How to use the currency converter
- Enter the amount.
- Choose the currency to convert from and to, or tap a popular pair. Use ⇄ to swap them.
- The converted amount, the exchange rate both ways, and the value in other major currencies update instantly.
Understanding exchange rates
The rate shown here is the mid-market rate: the midpoint between the buy and sell prices on global currency markets. It's the fairest benchmark, but it's not usually the rate consumers get. Banks, card networks, airports and money-transfer apps add a margin (the hidden markup in their rate) and sometimes a fixed fee.
Amount received = Amount × (Mid-market rate × (1 − Margin)) − Fees
Example: sending $1,000 at a mid-market rate with a 3% margin and a $5 fee gives you about 3% fewer units of the other currency, plus the fee. Always compare the final amount received, not just the advertised fee.
Tips to save on currency conversion
- Avoid airport kiosks and hotel exchanges. They usually have the worst rates.
- Pay in the local currency when a card machine abroad offers to charge you in your home currency. That "dynamic currency conversion" adds a markup.
- Use a card with no foreign transaction fee for travel spending.
- Compare transfer services by the total amount the recipient gets.
Frequently asked questions
How often are the rates updated?
Rates come from a free exchange-rate service and are updated once a day. The time of the last update is shown under the result.
Why is my bank's rate different?
Banks, card providers and money-transfer services add a margin to the mid-market rate shown here, typically 1–5%, and sometimes a fixed fee. Use this converter to see the real rate and compare how much each provider charges.
Is this the official or black-market rate?
It's the mid-market rate published by international data providers. In countries with parallel markets, such as for the naira at times, the rate you can actually get may differ significantly.
Can I use it offline?
The last rates you loaded are saved in your browser for 12 hours, so the converter keeps working briefly without a connection.