Reading an exchange rate
An exchange rate is simply the price of one currency expressed in another. Quote it as a pair — say EUR/USD — and the number tells you how many units of the second currency one unit of the first will buy. Those prices move every second on the foreign exchange market as central-bank interest rates, inflation, trade flows, and sentiment shift, which is why the figure you saw this morning rarely matches the one you see tonight.
The rate this tool shows is a reference mid-market rate — the midpoint between the wholesale buy and sell prices. It is the cleanest benchmark to compare against, but it is not the rate you will personally transact at: a bank, card network, or transfer service adds a spread on top.
Converting 100 US dollars to euros at 0.92
Suppose the indicative EUR per USD rate is 0.92. To convert 100 USD, multiply the amount by the rate: 100 × 0.92 = 92 EUR. To go the other way, divide instead — 92 EUR ÷ 0.92 returns the original 100 USD. The 0.92 here is illustrative; the live figure above is fetched fresh and will differ, and your bank's actual rate will sit a little below the mid-market number.
Major World Currencies
Understanding the most commonly traded currencies helps you interpret exchange rate movements.
US Dollar (USD)
The world's primary reserve currency and the benchmark for most commodity prices. When the US Federal Reserve raises interest rates, the dollar typically strengthens against other currencies.
Euro (EUR)
The official currency of 20 EU member states and the second most traded currency globally. The EUR/USD pair is the most traded forex pair in the world.
Japanese Yen (JPY)
A major safe-haven currency often used in carry trades. The yen tends to strengthen during global economic uncertainty as investors unwind riskier positions.
Tips for Getting the Best Exchange Rate
The exchange rate you see here is the mid-market rate. To get the best deal when actually exchanging money:
Avoid airport and hotel exchange booths
These typically offer the worst rates, with spreads of 5–10% or more above the mid-market rate.
Use a specialist money transfer service
Services like Wise (formerly TransferWise) or Revolut offer rates very close to the mid-market rate for international transfers, often with low fixed fees.
Check the total cost, not just the rate
Always compare the final amount you receive after all fees are deducted, not just the headline exchange rate.
When not to rely on these numbers
Treat these numbers as a reference, not a quote. The rates come from the European Central Bank, which publishes them once per business day — so on weekends and public holidays you are seeing the last working day's figures, not the live market, and intraday swings never appear. The ECB set covers roughly 30 currencies, so thinly traded or pegged currencies may be missing entirely. Results are rounded for display, the converter assumes no commission or transfer fee, and it is built for everyday estimates rather than settling a contract, filing taxes, or pricing a large transfer.
Currency conversion questions
How accurate are the exchange rates?
Exchange rates are sourced from the Frankfurter API, which publishes rates from the European Central Bank (ECB). Rates are updated daily on business days. For financial transactions always verify with your bank or broker.
Which currencies does this converter support?
This converter supports 20 major world currencies: US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), British Pound (GBP), Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Swiss Franc (CHF), Chinese Yuan (CNY), Indian Rupee (INR), Mexican Peso (MXN), Brazilian Real (BRL), South Korean Won (KRW), Singapore Dollar (SGD), Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), Norwegian Krone (NOK), Swedish Krona (SEK), Danish Krone (DKK), New Zealand Dollar (NZD), South African Rand (ZAR), and Russian Ruble (RUB).
How often are exchange rates updated?
The European Central Bank publishes reference exchange rates every business day around 16:00 CET. This converter fetches the latest available rate from the Frankfurter API and caches it for 30 minutes to avoid unnecessary requests.