How long is the lifespan of U.S. paper money?
When currency is deposited with a Federal Reserve Bank, the quality of each note is evaluated by sophisticated processing equipment. Notes that meet our strict quality criteria--that is, that are still in good condition--continue to circulate, while those that do not are taken out of circulation and destroyed. This process determines the lifespan of a Federal Reserve note.
The lifespan of Federal Reserve notes varies by denomination and depends on a number of factors, including how the denomination is used by the public. For example, larger denominations such as $100 notes are often used as a store of value, which means they pass between users less frequently than lower-denominations such as $5 notes, which are more often used for transactions.
| Denomination | Estimated Lifespan* |
|---|---|
| $1 | 6.6 years |
| $5 | 4.7 years |
| $10 | 5.3 years |
| $20 | 7.8 years |
| $50 | 12.2 years |
| $100 | 22.9 years |
*Estimated lifespans as of December 2018. Because the $2 note does not widely circulate, we do not publish its estimated lifespan.
