Making Change Worksheets

Practise giving change

Working out change is one of the most useful real-world maths skills. This generator builds worksheets where each problem gives the cost of an item and the amount handed over, and the student calculates the change. Amounts are realistic — costs land on sensible 5p/5c steps and the amount paid is always a natural coin or note value larger than the cost — so the practice mirrors a real shop.

Pick pounds or dollars and the maximum amount, and an answer key is generated automatically for quick marking.

How making change works

Change is simply the amount paid minus the cost. The classic shop method is counting up: start at the price and add coins until you reach the amount paid. Both approaches give the same answer, and practising with realistic amounts builds the mental subtraction that underpins everyday money sense.

What you can customise

• Currency — pounds (£) or dollars ($).
• Maximum amount — keep it small for early years or larger for bigger sums.
• Number of problems — short practice or a full page.
• Answer key, Name & Date — for marking and classroom use.

How to use it

1. Choose the currency and maximum amount.
2. Set how many problems you want.
3. Toggle the answer key and Name/Date fields.
4. Preview the live PDF, press Generate New for a fresh set, then download or print.

Teaching ideas

Start with amounts under £5 and change from a single note, then build up. Pair the worksheet with real or play coins so pupils can physically count up the change. For a challenge, ask pupils to list the fewest coins and notes that make each change amount.