Introduction
This CAD to USD calculator changes Canadian dollars into US dollars. Type an amount, and you get the answer right away. You can also flip it around and change US dollars back into Canadian dollars with one click.
The tool uses the mid-market rate. That is the middle point between what buyers pay and what sellers ask. It is the fairest rate to compare against. Banks and apps often charge more, so we also show a buy rate and a sell rate to give you a real-world idea of what you might get.
Sending money or paying for something abroad? Fees matter. Add a percent fee, a flat fee, or both, and the calculator shows your true cost and the rate you really get after fees.
You also get a step-by-step breakdown of the math, a chart of past CAD/USD rates from 48 hours up to 5 years, and simple stats for the last 7, 30, and 90 days. Quick tables let you look up common amounts fast. Use it for travel money, online shopping, cross-border pay, or sending money to family.
How to use our CAD to USD Calculator
Enter the amount of Canadian dollars you want to change, and the calculator shows how many US dollars you get at the live mid-market rate, plus fees, buy and sell rates, and rate history.
CAD – Canadian Dollar: Type the amount of Canadian dollars you want to convert. The US dollar box fills in right away.
USD – US Dollar: You can also type here instead. Enter the US dollars you need, and the calculator works out the CAD you must send.
Swap: Click this to flip the direction, so you convert USD to CAD instead. You can also press the "/" key.
Estimate After Fees: Click this button to open the fee boxes and see what you really receive.
Percentage fee: Enter the margin your bank, card, or transfer app charges. Most banks charge 1.5% to 3%. Leave it at 0 for the plain mid-market rate.
Flat fee: Enter any fixed transfer fee in the currency you receive. This amount is taken off your payout.
Calculate: Click to update the result, the step-by-step math, and the tables.
Reset: Click to clear your fees and set the amount back to 1,000 CAD.
Time period buttons (48H to 5Y): Pick a range to see how the CAD/USD rate moved over 48 hours, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, or 5 years.
Rate Statistics and Your Amount tabs: Switch tabs to see the high, low, and average rates, or what your amount would be worth at each of those rates.
CAD to USD: What It Means
CAD is the Canadian dollar. USD is the US dollar. Converting CAD to USD means finding out how many US dollars you get for your Canadian money. You do this with an exchange rate. If the rate is 0.73, then 1 Canadian dollar is worth 0.73 US dollars. To convert, you multiply: 100 CAD × 0.73 = 73 USD. To go the other way, you divide.
The Mid-Market Rate
The mid-market rate is the middle point between what buyers pay and what sellers ask for a currency. Banks trade with each other at this rate. It is the "real" rate you see on news sites and search engines. Almost nobody gets this exact rate when they exchange money, but it is the fair starting point for comparing deals.
Buy Rate and Sell Rate
Banks and exchange shops give you a slightly worse rate than the mid-market rate. That gap is called the spread, and it is how they make money. The buy rate is what they pay you for your Canadian dollars. The sell rate is what they charge you for them. A small spread means a better deal for you. Traders often measure that gap in pips, and the Pip Calculator puts a dollar value on each move.
Fees Change What You Really Get
Two kinds of fees cut into your money. A percentage fee takes a slice of the whole amount, often 1.5% to 3% at banks and on credit cards. A flat fee is one set charge, like $5 per wire transfer. On small transfers, flat fees hurt the most. On big transfers, the percentage fee matters more. Add both together and divide by your starting amount to find your effective rate, which is the true rate you paid.
Why the CAD/USD Rate Moves
The Canadian dollar and US dollar move against each other every day. Big reasons include:
- Interest rates. When the Bank of Canada or the US Federal Reserve raises or lowers rates, money moves between the two countries.
- Oil prices. Canada sells a lot of oil. Higher oil prices often lift the Canadian dollar.
- Trade and jobs data. Strong economic reports usually make a currency stronger.
- Global mood. In scary times, people buy US dollars because they feel safe, which pushes the USD up. Some people also shift into metals.
The CAD/USD pair usually moves in a slow range, often trading between about 0.68 and 0.80 USD over the last several years. Small daily moves are normal, and long-run buying power also shifts, which the Inflation Calculator helps put in context.
Getting a Better Rate
Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate. If a provider quotes 0.71 when the mid-market rate is 0.73, you are losing about 2.7% right away. Airport kiosks and hotels usually give the worst rates. Online transfer services and some credit cards with no foreign transaction fee tend to be cheaper. Watching the 30-day average helps you see if today's rate is good or weak compared to recent weeks.