Currency Converter:
15 Major Currencies
Convert between USD, GBP, EUR and 12 more currencies — with an honest explanation of why the rate you get is never the rate you see.
✓ Calculator reviewed March 2025
Exchange rates are among the most volatile numbers in everyday finance. The rate you see on Google is the interbank rate — the rate at which large financial institutions trade with each other. The rate you actually get when converting money as a private individual is always worse, and sometimes quite a lot worse depending on where and how you convert.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the amount to convert. Type the sum you want to convert in the "Amount" field.
- Select your source currency. Choose the currency you're converting from using the dropdown.
- Select your target currency. Choose the currency you're converting to. You can convert between any of the 15 major currencies available.
- Read your result. The converted amount is shown instantly. Note: rates shown are mid-market reference rates — the rate you get from a bank or exchange service will include a margin. Use our result as a benchmark to compare offers.
You want to convert $5,000 USD to EUR. The mid-market rate is 1 USD = 0.92 EUR.
- Mid-market: $5,000 × 0.92 = €4,600
- Bank rate (typically 2–4% worse): ~€4,508 − €4,554
- Specialist service (Wise/Revolut): ~€4,577 − €4,592
The "exchange rate" your bank advertises includes a hidden margin. Always check the mid-market rate first — that's the fair benchmark.
The spread: why the rate you get differs from the rate you see
Every currency exchange involves a buy rate and a sell rate, with the interbank midpoint sitting between them. The gap is called the spread, and it is how currency exchange services make money. High street banks and airport bureaux de change typically offer the widest spreads — sometimes 3–7% either side of the midpoint, meaning a round trip costs you 6–14% of your money. Specialist providers like Wise (formerly TransferWise), Revolut, and Starling offer spreads of 0.3–1.5%, which on a £5,000 transfer can mean a difference of £250–£300.
The true cost of different conversion methods
On a £1,000 conversion to euros, the range of real-world costs in 2024 is roughly as follows: your high street bank charges £40–£70 in spread plus a fixed transfer fee. An airport bureau de change charges £50–£100. A Post Office or supermarket exchange desk: £25–£45. An online specialist like Wise: £4–£12. A multi-currency card like Revolut (within monthly allowance): £1–£3. The rate matters more than the fee line item, because most providers bury the cost in the rate rather than advertising a transparent fee.
When exchange rates matter most
For small amounts — paying a €15 café bill on a credit card — the rate difference is negligible. For large transactions, it is not. Property purchases abroad, international salary payments, large remittances to family, and pension conversions can all be affected materially by exchange rate timing and provider choice. A 1% better rate on a €200,000 property purchase saves £1,700.
Understanding rate volatility
The GBP/USD rate has ranged from 1.07 to 1.37 in the past five years — a 28% range. The EUR/USD has ranged from 0.96 to 1.13 over the same period. For anyone with regular cross-currency income, expenses, or savings, this volatility is a genuine financial risk that deserves attention rather than being treated as background noise. Forward contracts — available through specialist FX brokers — allow you to lock in a rate for a future transaction, removing this uncertainty.
A note on these rates
This converter uses reference exchange rates updated periodically. These are indicative midmarket rates for comparison and calculation purposes. Always check live rates from your chosen provider before any real transaction — rates change by the minute during trading hours.
This currency converter uses reference midmarket exchange rates to convert between 15 major currencies: US Dollar (USD), British Pound (GBP), Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Swiss Franc (CHF), Swedish Krona (SEK), Norwegian Krone (NOK), Danish Krone (DKK), Polish Zloty (PLN), Indian Rupee (INR), Mexican Peso (MXN), New Zealand Dollar (NZD), and Singapore Dollar (SGD).
Note: rates shown are indicative reference rates. The rate you actually receive from a bank, currency exchange, or travel card provider will differ — typically by 0.3% (specialist providers like Wise) to 5–7% (airport bureaux, high street banks). Always verify live rates before any real transaction. See our guide on understanding hidden financial costs.
How many dollars is £100?
At a GBP/USD rate of approximately 1.28 (the approximate rate in early 2025), £100 converts to approximately $128. Exchange rates change continuously — check live rates from your bank or a specialist provider before any real transaction. The rate you actually receive will be slightly worse than the midmarket rate due to the provider's spread.
Why is the rate I get worse than the Google rate?
The rate shown on Google is the interbank midmarket rate — the wholesale rate between large financial institutions. No individual can trade at this rate. Every provider adds a spread (markup) above and below the midmarket to make a profit. High street banks charge 3–5%; airport bureaux charge 5–10%; specialist providers like Wise and Revolut charge 0.3–1.5%. The difference on a £5,000 conversion can be £200–£400.
What is the best way to convert currency?
For international transfers and large amounts, specialist online providers offer the best rates: Wise (formerly TransferWise), Revolut, and OFX typically charge 0.3–1.5% above midmarket. For travel spending, a multi-currency card (Revolut, Starling, Monzo) converts at near-interbank rates with no markup within monthly allowances. Airport exchange desks and hotel currency counters are consistently the most expensive options — avoid if possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Online specialist providers like Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Revolut typically offer rates closest to the interbank midmarket rate, with transparent fees. High street banks and airport bureaux de change have the widest spreads and are the most expensive options for most conversions.
The interbank rate is the wholesale rate at which large financial institutions trade currencies with each other. It is the rate you see quoted on Google or financial data sites. Private individuals never get this exact rate — providers add a spread (markup) above and below it.
Costs vary materially by provider. High street banks typically charge 3–5% above the midmarket rate plus a fixed fee. Airport bureaux can charge 5–10%. Online specialists charge 0.3–1.5%. On a £5,000 transfer, this difference can be £100–£400 in real money.
Generally, using a specialist travel card (Revolut, Starling, Monzo) that converts at the interbank rate is better than any pre-conversion. If you must use cash, ordering from an online bureau before departure beats airport rates by a wide margin. Never use hotel exchange desks — they typically offer the worst rates of all.
Rates are indicative reference rates updated periodically. Always verify with your bank or FX provider before transacting.