Banknotes

Published: 09.12.2010 Updated: 21.08.2023

There are seven denominations of euro banknotes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. They are legal tender in the 20 countries of the euro area. They show architectural styles from different periods in Europe’s history.

Europa series euro banknotes

Both first and second, or Europa series banknotes, are in circulation. They are all legal tender, including the 500 euro banknote, whose design was not renewed and which is no longer issued.

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5 euro

Europa series (2013)

Size: 120 x 62 mm
Colour: grey
Architectural style: classical

10 euro

Europa series (2014)

Size: 127 x 67 mm
Colour: red
Architectural style: romanesque

20 euro

Europa series (2015)

Size: 133 x 72 mm
Colour: blue
Architectural style: gothic

50 euro

Europa series (2017)

Size: 140 x 77 mm
Colour: orange
Architectural style: renaissance

100 euro

Europa series (2019)

Size: 147 x 82 mm
Colour: green
Architectural style: baroque and rococo

200 euro

Europa series (2019)

Size: 153 x 82 mm
Colour: yellow-brown
Architectural style: 19th century iron and glass architecture

500 euro

Size: 160 x 82 mm
Colour: purple
Architectural style: 20th century architecture

As of 27 January 2019, 17 of the 19 national central banks in the euro area stopped issuing €500 banknotes. In order to ensure a smooth transition and for logistical reasons, the Deutsche Bundesbank and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank continued issuing the notes until 26 April 2019 (inclusive).

Existing €500 banknotes are continuing to be legal tender, so you can still use them as a means of payment and store of value (i.e. spend and save them). Similarly, banks, bureaux de change and other commercial parties can keep recirculating the existing €500 notes.

Like all denominations of euro banknotes, the €500 note will always retain its value and can be exchanged at a national central bank of the euro area at any time.