Garage Sale Change Calculator: How Much Cash to Bring
Enter your currency, how many buyers you expect and how you price your items. The calculator suggests a starting cash float broken down by bill and coin, and gives you a count sheet to print for your cash box.
Work out your cash float
Cash box count sheet
Starting float for about 40 buyers · USD · 25¢ steps (25¢, 50¢, 75¢) · largest bill $20
| Denomination | Count | Value | Counted before | Counted after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolls of quarters (40 × 25¢ = $10)80 quarters | 2 | $20 | ________ | ________ |
| $1 bills | 20 | $20 | ________ | ________ |
| $5 bills | 10 | $50 | ________ | ________ |
| $10 bills | 5 | $50 | ________ | ________ |
| Total float | $140 | ________ | ________ |
Takings = count after − $140 float. This is a starting estimate, not financial advice.
How it works: about one $1 bill per two buyers, one $5 per four buyers and one $10 per eight, so you can always break a $20. Coins are added only when prices end in cents, and extra $20s only if you expect $50 or $100 bills.
Tips for handling cash on sale day
Get small bills from the bank on Friday. Most buyers arrive with $20s straight from the ATM, and the first hour is the busiest. If you wait until Saturday morning, the bank may be closed and nearby stores rarely want to break large bills. Ask the teller for the exact mix from your count sheet, plus rolled coins if you price in cents.
Keep the cash on you, not in an open box. A fanny pack or a carpenter's apron keeps your float with you while you help buyers, carry items to cars or answer questions. A cash box left on a table is easy to walk off with when you are busy. Move large notes to a safe place indoors during the day.
Accept e-Transfer or Venmo for bigger items. Letting buyers pay by Interac e-Transfer (Canada), Venmo or Zelle (US), or a bank transfer means you need less change and hold less cash. Check that the payment has arrived before the item leaves.
Count the float before and after. Count your starting cash with a helper before you open and write it on the sheet. At the end, count again and subtract the float to see what you actually took in. This is also the easiest way to split takings fairly at a multi-family sale.
Getting ready? See the garage sale supplies checklist, set prices with the garage sale price guide, or post your sale free.
Common questions about garage sale change
How much change do I need for a garage sale?
For a typical sale with about 40 buyers, around $100–150 in small bills and coins is a good start: twenty $1 bills, ten $5s, five $10s and two rolls of quarters if your prices end in cents. Bigger sales need proportionally more.
Which bills should I bring for change?
Mostly $1s, then $5s and $10s. Many buyers pay with $20s from the ATM, so you need enough small bills to break several twenties early in the morning. Bring a few $20s only if you expect people to pay with $50 or $100 bills.
Do I need coins at a garage sale?
Only if your prices end in cents. Pricing in whole dollars means you can skip coins entirely. If you price in 25¢ or 50¢ steps, two rolls of quarters usually cover a mid-sized sale.