U.S. paper money isn’t actually made of paper. Federal Reserve notes are printed on a specialized material composed of 75 percent cotton and 25 percent linen. This blend is fundamentally different from the wood-pulp paper used in books, newspapers, and office printers, which is why a bill that accidentally goes through the washing machine usually comes out intact while ordinary paper disintegrates.
Why Cotton and Linen Instead of Wood Pulp
Standard paper is made from wood pulp, which breaks down quickly with moisture, folding, and handling. A sheet of copy paper would fall apart after a few dozen folds. Currency needs to survive years of being crumpled into pockets, passed between hands, and run through counting machines. Cotton and linen fibers are significantly stronger and more flexible than wood pulp, giving bills the durability to hold up under constant use.
The cotton-linen blend also gives currency its distinctive feel. That slightly rough, cloth-like texture is one of the quickest ways people instinctively detect a counterfeit. Bills printed on regular paper feel immediately wrong because wood-pulp paper is smoother and flimsier. The unique feel of genuine currency is, in itself, a security feature.
How Long Bills Actually Last
Even with the durable cotton-linen blend, bills eventually wear out. The Federal Reserve tracks estimated lifespans by denomination, and the numbers vary dramatically based on how frequently each bill changes hands. As of 2025, a $1 bill lasts about 7.2 years, while a $100 bill lasts roughly 24 years. The difference comes down to use: small bills get handled constantly at registers and vending machines, while larger denominations tend to sit in wallets or safes.
Here’s how each denomination breaks down:
- $1: 7.2 years
- $5: 5.8 years
- $10: 5.7 years
- $20: 11.1 years
- $50: 14.9 years
- $100: 24.0 years
The $5 and $10 bills wear out fastest because they circulate heavily in everyday transactions. When bills become too worn, the Federal Reserve pulls them from circulation and shreds them.
Security Features Built Into the Paper
The cotton-linen blend is just the starting point. During the papermaking process, several security elements are embedded directly into the material before any ink ever touches it.
Small red and blue synthetic fibers are scattered throughout genuine U.S. currency paper. These tiny threads are woven into the fabric itself, not printed on the surface. If you look closely at a bill, you can see them with the naked eye, and you can sometimes pick at them with a fingernail. Counterfeiters often try to simulate these by printing red and blue dots on regular paper, but the difference is obvious under magnification.
Higher-denomination bills carry additional embedded features. The $100 note includes a 3-D security ribbon woven directly into the paper. This ribbon displays images of bells and the number 100 that appear to shift and move when you tilt the note. Because the ribbon is part of the paper rather than applied to the surface, it’s extremely difficult to replicate.
Who Makes the Paper
The U.S. government doesn’t manufacture its own currency paper. The cotton-linen substrate is produced by Crane Currency, a company that has supplied paper for American money for over a century. Their production process is tightly controlled, using proprietary materials and equipment specifically designed for banknote production. The raw materials and manufacturing technology involved in their micro-optic security features don’t exist in commercial papermaking.
Once the paper is produced, it’s delivered to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which handles the actual printing of bills at facilities in Washington, D.C., and Fort Worth, Texas. The paper arrives in large sheets, each one pre-embedded with the security fibers and other features before printing begins.
Polymer Notes Used in Other Countries
While the U.S. sticks with its cotton-linen blend, many other countries have moved to an entirely different material: thin, transparent plastic film known as polymer. Australia pioneered polymer banknotes in 1988 and now uses them exclusively. More than 20 countries have adopted polymer notes, including Canada, New Zealand, Romania, and Vietnam. The United Kingdom began transitioning its notes to polymer starting in 2016.
Polymer notes last significantly longer than cotton-linen bills because plastic resists moisture, dirt, and tearing more effectively. They also allow for security features that aren’t possible with fiber-based paper, such as transparent windows built into the note. On the other hand, polymer notes can be damaged by high heat and have a slippery feel that some users find less intuitive than traditional currency.
The U.S. has not announced any plans to switch to polymer. The cotton-linen blend remains the standard for all Federal Reserve notes, and the ongoing investment in embedded security features like the 3-D ribbon on the $100 bill suggests the current material will be in use for the foreseeable future.