Currency Converter
An exchange rate tells you how much of one currency buys another, and it changes every day. This converter loads the latest European Central Bank reference rates when you open the page and converts between 30 major currencies — the US dollar, euro, British pound, Canadian and Australian dollars, Indian rupee, Japanese yen and more — showing the rate in both directions and the date the rates were published. These are mid-market reference rates: they are the right figure for budgeting, price comparison and planning, but not the rate a bank, card network or money-transfer service will actually give you.
How to use the currency converter
- Enter the amount you want to convert.
- Choose the currency you have (From) and the one you want (To).
- Read the converted amount, the rate each way and the date of the rates.
- Before you exchange money, compare the rate and fees from your bank, card or transfer provider with the reference rate here to see what the real spread is.
Formula
Rates are published against a single base currency. To convert between any two currencies, the calculator goes via the base: amount in target = amount ÷ (base-to-source rate) × (base-to-target rate). For example, if 1 USD = 0.90 EUR and 1 USD = 0.75 GBP, then 100 EUR = 100 ÷ 0.90 × 0.75 = 83.33 GBP. This is called a cross rate, and it is how every currency pair is derived from a handful of published rates.
Worked examples
A dollar-to-euro conversion (illustrative rate)
If 1 USD buys 0.90 EUR, then 100 USD is 90 EUR and 90 EUR is 100 USD. The calculator uses the live rate when you open it; this example uses a round number so you can check the arithmetic.
A cross rate between two non-dollar currencies
With illustrative rates of 1 USD = 0.75 GBP and 1 USD = 150 JPY, 150 JPY is exactly 1 USD, which is 0.75 GBP. A pair like yen-to-pounds is never quoted directly by the ECB — it is derived this way.
Spotting a poor exchange rate
If the reference rate is 0.90 and a kiosk offers 0.84 for the same pair, you are losing about 6.7% before any fee. Comparing against the reference rate is the quickest check on a provider.
How exchange rates work
Reference rate vs the rate you get
The rates shown are mid-market reference rates. When you exchange money, providers quote a buy rate and a sell rate on either side of this midpoint, and the gap (the spread) plus any fee is their margin. Card networks, banks, airport kiosks and online transfer services all differ, so comparing against the reference rate shows the true cost.
Cross rates
Currencies are quoted against a base. Converting between two others is done through that base: to turn Japanese yen into British pounds you divide by the yen rate and multiply by the pound rate. See the worked example above.
Why rates move
Interest-rate differences, inflation, trade flows and economic news all push currencies up or down every day. For budgeting a trip or an international purchase, leave a margin for movement and fees.
Planning prices across borders? See the VAT calculator and inflation calculator.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the reference rate as the rate you will get. Banks, cards and airport kiosks add a margin, and transfer services add fees.
- Using yesterday’s rate for a large purchase. Rates are published once per working day, and markets move in between.
- Forgetting that some currencies have no decimals (yen, won) and others have three — round amounts the way the currency itself does.
- Converting back and forth to check a result. Each real exchange costs a margin, so the round trip loses money in the real world even though the maths round-trips perfectly here.
- Using this for trading. It is a reference tool, not a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the exchange rates come from?
From the European Central Bank’s daily euro foreign exchange reference rates, delivered through the free Frankfurter API. They are updated on working days at around 16:00 CET.
Why is the rate different from what my bank offers?
The ECB rate is a mid-market reference rate. Banks and card networks add a margin, and some charge fees on top, so the rate you actually receive is usually a little worse.
How often are the rates updated?
Once per working day. Rates are not updated at weekends or on ECB holidays, so a weekend conversion uses Friday’s rates.
How do I convert between two currencies that are not the dollar?
Divide by the source currency’s rate and multiply by the target’s — a cross rate through a common base. The converter does this automatically.
Does this work offline?
The page needs a connection to fetch the latest rates. If you have opened it recently, it uses the rates saved in your browser for up to six hours, or the last saved rates if you are offline.
Does the converter send my amount anywhere?
No. Only a request for the current rate table goes out; your amount and currency choices stay in your browser.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed September 26, 2026 by the SolveCalcPro editorial team. Found a mistake? Tell us; see our editorial policy.