How to Calculate Exchange Rate

Estimate the amount of money you wish to exchange., Look up the exchange rate of the currency to which you wish to convert., Calculate how much money you'll have after the exchange., Check for an up-to-date conversion rate online., Contact the...

9 Steps 3 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Estimate the amount of money you wish to exchange.

    Think about how much money you're budgeting for the trip.

    Or, if you know how much money you'll need in the other country, work backwards and start with the foreign currency.
  2. Step 2: Look up the exchange rate of the currency to which you wish to convert.

    You can find this information on a Google search, or on several banking or financial websites.

    Note that you want to set the currency you have to 1; the value listed next to the currency you're exchanging to is the exchange rate. , Multiply the money you've budgeted by the exchange rate.

    The answer is how much money you'll have after the exchange.

    If "a" is the money you have in one currency and "b" is the exchange rate, then "c" is how much money you'll have after the exchange.

    So a * b = c, and a = c/b.

    For instance, say you want to convert US dollars to Euros.

    At the time of this revision, 1 US dollar is worth
    0.7618 Euro.

    Your exchange rate is
    0.7618.

    If you're planning on taking $1500 US dollars with you, you would multiply 1500 by
    0.7618.

    The answer,
    1142.7, is how much money you'll have in Euros after the exchange.

    Here's an example of the "work backwards" method.

    Say that you know you'll need 20,000 Hungarian forints for your trip.

    You discover that 1 US dollar is equivalent to
    226.43 forints.

    To figure out how many US dollars you would need to save at the current exchange rate, divide 20,000 by
    226.43.

    The answer,
    88.33, is how many US dollars you need to exchange. , There are many websitesthat constantly update their site with the current conversion rates for currencies around the world.

    These are good places to look for the exchange rate, then use the equation in Step 3 above to calculate currency totals. , You can contact the Department of Treasuryor other governmental agenciesto get up-to-date information about exchange rates for converting currency. , Simply type into a Google search bar what conversion you want to make and Google will tell you the answer using their currency converter.For example, if you want to know what the exchange rate for $1,000 US to Euros is, type 1000 dollars to euros in any Google search bar and it will tell you the answer.

    However, because Google's finance converter does not constantly track and update current currency exchange rates, this information is more of an estimate and should not be relied on as accurate up-to-the-minute data. , Many banks, especially larger ones like Bank of America or Wells Fargo, keep foreign currency on hand in the branch.You can go to the bank and pick them up directly or order them online.

    And, even if you are not a customer, these banks will usually allow you to exchange currency for a fee.

    If your bank's branch does not keep he currency on hand, they can often order it for you.

    This usually takes about 2-5 business days.Note:
    Many smaller banks and credit unions are unable to exchange foreign currency., Most major airports have currency exchange services that use companies like Travelexto help travelers exchange their home country's money when they arrive in a new destination.

    These services often charge much higher fees than exchanging currency at a bank because they are in prime locations (like airports) where people need local currency quickly. , Sometimes the easiest way to exchange money is to simply use your card at an ATM while you are traveling.

    Your bank will probably charge you a foreign transaction fee that is a percentage of the entire amount withdrawn (usually 1-3%)in addition to other fees for using another bank's ATM.
  3. Step 3: Calculate how much money you'll have after the exchange.

  4. Step 4: Check for an up-to-date conversion rate online.

  5. Step 5: Contact the government for accurate exchange rates.

  6. Step 6: Google the conversion you want to know.

  7. Step 7: Ask your bank.

  8. Step 8: Use a currency exchange service.

  9. Step 9: Use an ATM in a foreign country.

Detailed Guide

Think about how much money you're budgeting for the trip.

Or, if you know how much money you'll need in the other country, work backwards and start with the foreign currency.

You can find this information on a Google search, or on several banking or financial websites.

Note that you want to set the currency you have to 1; the value listed next to the currency you're exchanging to is the exchange rate. , Multiply the money you've budgeted by the exchange rate.

The answer is how much money you'll have after the exchange.

If "a" is the money you have in one currency and "b" is the exchange rate, then "c" is how much money you'll have after the exchange.

So a * b = c, and a = c/b.

For instance, say you want to convert US dollars to Euros.

At the time of this revision, 1 US dollar is worth
0.7618 Euro.

Your exchange rate is
0.7618.

If you're planning on taking $1500 US dollars with you, you would multiply 1500 by
0.7618.

The answer,
1142.7, is how much money you'll have in Euros after the exchange.

Here's an example of the "work backwards" method.

Say that you know you'll need 20,000 Hungarian forints for your trip.

You discover that 1 US dollar is equivalent to
226.43 forints.

To figure out how many US dollars you would need to save at the current exchange rate, divide 20,000 by
226.43.

The answer,
88.33, is how many US dollars you need to exchange. , There are many websitesthat constantly update their site with the current conversion rates for currencies around the world.

These are good places to look for the exchange rate, then use the equation in Step 3 above to calculate currency totals. , You can contact the Department of Treasuryor other governmental agenciesto get up-to-date information about exchange rates for converting currency. , Simply type into a Google search bar what conversion you want to make and Google will tell you the answer using their currency converter.For example, if you want to know what the exchange rate for $1,000 US to Euros is, type 1000 dollars to euros in any Google search bar and it will tell you the answer.

However, because Google's finance converter does not constantly track and update current currency exchange rates, this information is more of an estimate and should not be relied on as accurate up-to-the-minute data. , Many banks, especially larger ones like Bank of America or Wells Fargo, keep foreign currency on hand in the branch.You can go to the bank and pick them up directly or order them online.

And, even if you are not a customer, these banks will usually allow you to exchange currency for a fee.

If your bank's branch does not keep he currency on hand, they can often order it for you.

This usually takes about 2-5 business days.Note:
Many smaller banks and credit unions are unable to exchange foreign currency., Most major airports have currency exchange services that use companies like Travelexto help travelers exchange their home country's money when they arrive in a new destination.

These services often charge much higher fees than exchanging currency at a bank because they are in prime locations (like airports) where people need local currency quickly. , Sometimes the easiest way to exchange money is to simply use your card at an ATM while you are traveling.

Your bank will probably charge you a foreign transaction fee that is a percentage of the entire amount withdrawn (usually 1-3%)in addition to other fees for using another bank's ATM.

About the Author

M

Matthew Bell

Creates helpful guides on crafts to inspire and educate readers.

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