
Looking for free coin counting machines or wondering where you can cash your coins for free?
You’re not the only one.
Based on a report from the U.S. Coin Task Force, the U.S. Treasury estimates that Americans have about $48 billion in loose change just sitting around at home.
But instead of paying big fees at places like Coinstar, there are better free options.
In this post, I’ll share the best spots to turn your coins into cash without paying anything, plus some smart tips to help you avoid fees and get the most out of your change.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary: Where to Cash Coins for Free
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No worries, here’s a quick comparison table I made to show you the best ways to cash in your coins for free, including banks, credit unions, and Coinstar alternatives.
Hope this makes it easier for you to find what you are looking for.
Option | Free? | Details | Best For |
---|---|---|---|
Your Bank | ✅ For customers | May require rolled coins; varies by branch | Bank account holders |
Credit Unions | ✅ For members | Often offer free coin counting or accept rolled coins | Credit union members |
QuikTrip Gas Stations | ✅ | Accepts coins for cash; check local store | People in QT-served states |
Coinstar (Gift Card Option) | ✅ | No fee if you choose gift cards instead of cash | Shoppers at major retailers |
Coinstar (Cash Option) | ❌ | 12.9% fee + $0.99 transaction fee | Convenience over savings |
Banks That Exchange Coins for Free
Up until just a few years ago, almost all banks had coin counting machines in the lobbies of their branches. Sadly, very few do these days.
That said, while some banks may not have a physical coin counting machine, you can still cash in your coins by going to the counter and asking the teller to do it for you. But normally you will have to have all your coins counted and rolled up (pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters separated and rolled into a stack). You can just dump a bucket of pennies on the counter and expect the teller to give you the equivalent cash for it.
Members can have their coins exchanged for free, but non-members will usually need to pay a fee. So, if you have some coins you want to cash in, I would recommend calling your bank to see if they will do it for you.
Here are some banks where you can exchange coins for cash for free if you’re a customer:
- Citizens Bank: Select locations provide free coin counting for customers.
- JBT (Jonestown Bank & Trust): Offers coin counting services at some branches.
- Manasquan Bank: Many branches offer coin machines, often free for customers.
- Republic Bank: Known for its “Coins for Kids” initiative and free coin counting at select locations.
- Bank of America: While most branches no longer have coin machines, a few may still provide limited services.
- Capital One: Services vary; some branches offer coin counters, especially in older locations.
- Citibank: Limited availability, but some branches may still offer coin services.
- Truist: Availability depends on the region; some locations have coin counting machines.
- U.S. Bank: Some branches, particularly in Minnesota, have free coin counting machines.
- TD Bank: Used to offer “Penny Arcade” machines; some locations may still provide coin services.
- Chase Bank: Generally doesn’t offer coin machines, but a few older branches might still have them.
- PNC Bank: Services vary; coin counting may be available at select branches.
- Wells Fargo: Coin services are limited, but some branches may accept rolled coins for cash.
Please do keep in mind that each bank has its own rules and policies. And they change and update them often. So to save yourself time, make sure to always call your local branch and ask before driving down.
Credit Unions with Free Coin Counting
Credit unions tend to be more community-focused and often provide free coin counting as a benefit to members.
Now not every Credit Union has coin counting machines in their branch, but they may still accept rolled coins or provide coin counting through teller services.
Here are a few well-known credit unions that offer free coin counting at select branches:
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- Navy Federal Credit Union: Offers coin-counting machines at some locations, free for members.
- First Community Credit Union: Many branches provide free coin counters for members.
- Alliant Credit Union: While primarily online, partnered branch locations may provide coin counting options.
- Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU): Select locations have coin counting machines available to members at no charge.
- America First Credit Union: Offers free coin counting machines at many branches in Utah and surrounding states.
As always, availability can vary by location, so it’s best to call ahead or check your credit union’s website before visiting.
There are thousands of credit unions across the country, so it’s impossible to list them all. To find out if your local credit union offers free coin counting or coin-to-cash services, just give them a quick call.
You can also search online using a phrase like “Does [Credit Union Name] cash coins for free?” to get answers specific to your area
Cash Coins at QuikTrip Gas Stations
QuikTrip is another place where you can cash in your coins. There are more than 900 QuikTrip locations so you can exchange your coins at your local QuikTrip gas station.
You can find QuikTrip stores in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
You can also get free air for your tires at all QuikTrip locations and buy dry ice there as well.
Stores with Coin Counting Machines
Okay, so the options above are great if you want to cash your coins for free, but I’ve got even more for you.
Some retailers have coin counting machines that let you exchange coins for cash. You just pour your coins into the machine, and it counts them. If it can’t figure out some coins, like foreign, damaged, or not really coins, it spits them out. Sometimes putting those coins back in helps the machine recognize them.
These machines are easy to use and a handy way to cash in spare change while you’re at the store.
Now, it’s important to know that most coin counting machines at stores aren’t free. Many use Coinstar kiosks, which charge a service fee of up to 12.9%, plus a $0.59 transaction fee. Not free, but not too expensive either.
The convenience is that you can cash your coins during your regular grocery run instead of making a special trip to the bank.
Below, I’ve listed retailers that have coin counting machines at some of their stores. But just because a store is on the list like Walmart doesn’t mean every location has a machine. The Walmart near you might not have one, but another one in a nearby town might.
I haven’t checked every single location, so to save time, I recommend calling your local store first to see if they have a coin counting machine before you go. That way, you won’t waste a trip.
If they do, great. You can head over and cash in your coins hassle-free.
National Retailers with Coin Counting Machines
Here’s a list of large chains with hundreds or thousands of locations across multiple states that have Coinstar machines or similar kiosks at some of their stores:
- Walmart: With over 4,700 stores nationwide, many Walmart locations have Coinstar machines and Money Centers for check cashing and financial services. Many are open 24 hours.
- Albertsons: Over 2,200 stores across the U.S., some with Coinstar kiosks. Services vary, so calling ahead is recommended.
- Kroger: More than 2,800 stores in 35 states. Select locations have Coinstar machines, plus pharmacies and financial services.
- Target: Nearly 2,000 stores nationwide. Some Target stores offer Coinstar machines and pharmacies. Check availability locally.
- CVS Pharmacy: With over 9,900 locations, some CVS stores provide Coinstar kiosks, though not all do.
- Lowe’s: Over 1,700 stores. Some locations have Coinstar kiosks; confirm before visiting.
- Food Lion: More than 1,100 stores primarily in the Southeast. Some stores have coin machines.
- Meijer: Around 240 stores in Michigan and surrounding states. Some stores have Coinstar kiosks.
- WinCo Foods: 131 stores in Western and Southern states, with some locations featuring Coinstar machines.
Regional Chains with Coin Counting Services
Here is a list of regional grocery and retail chains that have Coinstar or similar coin counting machines or services in select locations:
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
- Acme Markets (Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania)
- ShopRite (Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania)
- Hannaford (New England and New York)
- Redner’s Markets (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware)
- Stop & Shop (New York, New England, New Jersey)
Midwest
- Hy-Vee (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
- Cub Foods (Minnesota, Illinois)
- Jewel-Osco (Illinois, Iowa, Indiana)
- Giant Eagle (Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia)
- City Market (Colorado, Wyoming, Ohio)
- King Soopers (Colorado, Wyoming)
South & Southeast
- Harris Teeter (South Atlantic states and D.C.)
- Winn-Dixie (Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi)
- Harveys (Florida and Georgia)
- Randalls (Texas)
- Tom Thumb (Texas)
- Foodland (Hawaii)
Southwest & West
- Fry’s Food Stores (Arizona)
- Albertsons (various Western and Mountain states)
- Ralphs (Southern California)
- Vons (Southern California and Nevada)
How Does Coinstar Work?
Coinstar machines make it fast and easy to turn loose change into usable money or rewards, but there’s a catch if you want cash.
- Drop in unsorted coins (no need to roll them.).
- The machine counts your change in seconds.
- Choose your payout: cash, eGift card (no fee), or donation.
- Get a printed voucher or receipt to redeem at the register.
Most Coinstar machines are located in major grocery stores. You can find a nearby kiosk here.
Coistare Fees
Coinstar charges a 12.9% service fee plus a $0.99 transaction fee.
Depending on how much change you have, these fees can take a significant bite out of your total cash.
For example, if you have $100 in coins, you would pay about $13.89 in fees.
Here’s how it breaks down:
12.9% of $100 = $12.90
Plus the $0.99 transaction fee
Total fees = $12.90 + $0.99 = $13.89
So you would walk away with $86.11 after the fee.
How to Avoid Paying Coinstar Fee
If you want to avoid paying the 12.9% fee that Coinstar charges to cash your coins, here’s a smart tip: instead of cash, choose to receive a gift card!
Coinstar offers gift cards from popular brands like Amazon, Starbucks, Lowe’s, and many other places.
The best part?
When you pick a gift card, you get 100% of your coins’ value, no fee taken out.
That means if you have $100 in coins, you’ll get the full $100 loaded onto your gift card.
This is a great way to get the most value out of your spare change, especially if you shop at any of these stores regularly. Just look for the gift card option on the Coinstar machine when you’re ready to cash in your coins.
For more info on how Coinstar fees and other hacks to avoid paying fees, check out How Much Does Coinstar Charge.
How to Roll Coins for Free Coin Deposit
Don’t have access to a free coin counting machine?
Rolling your coins is a simple, old-school way to cash them in, especially at banks that don’t have machines.
- Get free coin wrappers from your bank or order them online.
- Sort coins by type: pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters.
- Count and fill each wrapper to its standard amount (e.g., $10 in quarters).
- Bring rolled coins to your bank or credit union for deposit or exchange.
Tip: Some banks only accept rolled coins from account holders, always call ahead.
FAQ About Cashing Coins for Free
Here are quick, helpful answers to the most common questions about converting loose change to cash.
Where can I cash coins for free?
Some credit unions, community banks, and select grocery stores offer free machines.
Are coin counting machines accurate?
Yes, they’re reliable, but old or damaged coins may be rejected.
Do all banks offer free coin counting services?
No, and if they do, it’s usually only for account holders.
How do I avoid the fee at Coinstar?
Choose a gift card payout instead of cash.
Which supermarket has a coin-counting machine?
Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, and many other major chains partner with Coinstar.
Do banks have coin counters?
Some do, especially credit unions and regional banks, but it varies by location.
Is there a free Coinstar?
Coinstar isn’t free for cash payouts, but gift card options are fee-free.
Final Thoughts on Cashing Your Coins Without Losing Money
Whether you’re searching for free coin counting machines or trying to figure out where to cash coins for free, there are more options than you might think.
From select banks and credit unions to Coinstar gift card payouts and good old-fashioned coin rolling, turning loose change into spendable cash doesn’t have to cost you a dime.
Before heading out, make sure to call ahead or use online tools to see if your local store or bank offers free services, it’s the easiest way to find free coin counting machines and know exactly where to cash coins for free.
Qt does not have coin machine & Texans Credit Union does not have coin machine.
Thanks
SJ
2/24/2023
Sj, thanks for that. Are you talking about your local branches?