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    How can you tell euro banknotes apart?

    Colours and features of each euro banknote.

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    Short answer

    The European Central Bank explains that the higher the value, the larger the note. The 5 euro note is grey, the 10 red, the 20 blue, the 50 orange, the 100 green, the 200 yellow-brown and the 500 purple. The 50, 100 and 200 euro notes are the same height but differ in width. Every note has raised lines at the left and right edges that you can feel, grouped differently for each value.

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    Why

    1. The ECB lists the colour of each euro banknote.
    2. Higher-value notes are physically larger, according to the ECB.
    3. The ECB says raised lines at the edges help visually impaired users.

    Details

    Euro coins also differ by edge: some have fine grooves, some are smooth with notches, which helps tell them apart by touch.

    Tip

    In dim light, check the size and the raised edge lines rather than the colour.

    What may differ

    Notes from the first and second series look slightly different but have the same colours.

    Common misconception

    All euro banknotes are the same size.

    What actually happens

    Higher-value notes are larger, and each has its own colour.

    People also ask

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    • Is the 500 euro note still valid?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Payment rules and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.

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