Currency Units Calculator
Convert between major and minor currency units (dollars to cents, euros to cents, pounds to pence, etc.).
How to use this tool
- Enter the amount in major units (e.g. dollars or euros).
- Enter the number of minor units per major unit (100 for most currencies).
- The calculator converts to minor units (e.g. cents) and back again.
Convert between major and minor currency denominations for any currency worldwide.
Formula
Minor units = Amount (major) × Minor units per major unit
Back to major = Minor units ÷ Minor units per major unit
How it works
This calculator converts an amount expressed in major currency units (such as dollars, euros, or pounds) into the corresponding minor units (such as cents or pence) by multiplying by the defined conversion factor. The reverse conversion simply divides the minor-unit total by the same factor. The result is exact provided the conversion factor is a whole number, which is true for all standard ISO 4217 currencies.
Worked example
Worked example
- Start with 5 major units (e.g. 5 dollars) and a conversion factor of 100 (cents per dollar).
- Minor units = 5 × 100 = 500 cents.
- Back to major units = 500 ÷ 100 = 5.00 dollars.
500 minor units; back to major = 5.00
Key terms
- Major unit
- The primary denomination of a currency, such as the dollar, euro, or pound sterling.
- Minor unit
- The fractional subdivision of a currency's major unit, such as cents (1/100 dollar) or pence (1/100 pound).
- ISO 4217
- The international standard that defines currency codes and specifies how many decimal places (minor units) each currency uses.
- Conversion factor
- The number of minor units that equal one major unit; for most currencies this is 100, but some (e.g. Kuwaiti dinar) use 1000.
Frequently asked questions
- How many cents are in a dollar?
- There are 100 cents in one US dollar, 100 pence in one British pound, 100 cents in one euro, and 100 centavos in one Mexican peso.
- Which currencies have different minor unit ratios?
- Most major currencies use 100 minor units. Notable exceptions include the Kuwaiti dinar (1000 fils), the Bahraini dinar (1000 fils), and the Omani rial (1000 baisa).