What this calculator does
A US dime is worth 10 cents, one of six coin denominations still in circulation alongside the penny (1c), nickel (5c), quarter (25c), half-dollar (50c) and dollar coin. On its own, "how much is a dime" is a fixed fact rather than something to calculate, but counting a mixed jar or till drawer of coins is a genuine, everyday sum worth having a tool for.
This calculator takes a count of each US coin and adds up the total, the same job as sorting a coin jar by hand but without the arithmetic. It also shows the value held in dimes specifically, since that is the denomination most often asked about.
The formula
Multiply the count of each coin by its face value, then add the six subtotals together for the total value. The count of pieces is also totalled separately, which is useful when a bank or till float needs both a dollar figure and a physical coin count.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Face value | What a coin is worth as currency: 1c, 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c or $1. |
| Dime | The US 10-cent coin, the fourth-smallest by face value and the smallest US coin by physical size. |
| Total pieces | The total number of individual coins counted, regardless of denomination. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Count of pennies (1c) | How many pennies (1c coins) are in the count. |
| Count of nickels (5c) | How many nickels (5c coins) are in the count. |
| Count of dimes (10c) | How many dimes (10c coins) are in the count. |
| Count of quarters (25c) | How many quarters (25c coins) are in the count. |
| Count of half-dollars (50c) | How many half-dollars (50c coins) are in the count. |
| Count of dollar coins ($1) | How many dollar coins ($1 coins) are in the count. |
When to use it
Counting a coin jar or till drawer
Sorting coins into denominations and entering the count of each is faster and less error-prone than adding up a running total by hand as you go.
Working out how much a roll of dimes is worth
A standard US coin roll holds a fixed number of each denomination (50 dimes to a roll); entering that count directly gives the roll’s value.
Checking a cash reconciliation
If a counted total does not match an expected float, recomputing from the coin counts by denomination helps isolate which denomination is short or over.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the total changes as the number of dimes varies
The other five denominations held fixed, with the dime count varied.
| Dimes counted | Total value | Total coins counted | Value of dimes alone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $6.70 | 43 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $7.70 | 53 | $1.00 |
| 15 | $8.20 | 58 | $1.50 |
| 20 | $8.70 | 63 | $2.00 |
| 40 | $10.70 | 83 | $4.00 |
| 100 | $16.70 | 143 | $10.00 |
Questions
How much is a dime worth?
A US dime is worth 10 cents (US$0.10), one-tenth of a dollar. It is physically the smallest current US coin despite being worth more than a penny or a nickel.
How many dimes make a dollar?
Ten dimes make one dollar, since each dime is worth 10 cents and 10 × 10c = 100c = $1.
Why is a dime smaller than a penny or a nickel?
US coin size has never been tied strictly to face value. The dime kept a small silver-era size when coins were still valued partly by the metal in them, while the penny and nickel were sized differently for their own base-metal compositions.
Does this work for a mixed jar of notes and coins?
This calculator covers coins only. For a mix that also includes Australian notes and coins, see the money counter instead.
For a mixed jar of Australian notes and coins rather than US coins, use the money counter. To work out what a large pile of cash weighs rather than its value, see the weight of a pile of cash calculator.