You have a bowl full of change, and then you do an internet search and type in the words “Coinstar near me”. If that sounds familiar, then this post is for you.
While growing up, I remember how my grandmother would always save her coins, and at the end of the month, she would have a significant amount of money collected. While many people overlook collecting and saving coins, it is a great way to add extra money to your pockets every month.
If you are looking to turn your coins into cash, finding a Coinstar kiosk is one of the best options. To get started, I recommend finding a Coinstar near you at a local store.
So, if you are the person typing in internet searches “Coinstar Near Me” or if you just want more information about Coinstar, this post will help guide you in the right direction.
Table of Contents
What Is Coinstar?
Coinstar was founded in 1991 and is one of the leading sources for converting coins to cash. They also offer the option to get a no-fee eGift Card for your coins and the ability to donate your coin amount to charities. In addition, they make cashing in your coins easy to do with many options to pick from.
How Does Coinstar Work?
If you want to cash in your spare change, it’s super easy to do at a Coinstar kiosk. From my research, there are many Coinstar kiosks near me, and many are located throughout the USA. Click here to find one near you.
Here are the steps to cash in your coins at a local Coinstar kiosk
- Find & locate a Coinstar kiosk near you.
- Look at the prompts on the screen to get started.
- Pick your payment option for your coins. For example, you can choose between cash, an eGift Card, or the charity option.
- Then accept the terms and conditions. The terms and conditions will include an explanation of the fee of 11.9 % if you choose the cash option.
- Add the coins to the tray by lifting the tray and guiding the coins into the slot. (Make sure that the coins are clean and dry because having debris on the coins might jam up the machine.)
- After you add your coins to the tray, the machine will add up your coins and tell you if any of your coins were rejected. If any of your coins were denied, you can clean them off and try to resubmit them.
- After the machine has calculated your coin total, you will receive a voucher for either cash, an eGift Card to use online or in-person, or a recipe for a tax-deductible charity donation.
What Stores Near Me Have Coinstar?
Many retailers and major grocery stores have Coinstar Kiosks. To find the closest Coinstar kiosk near you, click here. Below is a list of stores that may carry a Coinstar Kiosk near you. Make sure to call your local stores to find out if they have one.
- CVS
- Walmart
- Food 4 Less
- Meijer
- Jewels
- PLS Financial Services
- Superior Grocers
- Albertsons
- Ralph’s
- Hannaford
- Northgate Market
- Shoprite
- Harris Teeter
How Much Does Using Coinstar Cost?
When you choose the cash option, there is an 11.9% fee that comes with it. Keep in mind the percentage may vary depending on the kiosk location. If you are looking to avoid the fee, you can choose the eGift Card option.
- What eGift Cards Does Coinstar Have?
If you choose the gift card option, you have many places to choose from. To get started, check out the list below of the eGift card that Coinstar offers to their customers.
- AMC
- Amazon
- Applebees
- Apple
- Chill’s Grill and Bar
- Domino’s
- Doordash
- Gap
- GameStop
- Ihop
- Hotels.cm
- Lowe’s
- Outback Steak House
- Nike
- Red Robin
- Starbucks
- Southwest
How To Use eGift Card
Each paper eGift card has a unique code at the top and will work just like a plastic gift card at your chosen retailers or business. When you arrive at the store, you can use the gift card in-store, and if you shop online, you can use your eGift Card on the store’s website. If you don’t use the total amount of the gift card, save the paper eGift Card to use for later.
To check the eGift card balance, you can go to the retailer’s website, go to the actual store, or call their customer service.
How Do I Avoid Coinstar Fees?
To avoid the 11.9 % fee at a Coinstar kiosk, choose the eGift card option. You can choose from many different places such as Amazon, Nike Gap, and more.
Is Coinstar Free at Walmart?
Walmart stores do have Coinstar kiosks, but there is an 11.9% fee if you choose the cash option. However, if you select the eGift Card, you can avoid the 11.9% fee if you want a free option.
Is There A Limit For Coinstar?
The Coinstar machine has a limit of $2,000 per transaction.
Where Can I Cash In My Coins For Free?
While Coinstar is super easy to access, an 11.9% fee for cash might be a little bit much. If you are looking for an additional option to cash in your coins for free, consider going to your local bank.
If you are looking to avoid fees, I suggest rolling your coins in paper wrappers and going to your local bank to trade in your cash for free.
How To Donate Your Coins To Charity With Coinstar
If you want to donate your coin amount to a charity, here is how to get started. Coinstar teams up with non-profit charity organizations that provide emergency relief, animal rescue, wildlife conservation, and much more. Each organization that teams with them have one mission in mind; help those in need.
Any amount you can donate is accepted, and it’s also tax-deductible, so it’s a good idea to keep the receipt for your records. Below is a list of the charities that partner with Coinstar and where you can donate.
- American Red Cross
- Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®
- Feeding America
- Make-A-Wish
- NAACP
- The Humane Society
- United Way
- WWF
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Is There An Alternative To Coinstar?
The alternative to Coinstar is going directly to your local bank and trading in your cash for free. When you go to your local bank, you can avoid the 11.9% fee. While most banks no longer have coin-counting machines, you can go directly inside a bank to trade in your coins for cash. If you are looking for a bank with a coin-counting machine, check out the list below:
- TCF National Bank: Free for customers and 8.9 % free for non-customers
- Cape Bank: Free for both customers and non-customers.
- Home State Bank: Free for customers and 10% fee for non-customers
- American Eagle Credit Union: Free for customers and 10% for non-customers
- Shelby Savings Bank: Free for both customers and non-customers
- People’s United Bank: Free for both customers and non-customers
- Hancock County Savings Bank: Free for both customers and non-customers
Does Food Lion have a Coinstar Near Me?
Yes, Food Lion stores do have Coinstar Kiosks. Make sure to call your local Food Lion location, as the kiosks may vary depending on location.
Additional Ways to Make Extra Money?
If you are looking for additional ways to make extra money check out completing surveys online. Here is a list of legit places online to find the best surveys.
My favorite site to make extra money is by far Swagbucks. On the Swagbucks site, you can complete tasks such as participating in surveys, watching videos, and much more and get paid.
Since joining Swagbucks in 2016, I have earned over $7,000 from completing offers, participating in surveys, and referring others to the website. Below is a screenshot of my latest earnings from Swagbucks.
Final Thoughts On Coinstar Near Me
Saving coins is a great way to save money for unexpected expenses or emergencies. When you save your coins, you can trade them in at a kiosk for cash, an eGift Card, or to a charity. Keep in mind if you choose the cash option, there is an 11.9% fee that comes with it.
However, if you want to trade in your coins for free, you can choose the eGift Card option and pick a gift card from places such as Applebees, AMC, Amazon, and more.
Another cool fact about Coinstar is that I discovered that customers could even buy Bitcoin at some Coinstar locations. So, not only can you get cash for your coins, but you can also buy bitcoin at a Coinstar location as well. Keep in mind that locations may vary.
If you are anything like me or my Grandmom, you have searched the term “Coinstar near me” to find the nearest one near you. While many major grocery stores and retailers have Coinstar Kiosks, locating the ones nearest to you is super important. Click here to find the closest Coinstar kiosk near you. Do you currently trade in your coins for cash with Coinstar? If so, tell us about your experience below.
Additional Coinstar Resources