Canadian Dollar (CAD) Exchange Rates Today
Live rates, 30-day trends, and real talk about what banks charge you for Canadian Dollar.
Mid-market rate - no bank markup 200+ currencies Free
What is the Canadian Dollar?
Nicknamed the 'Loonie' after the bird on Canada's one-dollar coin. CAD is closely tied to oil prices given Canada's large energy exports.
Symbol: C$ ISO code: CAD Central bank: Bank of Canada (BOC)
BIS ranking: 8th most traded (the 8th most bought and sold currency worldwide) Used in: Canada
This page is a hub for all CAD exchange rates on our site. Use the converter above to check the current mid-market rate for Canadian Dollar against any supported currency, or scroll down to browse individual pair pages with 30-day charts, historical data, and conversion tables.
How Canadian Dollar is commonly exchanged
The Canadian Dollar (nicknamed the 'Loonie') is closely tied to oil prices given Canada's large energy exports. USD/CAD is by far the most traded pair. Cross-border trade between the US and Canada - the world's largest bilateral trade relationship - generates constant CAD demand.
Most CAD conversions pass through one of the major pairs listed below. For less common combinations, rates are computed as cross-rates through USD or EUR, which may carry a slightly wider spread.
Practical notes for Canadian Dollar
Travel and card conversions
If you are spending in Canadian Dollar, a card with no foreign transaction fee is typically the best option. Always choose to be charged in CAD (the local currency) at point of sale - selecting your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion, which adds an unnecessary 3-6% markup to your transaction.
Weekend and holiday pricing
Currency markets close Friday at 5pm Eastern and reopen Sunday at 5pm Eastern. During this window, the rate you see is Friday's closing price. Some providers widen their spreads on weekends. If your conversion is not urgent, waiting until Monday often means a tighter spread and a rate that reflects current market conditions.
Large transfers
For conversions above 10,000 CAD, consider a specialist FX broker rather than your bank. The difference in rate on a large transfer can be significant - even a 0.5% improvement on a large sum adds up quickly. Get quotes from at least two providers and compare the final amount the recipient would receive, not just the headline rate.
The Bank of Canada (BOC) and the Canadian Dollar
The Bank of Canada (BOC) targets 2% inflation and sets the overnight lending rate eight times per year.
Policy tool: The overnight rate target. The BOC also publishes a quarterly Monetary Policy Report with economic projections.
Key data releases: Canadian employment, CPI, GDP, and oil price movements all influence CAD. The BOC's forward guidance is closely watched by markets.
Did you know?
- The Canadian dollar is nicknamed the 'Loonie' after the common loon bird depicted on the one-dollar coin, introduced in 1987.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CAD exchange rate today?
The live mid-market rate is shown in the converter above. It updates every 60 seconds during market hours (Sunday 5pm ET through Friday 5pm ET). Scroll down to see CAD rates against all supported currencies.
What is the mid-market rate for Canadian Dollar?
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between wholesale buy and sell prices - the fairest benchmark before any provider adds markup. It is the rate shown on this page. Your bank or service will offer a different rate that includes their margin.
How is CAD performing this month?
Use the converter above and click through to any pair page to see the 30-day range bar, which shows where today's rate sits relative to the recent trend. The rate statistics panel shows 30-day low, high, average, and volatility.
Where can I find historical CAD rates?
Click on any pair page below and scroll to the history chart. You can view 7-day, 30-day, or 1-year history with daily rates. Use the date picker to look up a specific historical date.
What affects the value of Canadian Dollar?
Central bank interest rate decisions from the Bank of Canada (BOC) are typically the largest driver. Inflation data, economic growth figures, trade balances, and political stability also matter. On a day-to-day basis, scheduled economic data releases and central bank communication can cause noticeable moves.
Why do different sites show different CAD rates?
Different providers use different data sources, update at different times, and may show rates that already include their markup. The mid-market rate (shown here) is the most neutral benchmark. If a site shows a rate that is noticeably worse, that difference is likely their margin built into the number.
How is the CAD exchange rate set?
Most exchange rates are determined by supply and demand in the global forex market, where banks, funds, and corporations trade currencies 24 hours a day on weekdays. Interest rate differentials between central banks are the biggest long-term driver. No single entity "sets" the rate - it emerges from millions of transactions.
Learn more
- Bank of Canada - Exchange Rates - Official daily noon and closing rates
- BOC Interest Rates - Current and historical policy rates
- Statistics Canada - International Trade - Energy export data that drives the Canadian dollar
CAD rate statistics
Canadian Dollar rate context
We compare the current Canadian Dollar exchange rate against its recent trading range to help you decide whether now is a good time to convert. The live analysis updates throughout market hours.
Rate analysis updates when live data is available.
Forex Market Hours
The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week. Trading passes between these major financial centers as the world turns.
| Market | Timezone | Local Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | AEST | — | — |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | JST | — | — |
| 🇬🇧 London | GMT/BST | — | — |
| 🇺🇸 New York | ET | — | — |
All CAD Currency Pairs
Live exchange rate pages for Canadian Dollar against every supported currency.