Israeli Shekel (ILS) Exchange Rates Today
Live rates, 30-day trends, and real talk about what banks charge you for Israeli Shekel.
Mid-market rate - no bank markup 200+ currencies Free
What is the Israeli Shekel?
Israel's strong tech sector attracts significant foreign investment flows. ILS has strengthened considerably over the past decade alongside the growth of Israel's high-tech exports.
Symbol: ₪ ISO code: ILS Central bank: Bank of Israel (BOI)
BIS ranking: 25th most traded (the 25th most bought and sold currency worldwide) Used in: Israel
This page is a hub for all ILS exchange rates on our site. Use the converter above to check the current mid-market rate for Israeli Shekel against any supported currency, or scroll down to browse individual pair pages with 30-day charts, historical data, and conversion tables.
How Israeli Shekel is commonly exchanged
Israel's strong tech sector attracts significant foreign investment flows, making ILS conversion common for international business. USD/ILS is the dominant pair. ILS has strengthened considerably over the past decade alongside the growth of Israel's high-tech exports.
Most ILS 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 Israeli Shekel
Travel and card conversions
If you are spending in Israeli Shekel, a card with no foreign transaction fee is typically the best option. Always choose to be charged in ILS (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.
Bank spreads
As a less liquid currency, ILS spreads at banks and exchanges tend to be wider than for major currencies - sometimes 4-6% at banks and up to 15% at airport counters. Online transfer services usually offer much tighter spreads for ILS.
The Bank of Israel (BOI) and the Israeli Shekel
The Bank of Israel (BOI) targets 1-3% inflation. The Monetary Committee meets six times per year.
Policy tool: The interest rate on short-term deposits. The BOI has also used FX purchases to moderate shekel appreciation driven by tech sector foreign investment.
Key data releases: Israeli CPI, GDP, and tech export data.
Did you know?
- The Israeli shekel's name dates back over 3,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia, where a shekel was a unit of weight for barley and silver.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Israeli Shekel strong or weak right now?
Currency strength is relative and changes daily based on market conditions. To assess the shekel's current strength, check the converter above to see how it trades against major currencies like the US dollar, euro, and British pound.
You can also review the pair pages below to track the shekel's recent performance against specific currencies. The Bank of Israel monitors shekel strength as part of its monetary policy framework, but evaluating it requires comparing multiple pairs over time rather than any single snapshot.
What factors affect the Israeli Shekel exchange rate?
The shekel responds to Israel's interest rate decisions by the Bank of Israel, inflation data, and the country's current account position as a major tech and defense export hub. Geopolitical developments in the Middle East significantly influence shekel volatility, as do broader global risk appetites that affect emerging market currencies.
The shekel also reflects Israel's tourism flows, foreign direct investment into its thriving technology sector, and capital movements driven by international investors' confidence in the Israeli economy.
What is the outlook for the Israeli Shekel?
The shekel's outlook depends on multiple variables: Bank of Israel monetary policy decisions, inflation trends, Israel's fiscal position, and regional geopolitical factors. Global economic conditions, US Federal Reserve policy, and investor sentiment toward emerging markets also influence shekel movements.
Rather than speculate, monitor the rate statistics and charts on this page to track actual trends, and review Bank of Israel statements and Israeli economic data releases to understand the forces shaping the currency's direction.
Is the Israeli Shekel widely used internationally?
The Israeli shekel is primarily used within Israel and is not a major global reserve currency like the US dollar or euro. Its international role is limited to bilateral trade and investment with Israel, though the shekel does trade on major currency markets against leading currencies.
For most international transactions, businesses and travelers convert the shekel to or from currencies like the dollar and euro, which is why you'll find the most active shekel pairs on the pair pages below.
How do I compare ILS rates across providers?
The converter above shows real-time shekel rates for major currency pairs, giving you a transparent snapshot of current market rates. To compare historical rates and trends, use the rate statistics and charts on this page to see how the shekel has moved over different time periods.
Different providers may quote slightly different rates due to their own spreads and markup, so checking multiple sources - including the pair pages below - helps you understand the typical rate range for your specific conversion need.
How has the Israeli Shekel performed historically?
The shekel has experienced periods of both appreciation and depreciation depending on economic cycles, interest rate changes by the Bank of Israel, and geopolitical events throughout Israel's history. The currency has generally strengthened during periods of strong tech sector growth and foreign investment inflows, while facing pressure during regional tensions or global risk-off episodes.
Review the historical charts and rate statistics on this page to examine the shekel's performance against specific currencies over months and years, which reveals longer-term patterns beyond daily fluctuations.
How volatile is the Israeli Shekel?
The shekel exhibits moderate volatility compared to major developed-market currencies, but can experience sharp swings during geopolitical crises or when regional tensions spike. Bank of Israel policy decisions and inflation surprises also drive shekel movements, as do shifts in global risk appetite that affect emerging market currencies broadly.
The rate statistics and historical charts on this page allow you to observe actual volatility patterns by examining how much the shekel's value typically moves day-to-day and week-to-week against major currency pairs.
What is the best way to exchange Israeli Shekel?
The best exchange method depends on your situation: the converter above helps you see current rates, while banks typically offer lower rates due to wider spreads, and specialized currency providers often offer better rates for larger amounts. If you're traveling to Israel, exchanging currency before arrival often provides better terms than airport exchanges, though this varies.
For ongoing international business dealings in shekels, working with a currency specialist that monitors the pair pages below can help you identify favorable timing based on rate movements.
Why is shekel getting stronger?
I cannot determine current strength trends from a static perspective. To see whether the shekel is strengthening, check the converter above and compare current rates to recent historical data using the rate statistics and charts on this page.
If you observe recent shekel strength, potential factors could include higher Bank of Israel interest rates, strong foreign investment in Israel's tech sector, improved current account data, or shifts in global risk sentiment - but current market conditions would tell you which factors are actually driving movement at any given moment.
Which day has the lowest exchange rate?
Exchange rates fluctuate continuously, so no single day consistently shows the lowest rate - it varies by currency pair and time period. To find when the shekel traded at advantageous rates, review the rate statistics and historical charts on this page, filtering by the specific currency pair and timeframe you're interested in.
Identifying patterns requires examining data across weeks and months using the pair pages below rather than looking for a single optimal day, since rates depend on daily news, economic data, and market sentiment.
Which currency will be stronger in 2026?
I cannot forecast future exchange rates or predict which currency will strengthen. Currency movements depend on unpredictable factors including central bank policy changes, geopolitical events, inflation dynamics, and global economic shifts that are impossible to predict years in advance.
Instead of relying on forecasts, use the converter above to track current rates, monitor the pair pages below for ongoing trends, and stay informed about Bank of Israel statements and Israeli economic data so you can assess conditions as they actually develop.
How does a central bank defend its currency?
Central banks like the Bank of Israel have several tools: raising interest rates makes the currency more attractive to investors, while direct market intervention through buying or selling reserves can support the currency's value. Reserve accumulation, forward guidance about future policy, and macroeconomic reforms also influence currency strength.
The Bank of Israel publishes policy decisions and statements explaining its approach to currency stability, which you can review to understand how it manages the shekel alongside its broader goals of controlling inflation and supporting economic growth.
Learn more
- BOI - Exchange Rates - Bank of Israel daily rates
- Israel Central Bureau of Statistics - Israeli economic data including trade and CPI
Israeli Shekel volatility profile
The Israeli shekel shows low to medium volatility, supported by Israel's tech-driven current account surplus and the Bank of Israel's foreign reserve accumulation program. ILS has been one of the stronger emerging market currencies in recent years.
Live volatility score updates when market data is available.
Cost to convert Israeli Shekel
Banks typically mark up ILS conversions by 3-5%. Specialist transfer providers offer rates much closer to the mid-market rate shown above, potentially saving you $30-55 on every 1,000 ILS you convert.
| Provider | Typical fee | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | Mid-market rate + ~0.5% fee | — |
| Revolut | Mid-market rate, free up to monthly limit | — |
| OFX | No fixed fees, ~0.4% spread | — |
| Typical bank | 3-5% markup + fixed fee | — |
Based on sending 1,000 ILS to US Dollar. Costs include spread markup and fees. See full ILS to USD comparison →
Compare Israeli Shekel with similar currencies
Israeli Shekel belongs to the following currency characteristic groups. Currencies within each group often move in correlated patterns.
Central and Eastern European currencies
Influenced by eurozone economic data, EU political dynamics, and regional monetary policy. Most are candidates for eventual euro adoption.
ILS rate statistics
Israeli Shekel rate context
We compare the current Israeli Shekel 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 ILS Currency Pairs
Live exchange rate pages for Israeli Shekel against every supported currency.