Currency Converter Online — Live Exchange Rates for 150+ Currencies

What Is the Exchange Rate?

An exchange rate is the price of one currency expressed in units of another. The EUR/USD rate of 1.08 means one euro buys 1.08 US dollars. Exchange rates float continuously based on supply and demand in the global foreign exchange (forex) market, which trades over $7 trillion per day.

The rate you see in a currency converter is the mid-market rate (also called the interbank rate or spot rate) — the midpoint between the buy and sell prices that banks and currency brokers quote to each other. Retail banks and services like PayPal add a margin on top of this rate, which is why the rate you get at an airport exchange booth is always worse than the one you see online.

How to Use the Currency Converter

1. Enter the amount. Type the amount you want to convert. You can enter any number including decimals.
2. Select the source currency. Pick the currency you are converting from using the dropdown or by searching the currency name or code.
3. Select the target currency. Pick the currency you want to convert to. The result updates instantly.
4. Swap if needed. Click the swap button to reverse the conversion direction — useful when checking both directions of an exchange.

Major Currency Pairs Reference

Mid-Market Rate vs Real Exchange Rate

When you convert currency using a bank, credit card, PayPal, or money transfer service, you do not get the mid-market rate. The actual rate applied includes a spread — the provider's profit margin. This spread typically ranges from 0.5% (for specialist services like Wise or Revolut) to 3–5% (for high-street banks and airport kiosks).

On a £1,000 transfer, a 3% spread costs you £30 compared to the mid-market rate. On large amounts such as international invoice payments, property purchases, or pension transfers, the spread can be significant. Knowing the mid-market rate from a converter helps you evaluate whether the rate you are being quoted is fair.

Using the Currency Converter for Travel

Budgeting before you travel

Convert your travel budget to the local currency at today's mid-market rate to get a baseline. When you actually exchange currency, expect to receive 1–4% less due to the provider's spread. Build this buffer into your budget.

Which payment method gives the best rate?

In most countries, paying by debit or credit card at the point of sale gives a better rate than exchanging cash in advance — particularly if your card does not charge foreign transaction fees. Cards using the Mastercard or Visa network apply rates close to the mid-market rate. Check your card's foreign transaction fee before travelling; cards from specialist travel providers often offer zero fees.

Dynamic Currency Conversion — avoid it

At ATMs and card terminals abroad, you may be offered the option to pay in your home currency rather than the local currency ("Dynamic Currency Conversion"). Always choose to pay in the local currency. DCC applies an unfavourable exchange rate (typically 3–7% worse) on top of your card's normal fee.

Common Questions

How often are exchange rates updated?

The mid-market exchange rates used by online converters are typically refreshed every few minutes during forex market hours. The global forex market operates 24 hours a day on weekdays. Weekend rates are less active and may reflect Friday's closing rate until Monday morning trading begins.

Why does the rate shown differ from my bank's rate?

The rate shown in this converter is the mid-market (interbank) rate. Banks and currency services mark up this rate to make a profit. The difference between the mid-market rate and the rate your bank quotes is the spread, which functions as the bank's fee for the transaction.

Can I convert cryptocurrency to fiat currency?

This converter covers fiat (government-issued) currencies only. For cryptocurrency conversion rates, use a dedicated crypto price tool.