Are you looking for the best place to get quarters?
While we may rely on debit and credit cards to make purchases and pay bills more than ever, there are still several needs for quarters.
Believe it or not, my local arcade still has many games that use coin pushers to operate!
That said, whether you need quarters to take the bus, want a snack from a vending machine, etc., you may have found yourself wondering where you can get them.
Although we may or may not have experienced a coin shortage due to the pandemic, don’t worry, there is still an adequate amount in circulation.
This article will outline the 15 best places to get quarters (including rolls), answer frequently asked questions, and much more.
The quick answer: The best place to get quarters is your bank. However, you can also get them at your local grocery store, Walmart, Target, fast food restaurants, and many other places. These are particularly good options if you’re trying to get quarters on a Sunday, as banks are typically closed. However, if you get quarters at a place other than your bank, you may be required to make a small purchase to do so.
Where Can I Get Quarters Near Me?
If you frequently use plastic to make your purchases, you probably don’t receive change often and, as a result, don’t have quarters when you need them most.
Fortunately, as previously mentioned, whether you need quarters for parking, laundry, or even for your children’s allowance, there are still several places to get them.
That said, here are your 15 best options:
1. Your Bank
Your bank is by far the best place to get quarters, especially if you want rolls or a large amount.
As a customer of the bank, you should be able to withdraw just about as much of your money in quarters as you want without any trouble or paying a fee.
That said, if you don’t have a bank account, you can still visit one in your area and see if they’ll honor your request.
Some banks will exchange your bills for quarters without even asking if you’re an account holder.
However, they are not obligated to provide this service to noncustomers, so it may be wise to call ahead and ask about their policy. This way, you won’t waste time making a trip for nothing.
Note: banks are typically closed on Sundays, so make sure to plan ahead if you’ll need quarters on this day of the week.
Where Can I Get Quarters That’s Not a Bank
Now that you know your bank is the best place to get quarters, here are your 14 other best options.
These are especially good if you don’t have a bank account. They’re also good options if you’re trying to get quarters on Sundays, as banks are typically closed on this day of the week.
2. Grocery or Convenience Stores
Grocery stores like Safeway, Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, and Publix are all great places to get quarters on Sundays.
To get quarters at your local grocery store, you have two options: make a small purchase with a bill and ask to receive all your change in quarters, or visit their customer service desk.
Their customer service desk may be the best option if they’re busy, as you won’t hold up the line. It may also be quicker. At the customer service desk, they’ll have you swipe your debit or credit card and then give you quarters.
Similarly, local convenience stores like 7-Eleven are also a great place to get quarters as well. However, unlike a grocery store, you will need to make a small purchase. They are also less likely to have a sufficient amount of quarters.
3. Walmart
If there’s a Walmart closer to you than your local grocery store, you may want to get quarters there instead.
Because Walmart handles countless money transactions and exchanges daily, it sees a ton of coinage and cash.
As a result, Walmart cashiers should have a lot of quarters in their cash registers that they can exchange for bills.
However, you probably shouldn’t ask for too many. The last thing you want to do is upset people waiting behind you by holding up the line.
That said, if you only need a few quarters, then Walmart is a great option.
4. Target
Target is a great place to get quarters if there’s one closer to you than a Walmart or grocery store.
Like Walmart, Target also has a customer service desk that should be able to assist your needs.
However, if you only need a few quarters and are a bit hungry, you may just want to buy a snack at Target’s food court with bills and ask to receive your change in quarters instead.
While this may cost you a few bucks, if the food court isn’t busy, it should be a faster option than visiting their customer service desk.
5. Laundromats
Surprise, Surprise, one of the places people need quarters most often, is also one of the best places to get them.
Because most laundromats require coins to operate the laundry machines, they usually have a coin machine you can use to exchange bills for quarters. In fact, many will let you exchange bills of up to $20 in value. That’s a lot of quarters!
This makes laundromats a great place to do your laundry and get quarters at the same time.
However, some places have upgraded their payment systems and now require a card to operate, defeating the purpose of having a coin machine.
Considering this, you may want to call your local laundromat to ask if they still have a coin machine before heading there.
6. Fast Food Restaurants
Like your local grocery store, Walmart, and Target, you can also get quarters at fast food joints in your area, such as McDonald’s as well.
This is an excellent option if you’re running errands and need to pick up some lunch.
After ordering, simply pay with bills and ask politely to receive your change in quarters. Just remember that if they’re short on change, you may also receive other coins as well.
7. Car Washes
Are you running some errands? Throw a car wash in the mix, and get some quarters while you’re at it!
Similar to laundromats, some but not all car washes require quarters to operate as well as their air hoses and vacuums. As a result, they should have a change machine, especially at do-it-yourself car washes.
With these machines, you can insert your bills and get as many quarters as you need.
Because these machines typically operate all day, seven days a week, they are a great way to get quarters at odd hours, such as late at night.
8. Street Performers
Oftentimes, street performers have a cup or something else in front of them so passersby can tip them for their performance. As a result, they usually have a lot of quarters and other change.
If you’re out and about and see a street performer, you could approach them and ask if they’re willing to trade you some quarters for your paper money. Much-needed quarters and some free music? Count me in!
That said, you may even want to offer to tip them for helping you. For example, you could offer to trade them a $5 bill for $4 worth of quarters, etc. This will increase your odds of them accepting your request.
9. Pharmacies
Pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid are other great places to get quarters if you don’t need many and don’t care if they’re in a roll.
Because medicine is often priced with cents, they usually have a lot of quarters and other coins in their cash registers.
Simply stop by your local pharmacy and see if they can help you out. Just remember that you may need to make a small purchase.
Also, be mindful that some smaller pharmacies may not be able to accommodate your request.
10. Make a Purchase
Places like grocery and convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and pharmacies may require you to make a small purchase to get some quarters.
If you’re in a bind and do need to make a purchase to get some quarters, simply buy something cheap like a small pack of gum or a 99-cent candy bar.
Just plan ahead next time so you can quarters somewhere you don’t have to make a purchase like your bank or credit union.
11. Arcades
If you’re looking for a fun place to get quarters, head to your local arcade, Chuck E. Cheese, or Dave & Buster’s.
Because many arcade games require coins to play, these places often have a machine to convert cash into coins.
However, many have made the switch to electronic systems that take cards instead, eliminating the need for coins.
Considering this, you should call your local arcade, Chuck E. Cheese, or Dave & Buster’s ahead of time to verify they still have a machine that converts paper currency into coins. If they don’t, you will have to choose another option outlined in this article.
12. Bowling Alleys
Like arcades, many bowling alleys, such as Big Al’s, have an area where kids can play arcade games.
Because these games also require coins to play, bowling alleys with these areas may have a change machine you can use to swap some paper currency for quarters.
However, not all do, so call ahead to verify like you would if you were going to an actual arcade to get quarters instead.
That said, if you ever find yourself at a bowling alley that doesn’t have a coin machine, you can purchase some popcorn or a drink with bills and ask to receive your change in quarters, so you don’t waste your time.
13. Friends and Family
Chances are, you probably know someone who has a piggy bank, mason jar, or even a Ziploc bag full of coins, including quarters.
Back in the day, my brother had a massive jar full of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. It must’ve had more than $200 worth of coins!
Whenever I needed some quarters, I would just ask him to trade me some for my paper money, and he was always willing.
That said, simply ask around to see if any of your family or friends have some quarters they’re willing to trade you for bills. Just be willing to return the favor in the future!
14. Snack Vending Machines
A snack vending machine is a quick and easy way to get a small number of quarters without dealing with employees. Simply buy a snack with a larger paper denomination than it costs.
For example, if you buy a snack that costs $1.25 with a $5 bill, you may receive several quarters in change. However, you may receive other coins as well.
That said, if it’s an older vending machine, you may be able to exchange your bill for quarters without even buying anything.
Simply insert your bill into the vending machine and then press the “change return” button. If the machine doesn’t have any notes to dispense, it should give you your money back in coins instead.
Caution: If a vending machine only has pennies, nickels, and dimes, you won’t receive any quarters. Furthermore, if the machine is low on coins in general, you may not receive any change at all and be out some money.
15. Soda Vending Machines
Like snack vending machines, soda vending machines are also a great way to get a small number of quarters without dealing with anyone.
Simply buy a drink with a larger paper denomination than it costs, and you should receive quarters and other coins in change.
As previously mentioned, if the soda vending machine is older, you should be able to exchange your bill for coins without buying anything. Simply follow the steps mentioned above.
Again, if the vending machine doesn’t have quarters, you will only receive pennies, nickels, and dimes. And in the worst-case scenario, you won’t receive anything if the machine is short on change in general.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions about where you can get quarters:
Can I Get Quarters From Any Bank?
This question has a bit of a yes and no answer. While some banks may be willing to exchange paper money for quarters for noncustomers, they are not obligated to do so.
In other words, some banks will only do this exchange for account holders.
Considering this, if you’re going to try to get quarters from a bank you’re not a customer of, you should call ahead to ask about their policy, so you don’t waste your time.
That said, a branch of a bank you’re a customer of is your best option, as you can be sure they’ll be willing to help you without any trouble.
Can I Order Rolls of Quarters Online?
While you can order rolls of quarters online through sites like Amazon, eBay, and even Etsy, I highly advise against it. Although it may be convenient, it’s not cost-efficient.
For each roll of quarters you buy, you’ll pay far more than the $10 they’re worth.
That said, if you do buy quarters online, you should probably buy them directly from the United States Mint.
Where Can I Get Quarters on a Sunday?
You can get quarters on Sunday from nearly every place outlined on our list, such as your local grocery store, Walmart, or Target.
However, you may not be able to get quarters on Sunday from your bank. Most banks and credit unions are typically closed on this day of the week.
Where Can I Get Quarters for Laundry?
There are many places you can get quarters for laundry, which are outlined in our article:
- Your bank
- Local grocery store
- Walmart or Target
- Fast food restaurants
- Carwashes
- Street performers
- Pharmacies
- Arcades
- Bowling Alleys
- Family and friends
- Vending machines
Can I Get Quarters from an ATM?
Because automated teller machines were not designed to dispense coins, you can’t get quarters from typical ATMs.
If you need quarters, you will need to utilize an option outlined in this article, such as visiting your bank or making a small purchase at a store with bills and asking to receive your change in quarters.
Can I Get Coins From Coinstar?
Unfortunately, you can’t exchange paper money for quarters at Coinstar. At Coinstar kiosks, you can only exchange coins for paper money, not the other way around.
That’s a great idea, though! Does anyone know why they don’t offer this?
How Much Is a Roll of Quarters?
A regular roll of quarters has a total of 40 quarters, each being worth $0.25. Considering this, a standard roll of quarters is worth $10.
This is much less than a box of quarters. A standard box of quarters from the Federal Reserve Bank contains 50 rolls of quarters.
Because each roll contains 40 quarters, there are 2,000 quarters in a single box. This comes out to a total of $500 worth of quarters in each standard box.
Final Thoughts on Where You Can Get Quarters
While we may rely on plastic more than ever, there are still many places you can get quarters and even cash for coins.
That said, your bank is by far your best option. You should be able to withdraw just about as much of your money in rolls of quarters as you want without any trouble or paying a fee.
If you don’t have a bank, then you should consider getting quarters at your local grocery or convenience store, Walmart, or any other place outlined on our list.
Just remember that you may be required to make a small purchase. If that’s the case, just buy something super cheap, like a small pack of gum or a candy bar.
