Every money counter gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Counters are grouped by type, sorted-bill, mixed-denomination and two-pocket, and use the same scale in every group.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | current price, on a log scale | 25% |
| Detection | counterfeit checks: UV, magnetic ink, infrared, metal thread, size, image sensors and serial numbers | 25% |
| Counting functions | value counting, printer or data port, customer display, sorting, currencies and batch mode | 20% |
| Speed | top published counting speed | 10% |
| Hopper | bills the hopper holds per run | 5% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Speeds, detection methods, counting modes, capacities and warranty come from the maker’s product page or manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where the maker’s page and a listing disagree, the maker’s page is used. Prices are checked at the stores the page links to, and the lowest is used.
The factors
Price is the current price on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same: $1,500 or more scores zero and $60 full marks. Because the scale is shared, two-pocket counters score low on price across the board.
Detection adds up the counterfeit checks the maker lists: 20% for ultraviolet (UV), 20% for magnetic ink (MG), 15% for infrared (IR), 10% for metal or magnetic thread (MT), 5% for size, 10% for serial number capture, and 15% for one contact image sensor (CIS) or 20% for two. A check the maker doesn’t list counts as absent.
Counting functions is 35% for value counting (full marks for reading mixed denominations, 40% of that for a value total on a denomination you select), 15% for a printer, PC or app connection, 15% for a customer-facing display, 15% for sorting by denomination, face or orientation, 10% for more than one currency and 10% for a batch mode.
Speed is the top counting speed the maker publishes, in any mode: 800 bills a minute scores zero and 1,500 full marks. Mixed counting often runs slower than plain counting; where the maker gives the mixed speed separately it is listed on the product page but not scored.
Hopper is how many bills the hopper takes in one run: 100 scores zero and 500 full marks.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 3 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Stacker and reject pocket capacity, display size, whether a printer is included, the currency list, weight and release date are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a speed or hopper figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. A counter with no published warranty gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as a one-year warranty, and is marked estimated. Detection is the factor that most separates these counters, so it is never filled in: a check the maker doesn’t list scores nothing.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.