Have you ever wondered how big is a quarter in inches? If you’ve ever wondered about the size of a quarter, you’re not alone. As one of the most frequently used coins in the United States, understanding the dimensions of a quarter in inches can come in handy for various projects and tasks.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: A quarter is 0.955 inches (24.26 mm) in diameter and 0.069 inches (1.75 mm) thick.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about quarter dimensions. We’ll look at the quarter’s diameter, thickness, circumference, surface area, volume, and weight. We’ll also compare the quarter size to other common objects and discuss some interesting facts and history about the coin.
The Diameter of a Quarter
Definitions and Details
The current quarter coin in circulation in the United States has a diameter of 0.955 inches (24.26 mm). This has been the standard diameter since the Coinage Act of 1965 established new specifications for U.S. coins. Prior to this, the quarter was slightly smaller at 24.0 mm in diameter.
The quarter is the largest coin in circulation that is valued at 25 cents. Post-1964 quarters are composed of an outer cladding of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a solid copper core. With a weight of 5.67 grams, the quarter is heavy enough to have a substantial feel in the hand. Remember that silver quarters minted from 1932 until 1964 have a weight of 6.25 grams.
The diameter and weight give the quarter a bold, substantial profile compared to other coins. This allows the intricate emblems, figures, and numbers on each face of the coin to stand out in high relief against the flat surfaces.
Details like the flowering branches and bold text on the coin’s heads side are clearly defined.
How It Compares to Other Coins
In terms of size, the quarter dominates many other circulation coins in the U.S. monetary system:
- The dime has a diameter of just 17.91 mm, making it much smaller than a quarter.
- The nickel, while thicker than a quarter, actually has a smaller diameter at 21.21 mm.
- The half-dollar coin significantly outpaces the quarter with a 30.61 mm diameter.
- The penny trails behind at 19.05 mm in diameter.
| Coin | Diameter |
|---|---|
| Quarter | 24.26 mm |
| Dime | 17.91 mm |
| Nickel | 21.21 mm |
| Half Dollar | 30.61 mm |
| Penny | 19.05 mm |
As the table shows, the quarter is right in the middle tier of coin sizes. This gives it a versatile profile – compact enough for storage but large enough to stand out in transactions.
The U.S. Mint ensures each batch of quarter coin blanks meets strict technical guidelines. Diameter tolerances are within 0.00316 inches (0.08 mm) to guarantee consistency.
The Thickness of a Quarter
Standard Quarter Thickness
The standard thickness of a United States quarter is 1.75 mm, which converts to 0.069 inches. This has been the standard thickness since the introduction of the Washington quarter in 1932. The diameter of a quarter is 24.26 mm (0.955 inches), so the quarter is much wider than it is thick.
The thickness and diameter specifications are controlled by the United States Mint. Per the mint’s requirements, the tolerance range for quarter thickness is 1.70 mm – 1.80 mm (0.067 – 0.071 inches). This allows for a small range of variation in thickness during the minting process while still keeping the quarter within an acceptable range.
Differences Between Old and New Quarters
While the nominal specifications have stayed the same over time, there can be slight differences in thickness between older quarters and newly minted ones:
- Quarters minted before 1965 were made of 90% silver. The silver content made these quarters slightly thicker and heavier than modern clad quarters.
- New quarters can appear thinner due to wear and tear in circulation. As a quarter gets older, it loses a minute amount of metal due to friction, reducing its thickness slightly.
- Special commemorative quarters and proof coins may have slightly different thicknesses due to different minting techniques.
The following table compares the thicknesses of some older versus newer quarters:
| Quarter Type | Thickness |
| 1964 silver quarter | 1.80 mm |
| 1976 bicentennial quarter | 1.75 mm |
| 2022 newly minted quarter | 1.72 mm |
| 2022 quarter after some circulation | 1.69 mm |
While there can be small variations, most quarters stay very close to the 1.75 mm standard thickness during their time in circulation. Credible resources with more details include the U.S. Mint and Numismatic Guaranty Company.
The Circumference and Surface Area
When determining the size of a quarter, two key measurements are the circumference and surface area. The circumference measures the distance around the edge of the coin, while the surface area measures the total area on both sides.
Circumference
The circumference of a quarter can be calculated using the formula for the circumference of a circle: C = 2πr. Here, r is the radius of the quarter. Since the diameter of a quarter is 24.26 mm (according to the United States Mint specifications), the radius is half that, or 12.13 mm.
Plugging this into the formula:
C = 2 x π x 12.13 mm
C = 76.04 mm
So the circumference of a standard United States quarter is about 76 mm, or around 3 inches. This means if you were to take a string and wrap it tightly around the outer edge of the quarter all the way around, the length of that string would be roughly 3 inches.
Surface Area
The surface area of a quarter can also be calculated using the basic formula for the surface area of a circle: A = πr2. Here, r is again the radius of 12.13 mm. Plugging this in:
A = π x (12.13 mm)2
A = 463.06 mm2
So the total surface area of both sides of a United States quarter is about 463 square millimeters. Converted to square inches, this is around 0.72 in2.
The Volume and Weight of a Quarter
A United States quarter has a diameter of 24.26mm, making the radius 12.13mm. To calculate the volume of the coin, we use the formula for the volume of a cylinder:
V = πr2h
Where r is the radius and h is the height (thickness). The thickness of a quarter is 1.75mm. Plugging in the values:
V = 3.14 x (12.13mm)2 x 1.75mm
= 3.14 x 146.97 mm2 x 1.75 mm
= 785.07 mm3
To convert this to cubic inches, we divide by 25.43 since 1 inch = 25.4mm:
Volume = 785.07 mm3 / (25.4 mm/inch)3
= 0.048 cubic inches
So a quarter has a volume of around 0.048 cubic inches.
Weight of a Quarter
Quarters are made mostly of copper with some nickel. The exact composition is:
- Copper: 91.67%
- Nickel: 8.33%
This means a quarter is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel by mass. The total mass of a quarter is 5.670 grams.
To find the mass of copper, we take 91.67% of 5.670g which equals 5.203g. For nickel, we take 8.33% of 5.670g which is 0.473g.
So the component masses are:
| Metal | Mass (g) |
|---|---|
| Copper | 5.203 |
| Nickel | 0.473 |
| Total | 5.676 |
How the Quarter Size Compares to Other Objects
Comparison to a Penny
The most common coin that people compare a quarter to is a penny. Although circular like a quarter, a penny is much smaller in size. The diameter of a penny is only 0.75 inches while a quarter is a whopping 1.75 inches across.
That means a quarter is actually more than double the width of a humble penny! When stacked side by side, you could fit about 2 pennies on top of a single quarter.
Comparison to a Nickel
Another coin that shares space in our pockets and purses with quarters is the nickel. The nickel has a diameter right between that of a penny and quarter, measuring 1.35 inches across. So while a nickel is considerably wider than a penny, it still falls nearly half an inch short of equaling the broad quarter.
If you set a nickel on top of a quarter, you’d see a 0.4 inch overhang of the quarter across the full circumference.
Comparison to a Dime
The trusty dime is the last coin we’ll compare. Can you guess it’s diameter? That’s right – at just 0.705 inches, the diminutive dime is even smaller than a penny! Stacked up against the mammoth quarter, you could comfortably fit almost 2.5 dimes lined up across the face of a quarter.
So if you spilled a pile of change on a table, you’d be able to easily distinguish the quarters apart from the rest by their substantially larger footprint.
| Coin | Diameter (inches) |
|---|---|
| Quarter | 1.75 |
| Nickel | 1.35 |
| Penny | 0.75 |
| Dime | 0.705 |
As the data shows, the quarter outsizes the other coins by a fair margin. So if you’re trying to dig a specific quarter out of your pocket change, finding the biggest, thickest coin will lead you to your quarter every time.
How Big Is A Quarter In Inches – Conclusion
As we’ve explored, a quarter has a diameter of 0.955 inches and a thickness of 0.069 inches. We’ve looked at how these dimensions translate into the coin’s circumference, surface area, volume and weight. We also compared the quarter size to other coins and common objects.
Understanding the exact size of a quarter in inches can be useful for DIY projects, magic tricks, and general knowledge. So the next time your work calls for coin measurements, you’ll know exactly how big a quarter is.
