Currency Converter
Convert an amount from one currency to another and see the rate in both directions — one-tap live mid-market rates from central-bank reference data, the built-in reference table, or your own quoted rate in the override box.
The built-in table holds fixed reference values, not live quotes — use the live-rates button for current mid-market rates. For practice only: check a bank or an authoritative source for the current rate before any real transaction.
Formula and calculation
Worked example
At the built-in reference rates, $100 converts to 96 — the rate is 0.96 and the reverse rate is 1.0417. When the page has live rates loaded, the same arithmetic runs on the current rate instead, so check which source the result names.
Where the rates come from — live, reference or your own
Exchange rates move every second, and this page does not pretend otherwise. The built-in table holds fixed reference values so you can see exactly what you are calculating with, and every result says which source it used. One tap on the live-rates button fetches current mid-market rates from central-bank reference data — the result then shows the source and its as-of date, because a number that looks live but is days old is worse than one that admits its date. The override box is there for the rate you actually got from a bank, a card statement or a central bank. Nothing here executes a trade, so a stale rate cannot cost you money; treating a reference rate as a quote could.
What actually moves an exchange rate
Interest rates are the biggest driver: when a central bank raises rates, holding that currency pays more, and demand usually lifts it. Inflation pulls the other way, and trade flows, government debt and political risk all feed in. That is why a rate from last month, last week or even this morning can be far from the rate you get at the counter. Banks and card networks also add a spread of roughly 0.5% to 3% on top of the mid-market rate, plus fixed fees on small transfers — so the number that matters for your wallet is never the headline one. Treat any single rate as a snapshot of a moving target.
What the results mean
- Converted amount
- Your amount in the target currency, using the current rate — live, from the built-in reference table, or the rate you typed in.
- Exchange rate
- How much of the target currency one unit of the source currency buys. Cross rates are built from the US dollar rates in the built-in table, so no pair is missing.
- Reverse rate
- The same exchange rate the other way round: one unit of the target currency in the source currency. Multiply by this to convert back.
- Rate used
- Where the rate came from — the built-in reference table, today's live rates, or your own entry — and the reminder to verify before a real transaction.
Frequently asked questions
How current are the exchange rates on this page?
The built-in table holds fixed reference values (updated only when the site is rebuilt), so you can see exactly what you are calculating with. Tap the live-rates button for current mid-market rates from central-bank reference data — the result labels the source and its as-of date. For anything that moves real money, type the rate you were actually quoted into the override box, so the calculation uses your number rather than ours.
Where do I find the real exchange rate right now?
Central banks publish free reference rates — the European Central Bank around 16:00 CET on working days and the Federal Reserve's H.10 release each week — and currency sites such as xe.com publish mid-market rates continuously. Your bank or card issuer shows the rate you will actually get, which includes their markup. Compare the two before a large transfer.
How do I convert an amount by hand?
Multiply by the rate when the rate is quoted as target units per source unit: 100 dollars at 0.96 euros per dollar is 96 euros. Divide when it is quoted the other way: 96 euros ÷ 0.96 = 100 dollars. The Reverse rate on this page saves you flipping the division, and the quick table lists common amounts already converted.
Why is my bank's rate worse than the one I see online?
Because the online figure is the mid-market rate — halfway between what buyers and sellers are paying — and no bank deals at that price. Card networks and banks add a margin that commonly runs from about 0.5% to 3%, transfers add a fixed fee, and some quote different buy and sell rates. A rate that looks a few percent off is normal; a rate that looks wildly off usually means a stale page or the wrong currency pair.
Which currencies are covered, and what if mine is missing?
The built-in table covers 32 widely used currencies, from the US dollar and the euro to the Vietnamese dong and the Argentine peso. Anything outside that list still works through the override box: look up the rate you need, type it in, and the conversion, the reverse rate and the quick table all follow your number. The same trick handles historical rates — enter the rate from the date you care about.