Am I allowed to pay with cash in Denmark?
Yes — you can almost always pay with cash in a staffed shop between 6am and 10pm. Under the cash rule in the Payments Act, a staffed shop that accepts cards must also accept cash between 6am and 10pm. In areas with a high risk of robbery, shops may refuse cash between 8pm and 6am. There is, however, an upper limit: under the anti-money-laundering law a trader may not receive cash of 15,000 kr or more (lowered from 20,000 kr in 2024). You may pay with at most 25 coins of each denomination in one payment. Online shops and unstaffed machines are not covered by the cash rule.
📋 The rules
- Staffed shops must accept cash 6am–10pm
- Robbery-prone areas can refuse cash 8pm–6am
- A trader may not receive 15,000 kr or more in cash
- At most 25 coins of each denomination in one payment
- Online shops and machines are not covered
🔓 Exceptions
- Distance sales online or by phone are not covered by the cash rule
- Pharmacies and dentists must accept cash their entire opening hours
- Unstaffed machines and temporary events are exempt
⚠️ Penalties & fines
If a shop breaches the cash rule, it can bring a fine. The Consumer Ombudsman has brought cases with fines of 40,000–50,000 kr. Receiving 15,000 kr or more in cash typically brings a fine of about 25% of the amount over the limit.
📎 Official sources
- Financial Supervisory Authority · Cash rule →
- Consumer Ombudsman · Cash rule →
- AML amendment · Retsinformation →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I pay with cash?
Yes. A staffed shop that accepts cards must also accept cash between 6am and 10pm.
Can a shop refuse cash?
Only in robbery-prone areas between 8pm and 6am, and online or in unstaffed machines.
Is there an upper limit for cash payment?
Yes. A trader may not receive cash of 15,000 kr or more under the anti-money-laundering law.
How many coins can I pay with?
At most 25 coins of each denomination in one payment.
Does the cash rule apply online?
No. Distance sales online or by phone and unstaffed machines are not covered by the cash rule.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I pay with cash denmark”
- “cash rule 6am 10pm”
- “cash limit 15000 kr”
- “shop refuse cash”
- “25 coins payment”
- “money laundering cash”