Currency converter

Converting at the reference rate

Type an amount, pick the two currencies and the conversion appears with the rate it used and the day that rate is from. Twenty-seven currencies are covered, from the euro and the dollar to the yen, the rand and the Icelandic krona.

The rates are the daily reference rates published by the European Central Bank. They are the mid-market figure — the number you see quoted in the news — not what a bank or a bureau de change will actually give you.

The rate for the day is fetched once and the arithmetic then happens in your browser, so switching currencies or amounts is instant.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the bank’s rate different?

Because a bank buys and sells at its own spread and adds a fee. Expect one to three percent worse than the reference rate at a bank, and often considerably worse at an airport exchange counter.

How often do the rates change?

Once every working day. The ECB publishes reference rates in the early afternoon Central European Time; at weekends and on holidays the last working day’s rates stand, which is why the date is always shown.

Can I convert between two non-euro currencies?

Yes. Both are converted through the euro, which is how cross rates are normally derived. The rate shown is the resulting direct rate between the pair you picked.

Is this good enough for accounting?

For an estimate, yes. For books and tax returns, use the rate your own authority prescribes — many require a specific central bank’s rate for a given day.