What Coinstar does and where to find one

Coinstar is a coin-counting machine you'll find in grocery stores, pharmacies, and some retail locations. You pour your coins into the machine, it counts them, and you get a receipt you can exchange for cash at the register or convert into a gift card. The machine handles pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters — it rejects foreign coins and anything too damaged to read.

Coinstar machines are operated by Coinstar, Inc., which places them in partner locations across the United States. You can search for a machine near you on the Coinstar website by entering your zip code. Most machines are in grocery chains like Safeway, Kroger, and Whole Foods, but they also appear in CVS, Walgreens, and some Walmart locations. Availability varies by region and changes over time as locations add or remove machines.

The process takes a few minutes. You dump your coins into the hopper, the machine sorts and counts them, and a receipt prints out showing the total. You then take that receipt to the customer service desk or register to collect your cash. Some locations let you print a gift card code instead of taking cash — this option costs nothing extra and works with retailers like Amazon, iTunes, and restaurant chains.

Key Takeaways

  • Coinstar charges a percentage fee (typically 11.9% of your total) when you take cash, but charges nothing if you convert to a gift card instead.
  • You can find Coinstar machines in most major grocery stores and pharmacies by searching your zip code on the Coinstar website.
  • The machine counts coins in seconds and prints a receipt you exchange for cash or a gift card at the register.
  • Coinstar does not accept foreign coins, bills, or coins too damaged to identify, and these are returned to you.
  • Gift card options include major retailers like Amazon, iTunes, and restaurant chains, with no fee charged for the conversion.

How much Coinstar charges and when you pay nothing

Coinstar's fee structure depends on what you do with your coins. If you take cash, Coinstar charges a percentage of your total — this rate varies by location and changes periodically, but typically falls between 11% and 12%. A machine might show you the exact rate before you start, or you may not see it until the receipt prints. The fee is deducted from your total before you receive your cash.

If you choose a gift card instead of cash, there is no fee. This is the cost-free option. Coinstar offers gift cards from dozens of retailers and restaurants, including Amazon, Starbucks, iTunes, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and many others. The full value of your coins converts to the gift card with nothing held back. This makes gift cards the better choice if you shop at any of the participating retailers anyway.

The fee applies only to cash withdrawals. Some people use Coinstar to convert coins to a gift card, then sell or trade the gift card elsewhere if they need cash — this is a workaround some readers mention, though it adds extra steps and may not recover the full value depending on where you sell the card.

What coins Coinstar accepts and rejects

Coinstar machines accept U.S. pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters in any condition that the machine can read. Coins that are too worn, bent, or corroded for the machine to identify are automatically rejected and returned to you in a separate bin. You can pour them back in and try again, or take them home.

The machine does not accept foreign coins, tokens, arcade coins, or damaged U.S. coins it cannot identify. It also does not accept dollar coins, half-dollars, or other denominations outside the standard four. If you have a mix of coins and foreign currency, sort them before you go — the machine will reject the foreign coins and you'll have to remove them from the hopper.

Rolled coins work fine. You can dump them in as-is; the machine will break open the rolls and count the contents. Some people bring coins in bags or jars, which is also fine — just empty them into the hopper and let the machine do the work.

Coinstar versus other coin-cashing options

Coinstar is not the only way to turn coins into cash. Your bank may count coins for free if you have an account there, though many banks have reduced or eliminated this service in recent years. Call your bank's customer service line or visit a branch to ask whether they still offer free coin counting and what their process is.

Some credit unions also count coins at no charge for members. Coin-counting services at banks and credit unions typically require you to be a customer and may have limits on how much you can bring at once. The advantage is that there is no fee, but the disadvantage is that you have to go during business hours and may need to wait while they count.

Grocery stores and pharmacies sometimes have customer service desks that will count coins by hand if you ask, though this is becoming less common and is not may provide. Coinstar's advantage is speed and consistency — the machine counts in minutes and the fee is transparent, even if it costs you money. The gift card option makes Coinstar free if you're willing to use a participating retailer's card instead of cash.

How to use a Coinstar machine step by step

Step 1: Find a machine. Go to coinstar.com, enter your zip code, and select a location near you. Most results will show you the store name, address, and hours. Bring your coins in a bag, jar, or container — you don't need to sort or roll them first.

Step 2: Pour your coins into the hopper. The hopper is the wide opening at the top of the machine. Dump your coins in and let the machine sort them. This takes a minute or two depending on how many coins you have. The machine will beep or display a message when it's done.

Step 3: Review the total and choose your payout method. The screen will show your total and ask whether you want cash or a gift card. If you choose cash, the machine will show you the fee (usually 11–12%) and the amount you'll receive after the fee is deducted. If you choose a gift card, select from the available retailers and confirm.

Step 4: Get your receipt. The machine prints a receipt showing your total and your choice. Take this receipt to the customer service desk or register. If you chose cash, the cashier will give you the amount shown on the receipt. If you chose a gift card, they will either print a code or load the value onto a physical card.

Step 5: Collect rejected coins if any. If the machine rejected coins, they will be in a separate bin at the bottom of the machine. Remove them and take them home or try them again.

When Coinstar makes sense and when it doesn't

Coinstar is worth using if you have a large jar of coins and no bank account that counts coins for free. The machine is fast — faster than counting by hand or waiting for a bank teller — and the fee is predictable. If you choose a gift card, there's no fee at all, which makes it a good option if you were going to shop at that retailer anyway.

Coinstar is less worth using if your bank counts coins for free and you have time to visit during business hours. The 11–12% fee adds up quickly on large amounts; $100 in coins becomes $88 or $89 after the fee. If you have only a small amount of coins, the fee may not be worth it — a handful of quarters and dimes might only total $5 or $10, and losing $1 to a fee stings more on a small amount.

The gift card option changes the math entirely. If you shop at Amazon, Starbucks, Target, or any of the other participating retailers, converting your coins to a gift card costs nothing and gives you the full value. This makes Coinstar a practical choice even for smaller amounts of coins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Coinstar if I don't have a bank account?

Yes. Coinstar does not require a bank account. You get cash at the register or a gift card code, both of which work without a bank. If you choose cash, you receive bills and coins that you can use when ready or deposit later if you open an account.

What happens to the coins Coinstar rejects?

Rejected coins stay in a bin at the bottom of the machine and are returned to you. You can remove them and take them home, or try inserting them again if you think the machine misread them. Coinstar does not keep rejected coins.

Can I use Coinstar for Canadian coins or other foreign currency?

No. Coinstar machines only accept U.S. pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Foreign coins are rejected automatically. If you have Canadian coins or other currency, you'll need to exchange them at a bank or currency exchange service.

Is the Coinstar fee the same at every location?

The fee varies by location and can change over time. Most machines charge between 11% and 12% for cash, but some locations may differ. The machine will show you the exact fee before you complete the transaction, so you can see what you'll pay before you commit.

What if I want cash but the gift card option is cheaper?

The gift card option is always free — there is no fee at all. If you need cash specifically, you'll pay the percentage fee. But if you can use a gift card from one of the participating retailers, that's the lowest-cost choice every time.