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Currency Converter

Convert between world currencies using live exchange rates. Rates update automatically from a public exchange-rate feed.

Written by Rahman · Last reviewed

Quick answer

Currency conversion multiplies an amount by the exchange rate between two currencies. Unlike physical units the rate is not a constant: it moves continuously with markets, and the rate a bank or card issuer gives you normally carries a margin over the mid-market rate. This converter fetches mid-market rates from a public exchange-rate API when the page loads, so treat the result as an indication rather than the price you will be charged.

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About the Currency Converter

A currency converter changes an amount of money from one currency into another using the current exchange rate. Exchange rates move constantly with global markets, so live data is essential for an accurate result.

This tool fetches up-to-date rates from a public exchange-rate feed and converts between major and minor world currencies in real time.

The rate you see is not the rate you get

The figure quoted here, and by search engines and financial news, is the mid-market or interbank rate: the midpoint between what buyers and sellers are offering in the wholesale market. It is the honest reference rate, and almost nobody transacts at it.

Consumer providers add a margin, and how they present it varies. Some quote a worse rate and advertise "no fees"; others quote the mid-market rate and charge an explicit commission. The second is easier to compare, but neither is inherently cheaper: the only reliable comparison is how much of the target currency actually arrives.

  • Airport and hotel exchange desks carry the widest margins, frequently several percent away from mid-market.
  • Card networks convert at close to interbank rates, but the issuing bank often adds a foreign transaction fee of around 1% to 3% on top.
  • Dynamic currency conversion (being offered payment in your home currency abroad) moves the conversion to the merchant's provider, and their rate is usually worse than your bank's. Paying in the local currency avoids it.

Compare providers on the final amount received for a fixed amount sent. That single number captures the rate margin and every fee together.

What a live rate can and cannot tell you

Rates here refresh from a public feed when the page loads, which makes them current rather than continuous. Foreign exchange moves constantly during trading hours, so a figure fetched a few minutes ago is an accurate reference and not an executable quote.

The gap matters most for larger transfers. A rate that has moved between checking and transacting changes the amount received, and providers generally quote a rate that holds only briefly before it is refreshed.

  • Weekend and holiday rates are typically the last close, since interbank markets are not trading.
  • Pegged and managed currencies move differently from floating ones, and some official rates diverge sharply from what is obtainable in practice.
  • Use this converter to understand a price or check a quote is reasonable, not as the basis for a committed transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are the exchange rates updated?

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Rates are pulled from a public exchange-rate service that updates regularly. The page shows when the rates were last refreshed.

Will I get this exact rate at a bank?

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Not exactly. Banks and money-transfer services add a margin or fee, so the rate you receive is usually slightly worse than the mid-market rate shown here.

Why do exchange rates change?

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Rates move with supply and demand for each currency, driven by interest rates, trade, inflation and economic news.

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