Currency Converter
Convert between 30 world currencies using live ECB reference rates, with a trend chart.
USD/EUR trend
About this calculator
What Is a Currency Converter?
A currency converter shows what an amount of money in one currency is worth in another, using the current exchange rate. Type an amount, pick the currencies you are converting from and to, and get the result instantly. It is the quickest way to price a trip, compare an overseas purchase, send money abroad or follow the market. This converter uses live exchange rates from the European Central Bank, so the figures stay close to the reference market rate.
How Currency Conversion Works
Converted amount = Amount × Exchange rate. If 1 EUR is worth 1.08 USD, then 250 EUR is 250 × 1.08 = 270 USD. To go the other way, divide by the same rate (or multiply by its reciprocal). Rates are always quoted as a pair, such as EUR/USD, where the first currency is the base and the second is the quote currency.
Key Terms in Foreign Exchange
- Exchange rate: the value of one currency expressed in another.
- Forex (FX): the global, decentralized market where currencies are traded — the largest financial market in the world.
- Bid and ask price: the price at which a dealer will buy a currency and the price at which it will sell it.
- Spread: the gap between bid and ask. This is how banks, kiosks and brokers earn their margin.
- Pip: the smallest standard move in a currency quote, typically the fourth decimal place.
Why You Will Not Get the Exact Rate
The rate you see here is a market reference rate. Banks, airport exchange desks, card networks and money-transfer services add a spread or a fee on top, so the amount you actually receive is usually a little less. Compare the final amount, not just the advertised rate, and be wary of "zero commission" offers that hide the cost inside a weak rate.
Tips When Exchanging Money
- Pay in the local currency when using a card abroad; "dynamic currency conversion" often costs more.
- Compare a bank, a card with no foreign transaction fee and a dedicated transfer service for large amounts.
- Rates move every day, so for a big transaction check again shortly before you convert.
For other kinds of conversion, such as length, weight and temperature, use the Unit Conversion Calculator, and to see how prices change over time, try the Inflation Calculator.
Worked example
Converting 1 USD to EUR multiplies the amount by the live USD→EUR rate shown above — the figure updates from the European Central Bank's daily reference rates, so it always reflects today's market rather than a fixed snapshot.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the exchange rates come from?
The European Central Bank's daily reference rates, published on every day the ECB is open (weekdays, excluding some holidays). Rates are fetched live and cached for up to an hour, so figures stay current without hammering the data source.
Is this real-time, tick-by-tick like a trading platform?
No — the ECB publishes reference rates once per business day, around 16:00 CET. That's the standard most currency converters and businesses use, but it's not the same as live interbank trading rates, which move continuously.
Why is a currency missing from the list?
The list covers the major currencies the ECB publishes daily reference rates for. Less commonly traded currencies aren't included.
Will banks or card issuers give me this exact rate?
Usually not — banks, card networks, and money-transfer services typically add a margin on top of the reference rate, so the amount you actually pay or receive will differ slightly from the converted figure here.
