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Monday, January 5, 2026

How long does a $1 bill last?


	January 5, 2026

Original photo by Unsplash+ via Getty Images

The average lifespan of a $1 bill is 7.2 years.

The average dollar bill doesn't last forever: Some wear down from repeated use, while others meet their untimely demise after being ruined by water or pets. In fact, the average $1 bill has an estimated lifespan of 7.2 years, according to the Federal Reserve. This number drops even lower for $5 and $10 bills, which tend to last just 5.8 and 5.7 years, respectively.

In the United States, paper currency is made using a blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen, creating a material that's more durable than paper produced using wood pulp. But bills still degrade over time; it's estimated that U.S. banknotes can withstand only 4,000 double folds (forward and backward) before they tear and need to be replaced.

It's worth noting significantly larger denominations that pass between hands less frequently, such as $50 and $100 bills, have longer lifespans. Those bigger bills are more commonly tucked away as savings and therefore suffer less wear and tear. The Federal Reserve estimates the average lifespan of a $20 bill at 11.1 years, a $50 bill at 14.9 years, and a $100 bill at 24 years.

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		Numbers Don't Lie

Year paper money was issued in the American colonies

1690

Value of coins thrown away by Americans each year

~$62 million

$2 bills currently in circulation

~$1.7 billion

Highest denomination of U.S. currency ever issued

$10,000

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Martha Washington is the only woman to appear solo on a U.S. banknote.

To date, Martha Washington remains the only real-life woman to appear by herself on U.S. paper currency, though there have been several instances of mythological women depicted on U.S. banknotes, as well as women in scenes alongside others. For example, the 1865 $20 bill features Lady Columbia —an early personification of the United States — on its obverse and the baptism of Pocahontas on its reverse. The inaugural first lady's portrait is seen on the obverse of the 1886 $1 silver certificate as well as a redesigned version issued in 1891. In 1896, Martha and George Washington appeared together on the reserve of a $1 silver certificate, denoting the only example of a married couple appearing jointly on U.S. currency.