How this calculator works
This converter does not fetch live rates. You enter the rate, the number of units of the second currency that one unit of the first currency buys, and it multiplies. That keeps the answer honest: exchange rates move every second and a static site cannot show a current one. To use it, look up today's rate from your bank, the Bank of Canada or a market data source, enter it, and convert as many amounts as you like at that snapshot. The direction of the rate matters. A quote of 1.37 written as USD/CAD means 1.37 Canadian dollars per US dollar. If your source gives the opposite direction, such as 0.73 US dollars per Canadian dollar, enter that as the rate and swap the two currencies instead of dividing. Banks and currency services trade at a spread around the mid-market rate, often 1% to 3% for a consumer, so the amount you actually receive is lower than a mid-market conversion. Card networks and online transfer services usually give a better rate than an airport counter, but each may add a fee. The table below the result shows common amounts at the rate you entered.
Formula
Converted amount = amount x rate, where the rate is units of the second currency per one unit of the first. Inverse rate = 1 / rate. To go the other way, swap the two currencies and use the inverse rate.
Worked example
Converting 100 US dollars to Canadian dollars at a rate of 1.37 gives 100 x 1.37 = 137 Canadian dollars. The inverse rate is 1 / 1.37 = 0.7299 US dollars per Canadian dollar. At the same rate, 500 US dollars converts to 685 Canadian dollars and 1,000 US dollars converts to 1,370 Canadian dollars.
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Frequently asked questions
Why can I not just press convert without a rate?
Because the site is static and has no live market feed. Entering the rate yourself keeps the figure accurate for the moment you looked it up, rather than showing a stale number as if it were current.
Which rate should I use?
The rate at which you can actually transact, not the headline mid-market rate, if you want the amount you will receive. Bank of Canada rates are mid-market reference rates and are useful for accounting and comparison.
How do I convert the other way?
Swap the from and to currencies and use the rate in the new direction, or keep the currencies and multiply by the inverse rate shown in the results.
Should I use the Bank of Canada rate for a purchase?
It is a good reference but not a transaction rate. Your bank adds a margin. For a large purchase, compare the card network rate and the transfer service rate including fees before choosing.