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ER ExchangeRates.com

Methodology

How ExchangeRates.com sources, calculates, updates, and displays exchange-rate data.

ExchangeRates.com is an information and comparison service. We do not execute currency trades, hold customer funds, or guarantee that a bank, broker, card, or money-transfer provider will offer the exact rate shown on our pages.

What rate we show

On most pages, the main rate shown is an indicative mid-market rate.

By "mid-market," we mean a benchmark rate intended to reflect the middle of the wholesale market before a provider adds its own spread or fee. It is useful as a comparison point, but it is not usually the exact retail rate a customer receives.

Unless a page says otherwise, the rates on ExchangeRates.com:

  • are benchmarks, not binding quotes
  • do not include provider spreads or fees
  • may differ from the final rate you receive
  • should be used for reference and comparison
What we aim to show on important pages

On key rate pages, we aim to show five things clearly:

  • what type of rate you are looking at
  • where the data comes from
  • when it was last updated
  • whether it is direct or derived
  • what is not included, especially provider spreads and fees
Our data sources

We use more than one source so we can prioritise continuity, transparency, and broad coverage.

Primary market data - Our primary source for live and historical exchange-rate data is TwelveData.

Reference data - We also use European Central Bank reference rates as an additional reference source.

Market context - For broader market context, including which currencies and pairs are most actively traded globally, we use Bank for International Settlements survey data.

If we make a material change to our data sources, we will update this page.

How we select a rate

We prefer a direct rate when a reliable direct quote is available from our primary source.

If a direct rate is unavailable, we may calculate a derived cross-rate using a major intermediary currency, usually USD or EUR. For example, a less common pair may be calculated through USD or EUR rather than from a direct quote between the two currencies.

If a rate is derived rather than directly quoted, we aim to label it clearly.

If neither a direct rate nor a reliable derived rate is available, we may show the most recent available reference rate, delay the update, or temporarily suppress the rate until better data is available.

How often rates update

During market hours, primary rates can refresh as often as every 60 seconds.

Reference rates, such as ECB rates, update less frequently and may appear once per business day.

Where practical, we show the last updated time on page. A timestamp tells you when the data was last refreshed in our system. It does not guarantee that a third-party provider will offer the same rate at that exact moment.

For performance and stability, some pages or widgets may briefly serve cached data. Small timing differences between pages do not necessarily mean the market moved in a meaningful way.

Market hours, weekends, and holidays

Foreign-exchange markets trade throughout the business week, but they do not update continuously over most weekends.

When markets are closed, ExchangeRates.com may continue to show the last available market close until fresh data is available again. That means a weekend rate is usually a reference point, not a fresh executable quote.

Local bank holidays, thin liquidity, and provider-specific pricing windows can also affect the real-world rate a user receives.

Historical data and charts

Historical charts on ExchangeRates.com are built from the time series available from our data sources.

Different time ranges may use different levels of granularity. Short ranges may use more frequent observations. Longer ranges may use daily or end-of-period values.

We may backfill or revise historical data if a source corrects an error, updates a series, or improves coverage.

Precision and rounding

We usually store more precision than we display.

For readability, displayed rates, converted amounts, chart labels, and percentage changes may be rounded. Because of this:

  • multiplying a displayed rate by an amount may not exactly match the displayed converted total
  • an inverse rate may be calculated from full-precision data and then rounded
  • small differences between widgets, tables, and chart labels may reflect rounding rather than a material market move
How conversions are calculated

The basic formula is: Amount x Exchange Rate = Converted Amount

Where relevant, we may also show:

  • the inverse rate
  • percentage changes over time
  • highs and lows
  • historical averages
  • related cross-rates

These values may be calculated from full-precision data and then rounded for display.

Provider comparisons and fees

When we publish provider comparison tables, our goal is to help users compare the total outcome, not just the headline fee.

A provider comparison should state:

  • the test amount
  • the source and destination currencies
  • the source and destination country, where relevant
  • the funding method
  • the payout method
  • the timestamp
  • whether the figures are live quotes, cached quotes, or estimated benchmark ranges

If a fee is deducted from the amount being converted, we calculate the conversion from the net amount after that fee. If a fee is charged separately, we say so.

If a comparison uses an estimated spread or an industry-typical fee rather than a live quote, we aim to label it clearly as an estimate.

This matters because a low advertised fee can still be a poor deal if the exchange rate itself includes a wide markup.

Quality checks

We run basic checks on the data we publish, including checks for:

  • missing or stale updates
  • impossible or zero values
  • unusually large unexplained jumps versus recent history
  • symbol or pair mapping errors
  • major conflicts between primary and reference sources

If a rate fails our checks, we may hold it back, flag it, or fall back to a secondary source until the issue is resolved.

Coverage and limits

ExchangeRates.com covers a wide range of currencies and related assets.

Not every pair is directly traded in deep markets. Some pairs are thin, infrequently updated, or derived through a major intermediary currency.

Some countries also have more than one meaningful exchange rate at the same time, such as official, bank, card, or parallel-market rates. A single public benchmark does not capture every real-world price a user may face.

Unless a page explicitly says otherwise, our default view is the benchmark reference rate, not every possible on-the-ground cash or retail rate.

What our rates do not include

Unless we explicitly say otherwise, our benchmark rates do not include:

  • bank or money-transfer spreads
  • card network charges
  • cash exchange margins
  • ATM or branch fees
  • weekend markups
  • taxes, duties, or settlement charges
  • negotiated rates for large transfers
Accounting, tax, and legal use

Our rates are designed for information and comparison.

They may be useful as a benchmark, but they are not a substitute for the source required by your accountant, auditor, regulator, counterparty, or tax authority.

If you need a rate for formal accounting, tax, legal, or contractual use, check the specific rules that apply to you.

Commercial relationships

If we publish sponsored listings, affiliate links, or commercial comparisons, we aim to disclose that clearly.

Commercial arrangements do not change the benchmark market data shown on our core converter pages.

Corrections

If you spot a stale timestamp, a broken chart, or a misleading comparison, tell us.

The most helpful report includes:

  • the currency pair
  • the page URL
  • the time you saw it
  • a screenshot, if possible
  • a short explanation of what looks wrong

We would rather correct a mistake quickly than hide behind vague language.