or 0.44 pounds.
How many nickels are in a roll?
Usually, a standard roll of nickels holds 40 coins, worth 2 dollars in total.
How tall is a stack of the nickels in 2 dollars?
Because each nickel is 1.95 mm thick, a stack of 40 is about 78 mm, or 3.07 inches, tall.
How many nickels are in 5 dollars?
There are 100 nickels in 5 dollars. Together, they weigh about 500 grams, or 1.10 pounds.
Can I count nickels with a kitchen scale?
Yes. Weigh the nickels in grams and divide by 5. However, worn coins may make the count slightly off, so round to the nearest whole coin.
Is a nickel made of nickel?
Only partly. In fact, a modern US nickel is 75% copper and 25% nickel, and it is the only circulating US coin that is not clad.
Are nickels magnetic?
No. In fact, a US nickel does not stick to an ordinary magnet, because its alloy is mostly copper.
Which weighs more, a roll of nickels or a roll of quarters?
A roll of quarters is heavier: 40 quarters weigh about 226.8 g, while 40 nickels weigh 200 g.
Nickels in 2 Dollars: The Bottom Line
To sum up, there are 40 nickels in 2 dollars, and that is exactly one standard roll. In addition, those 40 coins weigh 200 grams (about 7.05 ounces) and stack roughly 3 inches high, so you can check a roll with a scale or a ruler as well as by counting.
Finally, if you are working with a whole jar of change, weigh the nickels, divide the grams by 5, and use the converter above for ounces and pounds. After that, hand-count any amount that has to be exact.