Currency Converter
Convert between major world currencies using indicative exchange rates.
What this calculator does
Converts an amount between major world currencies using indicative mid-market reference rates, so you can quickly estimate what a foreign amount is worth before committing to an actual transfer or purchase.
Who this is for
Travelers estimating spending money before a trip, online shoppers checking a foreign-currency price, anyone comparing salary or price quotes across countries, or people getting a rough sense of an international transfer before checking their bank's actual rate.
How this calculator works
All conversions route through USD as a base currency. Reference rates are updated periodically — see the Bank Interest Rates page for related financial data.
What "mid-market rate" means
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between the buy and sell price of a currency on global markets — the rate you'd see quoted on Google or a financial news site. It's the fairest reference point, but it's not what banks or transfer services typically give you: they add a margin on top, which is where their profit comes from.
Worked example
Converting $100 USD to EUR at an indicative rate of 0.92: 100 × 0.92 = €92. If your bank instead offers a rate of 0.90 (a common real-world markup), you'd only receive €90 for the same $100 — a €2 difference that's effectively a hidden fee baked into the exchange rate rather than shown as a separate charge.
The "Pay in Your Home Currency" Trap
When paying by card abroad, terminals and ATMs often ask if you'd like to pay in your home currency instead of the local one — this is dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and it's almost always the more expensive choice. DCC providers embed a markup typically running 3-7% above the real market rate, sometimes as high as 12-18% in less transparent cases, separate from and in addition to any foreign transaction fee your card issuer charges (commonly 1-3%). A $1,000 purchase converted via DCC at a 7% markup costs roughly $70 more than declining it and letting your own card network handle the conversion. The practical rule: always decline the "pay in your home currency" prompt and choose the local currency instead.
Your amount in other major currencies
Run the calculator above to see your amount converted across several major currencies at once.
Common mistakes
- Treating this as a live transfer rate. These are indicative reference rates, not real-time market or bank rates — always check your actual provider before sending money.
- Forgetting transfer fees and markup. Banks and money transfer services typically add a margin above the mid-market rate shown here, which can meaningfully change the amount that actually arrives.
- Comparing providers only on the headline rate. A "no fee" transfer with a worse exchange rate can cost more overall than a transfer with a visible fee but a rate closer to mid-market.
- Not checking the rate direction. Converting USD to EUR uses a different rate than converting EUR to USD (they're reciprocals, not identical numbers) — double-check you've selected the correct "from" and "to" currencies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the rate I got from my bank different from this calculator?
This calculator shows the mid-market reference rate. Banks and transfer services add their own margin on top, so the rate you actually receive is typically slightly worse than the mid-market figure shown here.
Are these live exchange rates?
No, these are indicative reference rates for general planning. Live market rates fluctuate constantly — always check your bank or transfer provider's actual rate before making a real transfer.
Why did my bank give me a different rate?
Banks and transfer services typically add a margin above the mid-market rate as part of how they earn revenue on the transaction, on top of any explicit fees. This is normal, but it's worth comparing providers since margins vary significantly.
What's the cheapest way to send money internationally?
Dedicated money transfer services often beat traditional banks on both fees and exchange rate margin — see the currency conversion guide for a fuller comparison.
Should I pay in local currency or my home currency when traveling?
Always choose local currency. Paying in your home currency triggers dynamic currency conversion (DCC), which typically adds a 3-7% markup on top of whatever foreign transaction fee your card already charges.
Does declining DCC avoid my card's foreign transaction fee too?
No — these are separate charges. Declining DCC avoids the merchant's currency markup, but your card issuer's own foreign transaction fee (commonly 1-3%) still applies separately.