Till vs. Checkout: What's the Difference?
By Harlon Moss & Janet White || Updated on May 20, 2024
"Till" refers to the cash register or drawer in a store, whereas "checkout" refers to the point where customers pay for their goods in a store.
Key Differences
"Till" is a term used to describe the cash register or drawer where money is kept in a store. It is often associated with the location where transactions occur, and cash is stored. On the other hand, "checkout" refers to the place or counter in a store where customers pay for their purchases. It is the final stage of the shopping process where items are scanned, and payment is made.
"Tills" are specific to the physical equipment used for holding cash and processing transactions. This term is more focused on the operational aspect of handling money. For example, "The manager counted the till before closing the store." Whereas "checkout" can also refer to the overall process or area where transactions are completed, including both physical counters and online payment portals. For example, "Customers can choose between self-checkout stations and traditional checkout lanes."
"Till" emphasizes the cash-handling aspect within a store's operations. It is a narrower term, often used in retail environments. For example, "The cashier quickly put the money into the till." Conversely, "checkout" has a broader application, covering both the physical location in a store and the online process of completing a purchase. For example, "Online shoppers proceed to checkout to complete their orders."
Comparison Chart
Definition
Cash register or drawer in a store
Point or process where customers pay for goods
Usage Context
Retail environments
Retail environments, both physical and online
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Function
Holds money, processes cash transactions
Final stage of shopping, processes payments
Example Sentence
E.g., "I need to balance the till."
E.g., "The checkout line was long."
Focus
Cash-handling equipment
Payment process and location
Till and Checkout Definitions
Till
A cash register or drawer where money is kept.
The cashier placed the change into the till.
Checkout
The process of paying for goods in a store.
Online checkout is quick and easy.
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Till
The location where transactions are recorded.
The manager counted the till at the end of the day.
Checkout
The system used for completing purchases.
They updated their checkout process to be more efficient.
Till
The equipment used to process payments in a retail store.
They installed a new till system in the store.
Checkout
The counter or area where transactions are completed.
The checkout counter was busy all afternoon.
Till
To prepare (land) for the raising of crops, as by plowing and harrowing; cultivate.
Checkout
The act, time, or place of checking out, as at a hotel, library, or supermarket.
Till
Until.
Checkout
A test, as of a machine, for proper functioning.
Till
Until.
Checkout
An investigation; an inspection.
Till
A drawer, small chest, or compartment for money, as in a store.
Checkout
The process of checking out of a hotel, or the latest time to vacate a room in one.
Till
A supply of money; a purse.
Checkout
The process of checking out items at a supermarket or library.
Till
Glacial drift composed of an unconsolidated, heterogeneous mixture of clay, sand, pebbles, cobbles, and boulders.
Checkout
The place in a supermarket where this is done.
Till
Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
She stayed till the very end.
It's twenty till two. (1:40)
I have to work till eight o'clock tonight.
Checkout
The process of confirming and paying for an online purchase.
Till
To, up to (physically).
They led him till his tent
Checkout
A test to see if some device is functioning properly.
Till
To, toward (in attitude).
Checkout
An inspection or investigation.
Till
(dialectal) To make it possible that.
Checkout
(darts) The number of points that a player scores on their final, winning visit to the oche.
Till
Until, until the time that.
Maybe you can, maybe you can't: you won't know till you try.
Checkout
The latest time for vacating a hotel room without being charged for extra time; as, the checkout here is 12 noon.
Till
A cash register.
Checkout
A counter in a supermarket or other retail store where one pays for one's purchases.
Till
A removable box within a cash register containing the money.
Pull all the tills and lock them in the safe.
Checkout
The act of inspecting or verifying;
They made a check of their equipment
The pilot ran through the check-out procedure
Till
The contents of a cash register, for example at the beginning or end of the day or of a cashier's shift.
My count of my till was 30 dollars short.
Checkout
The latest time for vacating a hotel room;
The checkout here is 12 noon
Till
(obsolete) A tray or drawer in a chest.
Checkout
A counter in a supermarket where you pay for your purchases
Till
Glacial drift consisting of a mixture of clay, sand, pebbles and boulders
Checkout
The place where customers pay for their purchases.
She waited in line at the checkout.
Till
(dialect) manure or other material used to fertilize land
Checkout
The final stage of the shopping process.
He headed to the checkout with his groceries.
Till
A vetch; a tare.
Till
(transitive) To develop so as to improve or prepare for usage; to cultivate (said of knowledge, virtue, mind etc.).
Till
(transitive) To work or cultivate or plough (soil); to prepare for growing vegetation and crops.
Till
(intransitive) To cultivate soil.
Till
(obsolete) To prepare; to get.
Till
A vetch; a tare.
Till
A drawer.
Till
A deposit of clay, sand, and gravel, without lamination, formed in a glacier valley by means of the waters derived from the melting glaciers; - sometimes applied to alluvium of an upper river terrace, when not laminated, and appearing as if formed in the same manner.
Till
A kind of coarse, obdurate land.
Till
To; unto; up to; as far as; until; - now used only in respect to time, but formerly, also, of place, degree, etc., and still so used in Scotland and in parts of England and Ireland; as, I worked till four o'clock; I will wait till next week.
He . . . came till an house.
Women, up till thisCramped under worse than South-sea-isle taboo.
Similar sentiments will recur to every one familiar with his writings - all through them till the very end.
Till
As far as; up to the place or degree that; especially, up to the time that; that is, to the time specified in the sentence or clause following; until.
And said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Mediate so long till you make some act of prayer to God.
There was no outbreak till the regiment arrived.
Till
To plow and prepare for seed, and to sow, dress, raise crops from, etc., to cultivate; as, to till the earth, a field, a farm.
No field nolde [would not] tilye.
The Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Till
To prepare; to get.
Till
To cultivate land.
Till
Unstratified soil deposited by a glacier; consists of sand and clay and gravel and boulders mixed together
Till
A treasury for government funds
Till
A strongbox for holding cash
Till
Work land as by ploughing, harrowing, and manuring, in order to make it ready for cultivation;
Till the soil
Till
The device used for handling cash transactions.
Each employee is assigned a till during their shift.
Till
The physical compartment for storing cash.
The till was full after a busy day of sales.
FAQs
Can a till be digital?
Traditionally, a till refers to physical cash-handling equipment, but modern POS systems can be considered digital tills. E.g., "The store uses a digital till system."
What is a till?
A till is a cash register or drawer where money is kept. E.g., "The cashier placed the cash into the till."
What is a checkout?
A checkout is the place or process where customers pay for their purchases. E.g., "She proceeded to checkout after selecting her items."
Where is a checkout found?
A checkout is found in both physical stores and online platforms for completing purchases. E.g., "The supermarket has several checkout counters."
Is checkout only a physical location?
No, checkout also refers to the online process of paying for goods. E.g., "She completed her purchase at the online checkout."
Where is a till used?
A till is used in retail environments to handle cash transactions. E.g., "The store's till was checked at closing time."
What does checking out mean?
Checking out means completing a purchase and paying for items. E.g., "They checked out after a long shopping spree."
Who uses a till?
Cashiers and retail employees use a till to manage transactions. E.g., "The cashier counted the money in the till."
Who uses a checkout?
Customers use checkout to pay for their purchases. E.g., "He went to the checkout to pay for his groceries."
What does balancing the till mean?
Balancing the till means ensuring the cash amount matches recorded transactions. E.g., "She balanced the till at the end of her shift."
What happens during checkout?
During checkout, items are scanned, and payment is processed. E.g., "She scanned her items at the self-checkout."
Is checkout a modern concept?
Checkout has always been part of retail, but online checkouts are a modern adaptation. E.g., "The online checkout process is streamlined."
Are tills used in non-retail settings?
Tills are primarily used in retail, but similar systems can be found in hospitality. E.g., "The restaurant's till was busy during lunch."
Do all stores have a physical checkout?
While most physical stores have a checkout area, some may be entirely digital. E.g., "The online store has no physical checkout."
What happens if the till is short?
If the till is short, it indicates a discrepancy that needs investigation. E.g., "The manager noticed the till was short by $20."
Is a till necessary in all stores?
Most retail stores have a till for handling cash, but some may use digital-only systems. E.g., "The boutique uses a traditional till."
Can checkout include self-service?
Yes, many stores offer self-checkout options for customer convenience. E.g., "He used the self-checkout to save time."
Do all employees handle the till?
Not all employees may handle the till; it depends on their role. E.g., "Only trained cashiers handle the till."
Can a till hold other items besides cash?
Typically, a till holds cash, but it can also store receipts and coins. E.g., "The till had several rolls of coins."
Is online checkout secure?
Most online checkouts use secure payment gateways to protect customer information. E.g., "The website has a secure checkout process."
About Author
Written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Co-written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
