How to choose a note counting machine for your shop or office

A note counting machine looks like a simple purchase, and most listings make them sound alike. They are not. Counting speed is the number everyone quotes, and it is the least useful one. This guide takes you through what to check, in the order that matters, and puts the two machines we sell side by side so you can see the differences in practice.

Do you need a note counting machine?

You probably do if any of these is true:

• Cash is counted more than once a day, at a shift change or at closing.
• Bundles of 100 are made up by hand before they go to the bank.
• You take payments in ₹500 notes, the note the RBI finds most often faked.
• You have ever had a note refused or impounded at the bank.
• Collections come back from the field in mixed bundles.

At 900 notes a minute, a 100-note bundle passes through a machine in under 10 seconds, and every note in it is checked on the way. If cash handling is part of your day, that time and that check are what you are buying.

What to check, in order

1. The fake note checks

Start here, because this is the part that saves money rather than time. Look for three checks together:

• UV (ultraviolet) checks the paper. Genuine notes show fluorescent number panels and optical fibres under ultraviolet light; fakes on ordinary bleached paper glow.
• MG (magnetic) checks magnetic features. The RBI describes the security thread on notes of ₹100 and above as machine-readable and magnetic.
• IR (infrared) checks printed features that show under infrared light.

A size check (DD, dimension) is a useful fourth. Also check that the machine catches half notes, notes stuck together in a chain and two notes passing as one, because those throw a count off even when every note is genuine. When a check fails, the machine should stop and tell you which check it was. Our guide to stopping fake notes at the cash counter explains each check in more detail.

2. Speed and capacity

Both machines below count up to 900 notes a minute and hold 130 notes in the hopper and 130 in the stacker. For a shop or office counter that is plenty. Capacity matters more than speed: a bigger hopper means fewer refills while you count a large payment.

3. Counting modes

Four modes cover most counters:

• Free count counts without the fake note checks, for notes already checked.
• Batch stops at a set number, usually 100, so every bundle is ready for a band.
• Add keeps a running total across several stacks.
• Value gives the amount for a stack of one denomination.

Know the limit before you buy: a counter like these counts and checks every note but does not read its denomination, so it does not total a mixed stack. Sort the notes, then count one denomination at a time.

4. Display and voice

The count must be readable from where the cashier stands. The ST810 has a display with mode indicators, English voice prompts and a port for an external display. The ST2330 has an LCD with a six-digit count and a separate six-digit batch display.

5. Sensitivity you can set

Worn notes sometimes trip a sensitive check. On the ST2330 the UV and magnetic sensitivity can each be set in nine levels; on the ST810 they are adjusted from the settings menu. A note thickness or feed adjustment at the back helps worn and new notes run smoothly.

6. Size, weight and power

A counter lives on the desk next to the cash drawer. The ST810 is 290 × 250 × 175 mm, weighs 4.1 kg and draws under 45 W on 110–240 V. The ST2330 weighs 5 kg and draws up to 75 W.

7. Warranty, replacement and service

Ask three questions: how long the warranty is, the date it starts from, and what it excludes. Both our machines carry a 1-year warranty from the invoice date. A manufacturing defect found within 7 days of delivery is reviewed for replacement, which is why an unboxing video matters: record one when the box arrives. On the ST810, damage from a fall or liquid, a wrong power supply, or a machine opened or repaired by anyone else is not covered.

ST810 vs ST2330 side by side

Which one should you buy?

Looking after a note counter

• Switch off before cleaning, and brush the sensors clean regularly so paper dust does not build up on the light sensors.
• Never use water, liquid or spray cleaners.
• Take out paper clips, rubber bands and pins before counting, and do not count wet or badly damaged notes.
• Use the power cord supplied, in an earthed socket, and keep the dust cover on when the machine is not in use.

Before you pay: questions for any seller

• Which fake note checks does it have, and does it stop on a suspect note?
• Does it total a mixed stack, or one denomination at a time?
• When does the warranty start, and what does it exclude?
• What do you need from me to claim a replacement for a defect?
• When is it dispatched, and is delivery included?
• Can I see it counting before I buy?

For the two machines on this page the answers are on their product pages, along with a video of each one counting. See the ST810, see the ST2330, or call +91 98216 12340 and we will help you choose.