How to convert currency
- Enter the amount.
- Choose the currency you have and the currency you want. Use ⇄ to swap them.
- The result updates instantly, along with the exchange rate in both directions and the date of the rate.
Mid-market rates vs. what you pay
The reference rate is the midpoint between buying and selling prices on the currency markets. When you exchange money at an airport, pay by card abroad or send an international transfer, the provider usually gives you a worse rate and keeps the difference. Compare their quote with the result here: a gap of 0.5–1% is typical for good services, while 3–10% is common at airports and hotels.
Tips for travelers and freelancers
- Pay in the local currency when a card terminal asks; “dynamic currency conversion” usually costs more.
- Freelancers invoicing abroad can use this to set prices, then create the bill with our Invoice Generator.
Related: Unit Converter, Profit Margin Calculator.
Supported currencies
Rates are available for the currencies published daily by the European Central Bank, including the US dollar, euro, British pound, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars, Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, Indonesian rupiah, South Korean won, Mexican peso, Brazilian real, South African rand, Turkish lira, Thai baht, Philippine peso, Singapore and Hong Kong dollars, Israeli shekel, Malaysian ringgit and several European currencies such as the Swedish krona, Norwegian krone, Danish krone, Polish złoty, Czech koruna and Hungarian forint.
Cross rates
The ECB publishes every rate against the euro. To convert between two other currencies, such as USD to INR, the converter divides the two euro rates. This is called a cross rate and is how most reference rates for currency pairs are derived.
Calculating the real cost of a transfer
To see how much a bank or money transfer service really charges, compare the amount the recipient gets with the amount you would get at the reference rate. For example, if you send 1,000 USD and the converter shows 900 EUR but the recipient receives 875 EUR, the hidden cost is 25 EUR, about 2.8%, on top of any fixed fee. Comparing several providers this way often saves more than the advertised fee differences.
Rates are for reference
Exchange rates move constantly while markets are open. The daily reference rate is ideal for invoices, budgets, travel planning and accounting, but it is not a live trading price. For large transactions, get a firm quote from your provider before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the exchange rates come from?
From the European Central Bank’s daily reference rates, published around 16:00 CET on working days and delivered via the open Frankfurter API.
Is this the rate my bank will give me?
Probably not exactly. Banks, card networks and exchange services add a margin or fee on top of the mid-market reference rate. Use this converter to check how much you are being charged.
Why is my currency missing?
The ECB publishes rates for about 30 major currencies. Currencies outside that list are not available yet.
How often are rates updated?
Once per working day. Weekend and holiday conversions use the most recent published rate, shown under the result.