There are 20 nickels in a dollar. Each US nickel is worth 5 cents, so 100 cents divided by 5 gives 20. Because the US Mint makes every nickel at exactly 5.000 grams, those 20 coins also weigh 100 grams (about 3.53 ounces), which makes a dollar of nickels easy to check on a kitchen scale.
Weigh Your Nickels: Grams to Ounces
Since one nickel weighs 5 grams, the scale can count coins for you. First, enter a weight in grams below and read it in ounces, pounds or kilograms. Then divide the gram figure by 5 to get the number of nickels, and divide that by 20 to get dollars. For example, the default of 100 g is one dollar of nickels.
The nickel is the odd coin out in US pocket change. It is bigger than a dime yet worth half as much, and it is the only current coin whose weight lines up neatly with the metric system. In fact, a nickel weighs 5.000 grams, and that round number is why a dollar’s worth of nickels (20 coins) lands on exactly 100 grams.
The money math is simple, because a dollar is 100 cents and a nickel is 5 cents, so 100 / 5 = 20. In other words, every dollar in nickels is a stack of 20 coins, every 2 dollars is a bank roll of 40, and 5 dollars is 100 nickels. For the coin specs, this page relies on the US Mint, which publishes the official weight, size and metal of every circulating coin.
Next, below you will find a quick count chart, how nickels compare with pennies, dimes and quarters, roll and box sizes, and finally how to count a jar of change by weight instead of by hand.
How Many Nickels in a Dollar Amount: Quick Chart
Use this chart to quickly turn dollar amounts into nickel counts and weights. In addition, the weights use the Mint’s 5.000 g per coin and 1 oz = 28.349523125 g, rounded to two decimals.
| Dollar amount | Nickels | Weight (g) | Weight (oz / lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 cents | 2 | 10 g | 0.35 oz |
| 25 cents | 5 | 25 g | 0.88 oz |
| 50 cents | 10 | 50 g | 1.76 oz |
| 1 dollar | 20 | 100 g | 3.53 oz |
| 2 dollars | 40 (one roll) | 200 g | 7.05 oz |
| 5 dollars | 100 | 500 g | 17.64 oz / 1.10 lb |
| 10 dollars | 200 | 1,000 g (1 kg) | 35.27 oz / 2.20 lb |
| 20 dollars | 400 | 2,000 g | 4.41 lb |
| 100 dollars | 2,000 (one box) | 10,000 g (10 kg) | 22.05 lb |
So the pattern is easy to remember: multiply dollars by 20 to get nickels, then multiply nickels by 5 to get grams. For the full story on the coin itself, see our guide to how much a nickel weighs.
Recommended Tools for Counting and Weighing Coins
A small digital scale that reads to 0.01 g is the fastest way to count change, because it turns a jar of nickels into a single reading. For that reason, look for a scale with a calibration weight and a capacity of at least 200 g, which covers a full roll. Also, a coin sorter or a set of wrappers helps when you need to take rolls to the bank.
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Nickels in a Dollar vs Other Coins
Every US coin divides a dollar differently, and their weights do not follow their values. For example, a dime is worth twice as much as a nickel but weighs less than half as much. Therefore, the table below uses the US Mint’s current specifications.
| Coin | Value | Coins per dollar | Weight each | Weight of 1 dollar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penny (post-1982) | 1 cent | 100 | 2.50 g | 250 g (8.82 oz) |
| Nickel | 5 cents | 20 | 5.00 g | 100 g (3.53 oz) |
| Dime | 10 cents | 10 | 2.268 g | 22.68 g (0.80 oz) |
| Quarter | 25 cents | 4 | 5.67 g | 22.68 g (0.80 oz) |
| Half dollar | 50 cents | 2 | 11.34 g | 22.68 g (0.80 oz) |
| Dollar coin | 100 cents | 1 | 8.10 g | 8.10 g (0.29 oz) |
Now notice the neat trick in the middle rows. In fact, dimes, quarters and half dollars all weigh 22.68 g per dollar, so a mixed handful of those three coins can be valued by weight alone. Nickels, however, weigh more than four times as much per dollar, and pennies weigh eleven times as much. As a result, you should always weigh nickels separately from silver-colored coins.
Mixing Nickels, Dimes and Quarters
Of course, many readers do not have 20 nickels at hand, so here are common ways to reach one dollar with mixed change. In every case, each line adds up to 100 cents.
- 10 nickels + 5 dimes: 50 + 50 cents.
- 2 quarters + 10 nickels: also 50 + 50 cents.
- 3 quarters + 5 nickels: 75 + 25 cents.
- Six dimes + 8 nickels: 60 + 40 cents.
- A quarter, 5 dimes and 5 nickels: 25 + 50 + 25 cents.
To check any mix, multiply the number of each coin by its value in cents, add the results, and then divide by 100. For instance, 7 nickels and 4 dimes give 35 + 40 = 75 cents, so you still need 5 more nickels.
Nickels in a Dollar, a Roll and a Box
Generally, banks wrap coins in standard paper rolls, and the nickel roll is built around the dollar math: 40 nickels, or exactly 2 dollars. Similarly, a standard bank box of nickels holds 50 rolls, which is 2,000 coins or 100 dollars.
| Coin | Coins per roll | Roll value | Roll weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penny | 50 | 50 cents | 125 g (4.41 oz) |
| Nickel | 40 | 2 dollars | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Dime | 50 | 5 dollars | 113.4 g (4.00 oz) |
| Quarter | 40 | 10 dollars | 226.8 g (8.00 oz) |
Keep in mind that the roll weights cover the coins only, because the paper wrapper adds a gram or two. Also, a full roll of nickels stacks to about 78 mm (3.07 in), since each coin is 1.95 mm thick. So a dollar stack of 20 nickels stands about 39 mm, or just over 1 1/2 inches tall.
How to Count Nickels by Weight
- Zero the scale. First, turn it on, set it to grams, and press tare with an empty bowl on it.
- Check the scale with known coins. Weigh exactly 20 nickels first; the reading should be close to 100 g.
- Sort the coins. Next, remove pennies, dimes and quarters, because they weigh different amounts per cent.
- Weigh the nickels. Then pour them into the bowl and note the reading in grams.
- Divide by 5. As a result, you get the number of nickels; round it to the nearest whole coin.
- Divide by 20. Finally, that gives the value in dollars. You can also enter the grams in the converter above to see ounces.
For example, 860 g of nickels is 860 / 5 = 172 nickels, and 172 / 20 = 8.60 dollars. To brush up on small weights, our page on how much 1 gram is uses everyday objects like the paper clip.
What a Nickel Is Made Of
Today’s nickel is 75% copper and 25% nickel, according to the US Mint. In addition, it measures 21.21 mm (0.835 in) across and 1.95 mm (0.077 in) thick, with a plain edge. Interestingly, the name comes from the nickel in the alloy, even though copper makes up three quarters of the coin.
During World War II, nickel was needed for the war effort, so nickels dated 1942 to 1945 with a large mint mark above Monticello used a copper, silver and manganese alloy instead. Even so, those “war nickels” still carry the same 5-cent value, so 20 of them still make one dollar at face value. Meanwhile, the penny has changed far more: pre-1982 pennies are mostly copper and weigh about 3.11 g, while newer zinc pennies weigh 2.50 g.
Do and Don’t When Counting Change
Do
- Sort nickels from other coins first, before weighing.
- Test the scale with 20 known nickels first.
- Round the coin count to a whole number, since coins do not split.
- Use 40-coin wrappers for nickel rolls.
- Keep worn or bent coins aside and count them by hand.
Don’t
- Weigh nickels together with dimes or quarters.
- Trust a scale that reads only to whole ounces, because it is too coarse.
- Assume old or foreign coins also weigh 5 g.
- Forget to tare the bowl or the wrapper.
- Roll collectible coins with everyday change.
Honest Limits of Counting Coins by Weight
The 5.000 g figure is the Mint’s standard, but real coins vary slightly. For one thing, the Mint allows a small manufacturing tolerance. Moreover, years in circulation wear metal away, while dirt and grime can add a little. In short, a single nickel may read 4.9 g or 5.1 g on a sensitive scale. However, across a large pile these errors mostly cancel out, so weighing works well for jars and rolls. For exact totals, however, such as a cash drawer that must balance to the cent, count by hand or use a coin counter. Also, a cheap kitchen scale with 1 g steps can only tell you the count to within one coin.
When Accuracy Really Matters
Most of the time, therefore, a close estimate of your nickels is fine. Still, a few situations call for an exact count:
- Bank deposits. In general, banks count deposited coins themselves, so a short roll will be credited at the lower amount.
- Business cash drawers. For example, even one missing nickel shows up when the till is balanced.
- Classroom and test answers. Likewise, teachers expect the exact figure: 20 nickels in a dollar, not “about 20”.
In addition, the US Mint struck its final circulating pennies on November 12, 2025, according to its press release. Pennies remain legal tender, though, so the coin tables on this page still apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nickels in a dollar?
There are 20 nickels in a dollar. Each nickel is worth 5 cents, and 20 times 5 cents equals 100 cents.
How many nickels make 2 dollars?
It takes 40 nickels to make 2 dollars, which is exactly one standard bank roll of nickels.
How many nickels make 5 dollars?
Five dollars equals 100 nickels. In addition, together they weigh 500 grams, or about 1.10 pounds.
How much do the nickels in a dollar weigh?
Twenty nickels weigh 100 grams, or about 3.53 ounces, because each nickel weighs 5.000 grams.
How many nickels are in a pound?
A pound holds about 90.7 nickels, so roughly 91 coins, worth about 4.54 dollars.
How many nickels and dimes make a dollar?
Many mixes work. For example, 10 nickels and 5 dimes make a dollar, and so do 8 nickels and 6 dimes.
Is the number of nickels in a dollar the same as in Canada?
Yes. A Canadian nickel is also 5 cents, so 20 nickels make one Canadian dollar, although the coin weighs less (3.95 g).
How many cents are in a nickel?
A nickel is worth 5 cents, which is one twentieth of a dollar.
How many nickels are in a roll?
A standard roll holds 40 nickels worth 2 dollars. Also, the coins in a full roll weigh 200 grams.
Why do the nickels in a dollar weigh more than a dollar in quarters?
A nickel weighs 5 g for 5 cents, while a quarter weighs 5.67 g for 25 cents. As a result, a dollar in nickels weighs 100 g, but four quarters weigh only 22.68 g.
Nickels in a Dollar: The Bottom Line
To sum up, there are 20 nickels in a dollar, 40 in a roll, and 2,000 in a 100-dollar box. Because each nickel weighs exactly 5 grams, a dollar of nickels weighs 100 grams, and a scale can count a jar of nickels for you.
Finally, if you are working with ounces rather than grams, the converter at the top of this page handles the switch, and our guide to how much an ounce is explains the difference between weight and fluid ounces.