Currency Exchange Calculator
Convert an amount from one currency to another using a specified exchange rate. Use it for quick travel budgeting, online shopping in foreign currencies, or estimating the value of an overseas bill or invoice.
Last updated: May 2026
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About this calculator
The formula is: converted amount = amount × exchange rate. The exchange rate represents how many units of the target currency one unit of the source currency buys; for example, an EUR/USD rate of 1.08 means €1 = $1.08, so €500 × 1.08 = $540. Real-world exchange rates come in three flavors that all matter for end-user transactions. The mid-market rate (also called interbank rate) is the midpoint between what banks charge to buy and sell currency wholesale — this is the "true" rate you see quoted on Google or financial news sites but is almost never the rate you actually get as a retail consumer. The buy rate (bid) is what banks pay for the currency from you (lower than mid-market); the sell rate (ask) is what they charge to give you the currency (higher than mid-market). The spread between these is the bank's profit; consumer-facing spreads typically range from 0.5% (good debit cards) to 3–5% (airport currency exchanges) to 5–10% (PayPal, hotel cash desks, dynamic-currency-conversion at point of sale). Edge cases: an exchange rate of 1.0 returns the same amount (useful for converting USD to USD-pegged currencies like USDC); a rate below 1 means the target currency is "worth less" per unit; a rate above 1 means the target is "worth more." For accurate cross-border transactions, always check the mid-market rate first (xe.com, Google) and then evaluate provider markups against that benchmark — a 1–2% markup is reasonable, 3%+ usually means there's a better option available.
How to use
Example 1 — Travel budget. You're going to Tokyo and want to convert $2,500 to Japanese yen. The current USD/JPY exchange rate is 149.50. Enter 2500 for Amount and 149.50 for Exchange Rate. Result: 373,750. Verify: 2500 × 149.50 = 373,750 JPY. ✓ At a mid-market rate that would be your benchmark; expect to actually receive 1–3% less if you exchange cash at a bank or airport, or 0–1% less if you use a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card. Example 2 — Receiving an EU invoice. A European supplier sends you a €18,500 invoice and the current EUR/USD mid-market rate is 1.08. Enter 18500 and 1.08. Result: $19,980. Verify: 18500 × 1.08 = $19,980. ✓ When your bank actually processes the wire transfer, expect to pay 1–3% more than $19,980 (typically $20,200–$20,580 depending on the bank's spread) plus any flat wire fees ($15–$45 per transaction). For substantial recurring international payments, services like Wise, Revolut, or OFX usually beat traditional bank wire rates by 1–4%.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the rate at my bank differ from what Google shows?
Google and financial news sites display the mid-market (interbank) rate — the midpoint between what banks pay each other to buy and sell currency wholesale. This is almost never the rate you actually get as a consumer. Banks, credit cards, and payment services charge a spread on top of the mid-market rate as their fee; the spread varies by provider and transaction type. Typical retail markups: good debit cards (no foreign transaction fee) 0–1%; standard credit cards 2–3%; bank wires 1–4% plus flat fees; airport currency kiosks 5–10%; PayPal 3–4%; hotel cash exchanges 5–8%; dynamic currency conversion at point of sale 3–7%. Always check the mid-market rate before a transaction and treat anything more than 1–2% above it as expensive. For large transactions, dedicated FX services (Wise, Revolut, OFX, Currencies Direct) typically offer rates within 0.5% of mid-market.
How do I know if I'm getting a good exchange rate?
Compare the rate offered against the current mid-market rate from a neutral source (xe.com, Google "USD to EUR", oanda.com). Compute the spread: (offered rate − mid-market rate) ÷ mid-market rate × 100 for buying foreign currency, or the reverse for selling. A spread under 1% is excellent; 1–2% is typical for digital-first services; 2–3% is OK for traditional banks; 3–5% is expensive (airport kiosks, hotel desks); above 5% is usually a sign to walk away. For credit card purchases abroad, also factor in the 3% foreign transaction fee many cards charge — a "no FX fee" card from a major issuer plus the underlying Visa/Mastercard rate (typically 0–0.5% above mid-market) is usually the cheapest way to spend in foreign currencies. For cash, ATM withdrawals with a fee-free debit card typically beat any currency-exchange counter.
Should I exchange currency before traveling or use a card abroad?
For most modern destinations, using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit or credit card is cheaper than exchanging cash beforehand. Cards typically convert at rates within 1% of mid-market with no markup, while pre-trip cash exchange at banks usually costs 2–4% and at airport kiosks 5–10%. The exception is countries with limited card acceptance (parts of Southeast Asia, rural Latin America, some African countries) where cash is necessary; for those, withdraw local currency from an ATM at your destination using a fee-free debit card rather than pre-exchanging cash. Always carry a small backup amount in cash for emergencies, taxis from the airport, or merchants who don't accept cards. Avoid dynamic currency conversion (when a foreign merchant offers to charge your card in your home currency) — it sounds convenient but adds 3–7% on top of the regular conversion.
What are the most common mistakes people make with currency conversion?
The biggest is assuming the rate Google shows is what you'll get — that's the mid-market rate, not the consumer rate, and you'll typically receive 1–5% less. The second is using a credit card with a 3% foreign transaction fee abroad when no-fee alternatives exist (Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, Schwab debit card all waive the fee). The third is accepting dynamic currency conversion at point of sale; it almost always costs 3–7% more than letting your card's network handle the conversion. The fourth is exchanging large amounts of cash at airports or hotels rather than withdrawing local currency from ATMs at the destination. The fifth is making large international transfers via traditional bank wire instead of using dedicated FX services that typically save 1–4% on the conversion alone. Finally, people often forget that round-trip currency conversion costs both ways — converting to a foreign currency and back to your home currency typically costs 2–10% in spread depending on the providers used, so don't convert money you might not actually spend.
When should I not use this calculator?
Skip it for forward-rate or hedging calculations — converting at the spot rate doesn't protect against future rate moves; for that, use forward contracts, currency-hedged ETFs, or options. It is the wrong tool for cryptocurrency-to-fiat conversions where the "exchange rate" varies by exchange and can move significantly even within the same minute; use a real-time crypto exchange instead. Do not use it for cross-rate calculations through a third currency without understanding compounding — converting USD → EUR → JPY pays the spread twice and is typically worse than a direct USD → JPY conversion if one exists. It also doesn't handle currencies with extreme volatility (Argentine peso, Turkish lira, Venezuelan bolívar) where the rate can change meaningfully between when you check and when you transact. For business invoicing in foreign currencies, you typically want to use the exchange rate on the invoice date for accounting purposes, then compute a separate FX gain/loss when the payment actually clears; this calculator doesn't do that timing mechanics.