Currency Converter
Convert any amount between two currencies using a given exchange rate, and instantly see the reverse conversion.
How to use this tool
- Enter amount to convert and exchange rate (1 unit of base = x quote) in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your converted amount and the full breakdown beneath it.
⚠ This tool provides general estimates for education only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures may not reflect your situation — verify with a qualified professional.
Formula
Converted Amount: Amountquote = Amountbase × Exchange Rate
Inverse Rate: Inverse Rate = 1 ÷ Exchange Rate
How it works
Currency conversion multiplies an amount in the base currency by the exchange rate to produce the equivalent amount in the quote currency. The exchange rate represents how many units of the quote currency one unit of the base currency will purchase.
This calculator uses mid-market rates (no bid-ask spread applied). In practice, banks and money exchange services apply a spread, meaning the rate you receive will differ slightly from the displayed mid-market rate.
Worked example
Converting USD to EUR at a rate of 0.85
- Starting amount: $100 USD
- Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.85 EUR
- Converted amount = 100 × 0.85 = 85.00 EUR
- Inverse rate = 1 ÷ 0.85 ≈ 1.1765 (1 EUR = 1.1765 USD)
$100 USD converts to 85.00 EUR at an exchange rate of 0.85.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a stale or manually entered exchange rate instead of a current market rate, which causes significant errors on large conversion amounts for volatile currencies.
- Forgetting that the rate shown is the mid-market rate and that banks add a spread of 0.5-3%, so the actual amount received will be less than the calculator shows.
- Confusing which currency is the base and which is the quote -- if EUR/USD = 1.10, one euro buys 1.10 dollars; inverting gives a very different result.
Key terms
- Exchange Rate
- The price of one currency expressed in terms of another currency.
- Base Currency
- The first currency in a pair; the currency you are converting from.
- Quote Currency
- The second currency in a pair; the currency you are converting to.
- Mid-Market Rate
- The midpoint between the buy and sell rates of two currencies, often used as a benchmark; also called the interbank rate.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does the rate I get at the bank differ from the calculator?
- The calculator uses the mid-market (interbank) rate. Banks and currency services add a margin of 0.5-3% or more and may charge flat fees. This is how they profit on the transaction.
- How often do exchange rates change?
- Major currency pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD) trade 24 hours a day on weekdays and fluctuate continuously. Rates can move significantly within a single day due to economic data releases or central bank announcements.
- What is the inverse rate and when do I need it?
- The inverse rate is 1 / Exchange Rate. Use it when you want to know how many dollars one unit of the foreign currency buys, rather than how many units of foreign currency one dollar buys.