To convert money, multiply the amount by the exchange rate. On September 25, 2026, the European Central Bank's reference rate was 1.1403 dollars per euro, so $100 bought about €87.70.
The calculator does that sum for 31 currencies. It also shows the reverse rate, so you can check that you're reading a quote the right way round.
Where the calculator's rates come from
By default it uses the ECB's euro reference rates, and the date of those rates appears under the calculator. The ECB publishes them at around 16:00 CET on working days. They come from a daily concertation between central banks around 14:10 CET.
The ECB is clear about their purpose: the rates are published "for information purposes only". They aren't meant for market transactions. So treat the result as a benchmark, not as the rate a bank or card will give you.
Every rate is quoted against the euro. For two other currencies, the calculator divides one euro rate by the other. Dollars to pounds on September 25 worked out at 0.86045 ÷ 1.1403 = 0.7546. The cross exchange rate calculator does the same with rates you enter.
Which way round is the rate?
A number like 1.1403 only means something once you know its direction. It's dollars per euro. So from dollars to euros you divide by it, or multiply by its reverse, 0.8770.
| ECB rates of Sept. 25, 2026 | Rate used | Reverse rate | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 to euros: 1 ÷ 1.1403 | 0.8770 | 1.1403 | €87.70 |
| $100 to euros, rate the wrong way round | 1.1403 | 0.8770 | €114.03 |
| €100 to dollars: 1.1403 | 1.1403 | 0.8770 | $114.03 |
| $100 to pounds: 0.86045 ÷ 1.1403 | 0.7546 | 1.3252 | £75.46 |
Use the rate the wrong way round and $100 turns into €114.03 instead of €87.70. That's 30% too much, and the error grows as the rate moves further from 1.
The calculator reads its own table in the right direction. The trap is a rate you copy from elsewhere into the custom rate box. Before you rely on it, compare it with the reverse rate shown under the result.
What a worse rate costs you
Whoever changes your money sets its own rate. Type the rate you're quoted into the custom rate box to see what you'd really receive. Here's $1,000 at the reference rate and at rates 1%, 3% and 5% below it:
| Rate you're given | Rate | Euros for $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| ECB reference rate | 0.8770 | €876.96 |
| 1% below it | 0.8682 | €868.19 |
| 3% below it | 0.8507 | €850.65 |
| 5% below it | 0.8331 | €833.11 |
A rate 1% worse costs you €8.77 on $1,000. At 5% worse, you get €43.85 less. The percentage stays the same at any size. On a $20,000 tuition bill, a rate 3% worse costs the equivalent of $600.
Compare offers by what arrives
A quote has two parts: the rate and any fee. Looking at the rates alone can mislead you. Instead, work out how many euros arrive for the same dollars, after everything.
| Offer for $1,000 | Dollars converted | Rate | Euros that arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: rate 0.8680, no fee | $1,000 | 0.8680 | €868.00 |
| B: rate 0.8750, $10 fee | $990 | 0.8750 | €866.25 |
Offer B has the better rate, but its $10 fee comes off before the conversion. So Offer A delivers €1.75 more. To compare offers yourself, enter the amount left after fees and each offer's rate.
Sending money abroad from the U.S.
Sending money from the U.S. to another country? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) lists what the provider must tell you first. That includes the fees and taxes it collects, the exchange rate and the amount expected to be delivered.
That last figure is the one to compare between providers. After paying, you generally have 30 minutes to cancel at no charge. That right ends once the money is picked up or deposited.
If something goes wrong, you have 180 days to tell the provider. It generally has 90 days to investigate and report the result, according to the CFPB.
Why a quote later today may differ
The reference rates are set once each working day, not minute by minute. Currency markets keep trading after that. So a quote you get in the evening can already differ from the one here.
For a payment at a known future date, the currency forward calculator shows how a forward rate is priced. To compare what money buys in two countries, try the purchasing power parity calculator.