Convert between major world currencies including GBP, USD, EUR, JPY, AUD, CAD, and more. Get approximate exchange rates for quick conversions.
Exchange rates fluctuate constantly based on market demand, economic conditions, interest rates, inflation, political stability, and trade balances. The rates shown here are approximate and for informational purposes. Actual rates offered by banks, currency exchanges, and payment providers vary and typically include fees or margins making the effective rate less favorable than the market mid-rate. When exchanging currency for travel or international payments, always check the exact rate and fees with your provider before completing the transaction.
Online currency converters typically show the mid-market rate—the midpoint between buying and selling rates in the foreign exchange market. This is the "true" exchange rate used by banks trading with each other. However, when you exchange currency as a consumer, providers add a margin or spread to make profit. High street banks often add 3-5% on top of the mid-rate, airport exchanges add 10-15%, and hotel exchanges can add 15-20% or more. Specialist currency services like Wise, Revolut, or CurrencyFair offer rates much closer to mid-market (within 0.5-1%) making them significantly cheaper for travelers and international transfers. Always compare the total cost including fees, not just the headline exchange rate.
Timing currency exchanges to maximize value is challenging even for professional traders. Exchange rates fluctuate based on numerous unpredictable factors making consistent profitable timing nearly impossible. For large planned expenses like property purchases abroad, consider forward contracts that lock in today's rate for a future transaction, protecting against adverse movements. For travel, monitor rates in the weeks before your trip and exchange when rates are favorable, but don't obsess over minor fluctuations. Avoid exchanging at airports or hotels which offer the worst rates regardless of market conditions. Consider multi-currency cards or accounts that allow you to hold and spend multiple currencies, converting when rates are good rather than at point of payment.
Use credit or debit cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees (typically 2.5-3% per transaction). Specialist travel cards like Revolut, Wise, or Monzo offer fee-free spending abroad at interbank exchange rates. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently from ATMs to minimize fixed withdrawal fees, but be aware of daily withdrawal limits. Pay in local currency when given the choice rather than your home currency—paying in your own currency triggers dynamic currency conversion with poor rates benefiting the merchant and card processor, not you. Bring some local cash for small purchases and emergencies, but exchange it before traveling at better rates than you'll get abroad. Avoid using credit cards for ATM withdrawals as these typically incur cash advance fees plus daily interest charges.
At approximate rate of 1.27: £100 × 1.27 = $127.00. This is the mid-market conversion. A typical high street bank offering 1.22 would give you $122, costing you $5 (4%) in hidden fees. A specialist service at 1.265 would give you $126.50, costing only $0.50 (0.4%). This difference compounds significantly on larger amounts.
At approximate rate of 0.92: $500 × 0.92 = €460. Airport exchange at rate 0.85 would give you €425, a loss of €35 (7.6%). This demonstrates why exchanging at airports should be a last resort only for emergency small amounts.
At approximate rate of 189: £1,000 × 189 = ¥189,000. Using a travel card at 188.5 rate: ¥188,500 (£2.65 fee equivalent). Using hotel exchange at 175 rate: ¥175,000 (£80 fee equivalent). The difference between best and worst option here is £77.35—enough for several nice meals in Japan.
For international travel, order foreign cash online 2-3 days before departure for better rates than walk-in exchanges. Take a mix of cash and cards for flexibility and security. For business international payments, use services like Wise Business or OFX which offer rates within 0.3-0.5% of mid-market, far better than traditional bank international transfers charging 3-5%. Set up rate alerts on currency platforms to know when your preferred exchange rate is available for large conversions. Keep emergency cash in major currencies like USD or EUR which are widely accepted globally and easy to exchange. For regular international expenses, consider multi-currency accounts letting you hold balances in several currencies and convert when rates favor you rather than being forced to convert at inopportune times. Monitor economic news affecting your currency pairs—elections, central bank announcements, and major economic data releases cause volatility you can sometimes exploit or at least avoid. Finally, always calculate the total cost including all fees rather than focusing solely on exchange rates, as some providers offer good rates but charge high fixed fees making them poor value for smaller amounts.