Using actual dollars and cents is far less common today than it was a decade ago. Not many people carry around metal coins and paper bills to cover their daily spending needs. That’s because a plastic card or mobile app is safer and easier to use on the fly.
Now, most businesses accept prepaid, debit, and credit cards as the standard form of payment from customers. However, you will still need quarters in some rare instances.
Need to do laundry at the laundromat in your apartment complex or at a facility down the street? Quarters are your best friend and are usually necessary to get the job done. The same goes for some toll roads, a manual car wash or vacuum, putting air into your tires, and a short list of other things life throws our way.
When you need change in a pinch, here are the best places to look near you for quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies, and other coins.
1. Get Quarter Rolls from a Bank or Credit Union
Not surprisingly, banks and credit unions have ample currency on site, including all variations of coins. If you’re a customer or member of the bank or credit union, you can simply walk in and request a withdrawal in quarters as needed from your checking or savings account, or buy them with other currency.
If you aren’t a member of the nearest banking branch, you may still be able to request quarters from the teller there in exchange for dollar bills. However, not all financial institutions will make this trade if you aren’t a current account holder.
This may not be the fastest method since bank and credit union branches can get busy, especially first thing in the morning, late in the afternoon, and during the limited hours they are open on weekends. However, this will probably be the easiest way to buy large amounts of change, such as several $10 rolls of quarters with 40 coins in each roll.
Number of Coins per Roll and Cost
- Quarter rolls: $10 for 40 quarters
- Dime rolls: $5 for 50 dimes
- Nickel rolls: $2 for 40 nickels
- Penny rolls: $0.50 for 50 pennies
The quickest way to find an institution nearby is by using Google Maps or a similar website.
2. Get Quarters at a Gas Station or Grocery Store
Faster options for obtaining loose change may exist locally at the gas station, convenience store, or grocery store. These locations always have cash on hand, and no rule states you need to be a paying customer to exchange bills for coins. However, they don’t always have enough quarters to spare.
You can walk up to a cashier and let them know you’d like to exchange dollar bills for quarters, or receive quarters instead of paper bills as change when you buy something. So long as they have enough quarters available, you’ll quickly be on your way with a few coins in your pocket.
Just don’t expect to receive large amounts of change from these places. Oftentimes, they would probably prefer to buy quarter rolls you have for sale, rather than sell them to you.
3. Get Quarters from a Change or Vending Machine
– Change Machines
Change machines, which you will still run into occasionally, were popular at arcades and allowed you to exchange dollar bills for large amounts of quarters.
You will typically find a change machine near pull tabs, pool tables, dart boards, pinball machines, and other arcade games. You can also find them in many laundromats.
Bill-to-Coin Changer Machine Exchange Amounts
- 20-dollar bill: 80 quarters
- 10-dollar bill: 40 quarters
- 5-dollar bill: 20 quarters
- 1-dollar bill: 4 quarters
– Vending Machines
Another quick way to get quarters is through an old vending machine often found at public laundromats, bowling alleys, casinos, bars, and places near you where there are games.
If you input a $1 or $5 bill and push the change, coin return, or money return button, you’ll likely hear the clang of quarters quickly. One minor issue is that some older vending machines also hold nickels and dimes. If quarters inside the machine are minimal, you could end up with lots of other types of coins instead.
Avoid vending machines that accept card payments, as they may not provide change for dollar bills. Older vending machines that accept cash or change only are typically full of quarters.
4. Get Quarters From Any Retailer That Accepts Cash
If all else fails, you can walk into any retailer near you that accepts cash for payment and make a small purchase. That includes gas stations, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, and other retailers, including pharmacies and some big box stores. Some will typically have plenty of pocket change available for customers, but usually only for those paying for an item at that time.
Visiting a retailer may not be the most efficient way to get quarters for your bills, but it can be a quick way compared to some of the other options listed, depending on how many you need. You can also try asking for an exchange without buying something. But that request could upset some store owners, and you may lose out altogether.
Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Get Quarters Quickly
One thing to note is that coin exchange machines such as Coinstar may seem like a great place to exchange bills for quarters, but they only work in exchanging coins for cash. So, if you need quarters in a hurry, don’t make the same mistake I did.
The best places to obtain quarters are from the bank or credit union, a gas station, convenience or grocery store, an old vending or change machine in the nearest indoor hangout, a local retailer, the laundromat, or another place. Then get your laundry or whatever else you need done.