Using prop money on a film set is straightforward — but there are best practices worth following to keep your production running smoothly and legally. This guide covers everything from ordering and storage to on-set handling and post-production.
Before the Shoot: Planning Your Prop Money Order
Order more than you think you need. Productions consistently underestimate prop money requirements once you account for multiple takes, different shots, continuity, and the possibility of notes becoming unusable through wear. A buffer of 20–30% above your estimated needs is standard.
Consider the denominations you need for each scene. A scene depicting a street-level exchange will look different from a boardroom deal — the denominations and quantities should reflect this. Our Mixed Denomination Set and Film Production Kit are designed with this flexibility in mind.
Receipt and Logging
When your prop money arrives, log it into your production's prop inventory immediately. Record the quantity, denominations, and purchase details. This documentation is standard production best practice and can be provided to any authority if questions arise during or after production.
On-Set Handling
- Keep prop money separate from personal cash and genuine currency at all times
- Brief your cast and crew — everyone on set should know the money is a prop
- Assign a prop master to be responsible for all prop money — accounting for it at the start and end of each shooting day
- Never take prop money off set without logging it out and back in
- Mark containers clearly — storage containers holding prop money should be visibly labelled
Camera Considerations
Euro Prop Money products are designed to perform well under studio lighting and on camera. For best results:
- Avoid direct reflective lighting hitting notes at sharp angles — this can create glare
- For close-up shots, test lighting on the actual notes before the full shoot
- The Film Production Kit includes notes with varied finish characteristics specifically optimised for different camera distances
Post-Production and Disposal
After production, ensure all prop money is accounted for and either retained in the production inventory, returned to the supplier (contact us about returns), or destroyed. Prop notes should never be allowed to leave the production environment in an uncontrolled way.
Ready to order prop money for your production?