New polymer 50 and 100 baht notes coming in November

[Jun]

I currently have several plastic 100 baht notes in my wallet.

On the other hand, I have yet to see a plastic 50 baht note. I was hoping that Thailand would decide to fix the shortage of 50s, but there is no sign of that. If anything, I see even fewer 50s than in the past.

Also, the only notes in my wallet with a past head of state have Queen Elizabeth on them. I think that's been the case for many weeks.

[Jun]

Has anyone seen a plastic 50 baht note?

It seems the authorities are determined to keep a shortage of 50s.
Despite a tendency to hoard them, my wallet currently contains just 3 very tired paper 50s.

[Gaybutton]

Has anyone seen a plastic 50 baht note?

I haven't. I also haven't seen any of the plastic 100 baht notes either, but then again I pay via Prompt Pay as much as I can, so I don't withdraw cash very often from ATMs anymore.

I think one of the reasons you don't see so many 50 baht notes is because they are not available on ATMs. 100s, 500s, and 1000s are available on ATMs, but not 20s or 50s.

I guess if you want 50 baht notes, the best way to get them is to get them from a bank teller.

[Jun]

I think one of the reasons you don't see so many 50 baht notes is because they are not available on ATMs. 100s, 500s, and 1000s are available on ATMs, but not 20s or 50s.

I think there's more to it than that. Neither 20s nor 50s are available from ATMs, yet 20s are everywhere, but 50s are rare. If I receive 50 baht or more change, it is usually made up of 20s and coins for the balance.

As for the plastic notes, I'd estimate that at over 25% of the 100s are already plastic.

[Gaybutton]

Here are the results of a Google inquiry:
__________________________________

The 20 baht note is more readily available than the 50 baht note in Thailand because the 20 baht is the most widely used denomination for daily, minor transactions. Its high usage means more are in circulation and are consistently reissued by the Bank of Thailand.

Circulation and Usage

* High Demand for 20 Baht Notes: The 20 baht note is the lowest-value banknote and is frequently used for minor, everyday purchases such as street food, local transport, and small snacks. The sheer volume of these transactions drives a constant need for this denomination, ensuring its abundance in the system.
* Lower Demand for 50 Baht Notes: The 50 baht note is used for intermediate expenses like a local meal or market purchases but falls into a "sweet spot" where many transactions might be covered by a 20 baht note (using two of them) or a 100 baht note. Consequently, it is a less frequently circulated and exchanged denomination compared to the 20 and 100 baht notes.

Durability and Issuance

As the 20 baht note was the most prone to getting worn out and soiled quickly due to high usage, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) began issuing a more durable polymer version in March 2022 to improve quality and longevity. This has likely increased the lifespan and consistent availability of the 20 baht notes in the system. The 50 baht and 100 baht notes only began transitioning to polymer in November 2025, so older paper notes might have had a shorter lifespan in circulation.

The difference in daily transactional use is the primary reason for the perceived scarcity of 50 baht notes compared to the ubiquitous 20 baht notes.

[christianpfc]

I got two plastic 50's, in two separate transactions.

I wish there were more 50's, either plastic of paper. I have a lot of transactions where the smallest number or of notes or coins involves 50's.

I wonder why there is no 200. Most countries follow the 1-2-5-10-20-50-100-200-500 and so on system.

[Gaybutton]

So far I have gotten a grand total of one plastic 100 baht note, but no 50s yet, despite recent use of ATMs. Of course, the ATMs don't distribute 50s anyway.

Oh well, I have other things to be excited about . . .

[Jun]

I handle plastic 100s every day, but still haven't seen a plastic 50.

20s are almost exclusively plastic now. I recently had some that were so worn and damaged by folding that vending machines would not accept them. Even plastic notes eventually need replacing. Particularly when abused by folding.

[Gaybutton]

I handle plastic 100s every day, but still haven't seen a plastic 50.

I still have received a grand total of one plastic 100 baht note and no plastic 50s.

[Jun]

I finally got my first plastic 50.
Oddly, my wallet currently has some paper 100s that look like brand new.