Currency Converter
Convert between GBP and 29 major world currencies using live European Central Bank reference exchange rates.
Currency Converter — Live Exchange Rates
Our Currency Converter converts between GBP and 29 other major world currencies using live European Central Bank reference exchange rates. Whether you’re planning a holiday, sending money abroad, or checking invoice values, this tool gives you an up-to-date, indicative conversion — not a hardcoded or outdated figure.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select your “from” currency — the currency you’re converting from (GBP by default).
- Select your “to” currency — the currency you want to convert into.
- Enter the amount you want to convert.
- Click Convert to see the converted amount, the exchange rate used, and the date the rate was published.
- Use the swap button to quickly reverse the “from” and “to” currencies.
Which Currencies Are Supported?
This calculator supports GBP plus 29 major world currencies tracked by the European Central Bank, including the US Dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Swiss Franc and more. The full list is available in the currency dropdowns above. Less common or exotic currencies not tracked by the ECB are not available.
How Often Are the Exchange Rates Updated?
Exchange rates are fetched live each time you load the page or change the “from” currency — they are never hardcoded. The underlying data itself is a daily reference rate published by the European Central Bank, typically updated once each working day in the afternoon (Central European Time). This means the rate shown is the latest available reference rate, not a continuously updating real-time trading feed.
Why Might My Bank Give Me a Different Rate?
The rate shown here is a mid-market reference rate — the midpoint between buy and sell prices in the wholesale currency markets. Banks, card providers, currency exchange bureaux and money transfer services almost always apply their own rate, which includes a margin or spread, and may also charge a separate fee or commission. As a result, the amount you actually receive when exchanging money will typically be lower than a straight mid-market conversion.
| Provider Type | Typical Rate vs Mid-Market |
|---|---|
| High street bank | Often 2–5% worse, plus possible fees |
| Specialist money transfer service | Often 0.5–2% worse, lower fees |
| Card payment abroad (non-specialist card) | Often 1–3% worse, plus foreign transaction fees |
| Airport currency exchange bureau | Often 5–10%+ worse |
Figures are general market observations for illustration and vary by provider, currency pair and amount — always check your specific provider’s rate and fees before exchanging money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get this exact rate when I exchange money?
No. The rate shown is a mid-market reference rate for indicative purposes only. Banks, card providers, currency exchange bureaux and money transfer services apply their own rates plus fees or commission, so the amount you actually receive will usually be different, typically lower.
How often do the exchange rates update?
The calculator fetches live data every time you load the page or change the “from” currency. The underlying rates themselves are published once per working day by the European Central Bank, usually in the afternoon (Central European Time), so the same rate may apply for the rest of that day and over weekends until the next working day’s rate is published.
Is this a real-time trading rate?
No. This calculator uses ECB reference rates, which are official daily benchmark rates rather than continuously updating interbank trading prices. They are widely used for indicative conversions but are not suitable for time-sensitive trading decisions.
Which currencies can I convert between?
GBP plus 29 major world currencies tracked by the European Central Bank, including USD, EUR, JPY, AUD, CAD, CHF, CNY and others shown in the dropdown lists. Exotic or less widely traded currencies outside ECB coverage are not supported.
What happens if live rates can’t be loaded?
If the live exchange rate data cannot be retrieved, the calculator shows a clear “Live rates unavailable” message rather than displaying an old or estimated rate as if it were current. You can use the Retry button to try fetching the rates again.
Where does the exchange rate data come from?
Rates are provided by the Frankfurter API, which sources its data from the European Central Bank. No exchange rate is ever hardcoded into this calculator.