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Currency converter
Pick an amount, a currency to convert from and one to convert to, and this tool returns the equivalent value along with the rate it used and the reverse rate. It runs on the European Central Bank euro foreign-exchange reference rates, the daily mid-market figures the ECB publishes around 16:00 Central European Time on every working day. Mid-market means the midpoint between what buyers and sellers were quoting in the wholesale market, before anyone adds a profit. That is the rate you see quoted in the news and the one a fair conversion should start from, but it is almost never the rate you actually get: banks, card networks and bureaux all add a margin on top, so the cash in your pocket comes out lower. Use this to sanity-check a quote before you accept it, to budget a trip or an overseas purchase, or to read a foreign price tag in money you understand. The rates here are a fixed reference snapshot, dated below, not a live ticker, so for an actual transaction always confirm the current figure with your provider.
Converted using European Central Bank euro reference rates from 15 June 2026. These are a daily reference, not a dealing rate: the price your bank or card gives includes a margin and changes through the day, so treat this as a guide and check the live rate before you move money.
How it works
- Type the amount you want to convert.
- Choose the currency you are starting from and the currency you want the answer in.
- The tool divides your amount by the reference rate of the starting currency to express it in euros, then multiplies by the reference rate of the target currency.
- It shows the converted amount, the rate for one unit of the starting currency, and the reverse rate for one unit of the target.
- Compare that rate against the rate your bank or card offers; the gap between them is the margin you are paying to exchange.
target = amount / rate(from) x rate(to), where rate(EUR) = 1
The European Central Bank quotes each currency as the number of units that buy one euro. To go from one currency to another, first turn the amount into euros by dividing by the starting currency rate, then turn those euros into the target currency by multiplying by its rate. The euro acts as a common pivot, which is why a dollar to pound conversion still passes through the euro figures behind the scenes. The single rate displayed for one unit is just the target rate divided by the starting rate.
- amount
- the sum you are converting
- rate(from)
- units of the starting currency per euro
- rate(to)
- units of the target currency per euro
What a conversion typically costs on top of the mid-market rate
| Specialist transfer app | 0.3% to 1% | closest to the reference rate |
| Debit or credit card abroad | 1% to 3% | plus any non-sterling fee |
| High-street bank transfer | 2% to 4% | sometimes a flat fee as well |
| Airport or hotel bureau | 5% to 12% | the dearest place to change cash |
Worked example
You want to convert 250 US dollars into British pounds at the reference rates dated below: one dollar is about 0.745 pounds, so 250 dollars comes to roughly 186.27 pounds. The reverse rate shows one pound is about 1.342 dollars. A card charging a 3 percent margin would hand you closer to 180.70 pounds, the 5.57-pound difference being the cost of the conversion.
Key facts
- The European Central Bank reference rates are mid-market rates, the midpoint of wholesale buy and sell quotes, not a price any retail customer can transact at.
- They are set once each working day at around 16:00 Central European Time and do not change again until the next publication.
- Because the euro is the pivot, a conversion between two other currencies is really two steps through the euro figures.
- Dynamic currency conversion, where a foreign card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, usually carries one of the worst margins, so paying in the local currency is normally cheaper.
Tips
- Treat the figure here as the fair starting point, then judge any quote by how far above it the provider sits.
- When paying by card overseas, always choose to be billed in the local currency rather than your own to avoid dynamic currency conversion.
- For larger transfers a specialist service usually beats a high-street bank, where the margin on a few thousand can run to tens of units.
- Check the date on these rates; if it is more than a day or two old, look up the current figure before relying on it for a transaction.
Frequently asked questions
Are these live exchange rates?+
No. They are the European Central Bank daily reference rates for the date shown, kept as a fixed snapshot. Currency markets move every second, so for a real transfer or purchase check the current rate with your provider first.
Why is the rate my bank gives me worse than this?+
The reference rate is the wholesale mid-market price. Banks, card networks and bureaux add a margin, often 1 to 3 percent on a card and far more at an airport kiosk, which is how they make money on the exchange.
How are the rates calculated between two non-euro currencies?+
The euro is used as the bridge. Your amount is converted into euros using the starting currency rate, then from euros into the target currency, which gives the cross rate between the two.
When does the European Central Bank update these rates?+
On every working day at around 16:00 Central European Time, based on a concertation between central banks across Europe. There is no update at weekends or on TARGET closing days.
Which currencies can I convert?+
The major ones the ECB quotes daily, including the dollar, pound, yen, Swiss franc, Canadian and Australian dollars, and a range of others. Currencies under capital controls or pegs are not in the reference list.
Things to watch
- These are reference rates for the date shown, not live rates, and must not be used as the basis for an actual exchange without checking the current market.
- The rate you are offered will include a margin and possibly fees, so the amount you receive will be lower than the figure here.
- Rates for currencies with managed pegs or capital controls can diverge sharply from any market rate and are not covered by this reference set.
Sources
- Euro foreign exchange reference rates · European Central Bank
Last updated: 2026
This is an estimate for general guidance, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Figures can change and individual circumstances vary. Always confirm with the official sources listed before making decisions.
Reviewed by Vikas Dulgunde. Editorial standards.