US quarter dollar
US quarter dollar measures ⌀24.3mm. It weighs about 5.7g.
Dimensions
| Diameter | 24.3 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.7 g |
US quarter
A US quarter measures 0.955 inches (24.26 mm) in diameter and 0.069 inches (1.75 mm) thick. It weighs 0.2 ounces (5.67 grams). The quarter is the most commonly used US coin for vending machines, parking meters, and laundry machines, making its exact size a practical reference point. This page covers the exact dimensions, weight, and how it compares to other US coins.
- Dimensions
- Weight
- US coin size comparison
- Why quarter size matters practically
- Frequently asked questions
- What is the exact size of a US quarter?
- Is a quarter bigger than a nickel?
- How much does a quarter weigh?
- Why are quarters bigger than dimes despite both being silver-colored?
- How many quarters make an inch stacked?
- Related objects
Dimensions
| Measurement | Inches | Millimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 0.955 | 24.26 |
| Thickness | 0.069 | 1.75 |
Weight
A quarter weighs 5.67 grams (0.2 ounces), made from a copper core clad with a nickel alloy. This composition has been standard since 1965, when quarters stopped being made from silver.
US coin size comparison
| Coin | Diameter (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penny | 19.05 | 1.52 | 2.5 |
| Nickel | 21.21 | 1.95 | 5.0 |
| Dime | 17.91 | 1.35 | 2.268 |
| Quarter | 24.26 | 1.75 | 5.67 |
Interestingly, a quarter is larger in diameter than a nickel despite being worth five times as much, since US coin sizes were not designed on a simple value-to-size scale. The quarter is also thinner than a nickel despite its larger diameter, which is why the two coins have fairly similar overall bulk.
Why quarter size matters practically
Vending machines, parking meters, arcade games, and coin-operated laundry machines are calibrated to recognize a quarter’s specific diameter, thickness, and weight combination. This is part of why counterfeit or foreign coins of a similar size sometimes get rejected or accepted incorrectly by these machines, since even small deviations in any of the three measurements can throw off the mechanism.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exact size of a US quarter?
0.955 inches (24.26 mm) in diameter and 0.069 inches (1.75 mm) thick, weighing 5.67 grams.
Is a quarter bigger than a nickel?
Yes. A quarter is 24.26 mm in diameter compared to a nickel’s 21.21 mm, despite the nickel being a lower denomination coin with a different name origin.
How much does a quarter weigh?
5.67 grams (0.2 ounces), made of a copper core with a nickel alloy cladding since 1965.
Why are quarters bigger than dimes despite both being silver-colored?
US coin sizes were established independently of a strict value-to-size ratio over different periods of minting history, so denominations don’t scale linearly with size.
How many quarters make an inch stacked?
About 14.5 quarters stacked would measure roughly one inch, based on each coin’s 1.75 mm thickness.
Related objects
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a US quarter dollar weigh?
A US quarter dollar weighs about 5.7g.