How it works
Count each denomination, and the calculator totals the drawer. Subtract the starting bank you leave in for the next shift to get the deposit, then compare against the register's cash sales to see if the drawer is over or short.
Example. The drawer holds $798 in bills and $18 in coins, for a total of $816.00.
With a $150 starting bank, the deposit is $666.00.
The register says cash sales were $668.50, so the drawer is $2.50 short.
Tips for a clean count
- Count twice, ideally with a second person for the closing count.
- Face and sort bills before counting so stuck-together bills stand out.
- Pull the bank first, using a set mix of small bills and coins, so the next shift starts with what it needs.
- Count rolled coin by the roll, using the dollar value printed on the wrapper, and enter it under rolled coin.
When the drawer doesn't balance
Small differences happen. Repeated shortages on the same shift, or overages followed by shortages, are worth a closer look. Common causes include wrong change, a paid-out not recorded, a refund rung incorrectly, or a cash sale entered as a card sale. Keeping a simple log of over/short by shift and register makes patterns easy to spot.
Common questions
- Does a drawer that's over mean nothing is wrong?
- No. An overage still means a mistake, often a customer who got too little change. Treat overages and shortages the same way.
- Does this save my counts?
- No. Everything stays in your browser and disappears when you close the page. Write the totals in your cash log.
Last updated October 11, 2026.