Dollar to Rand Today: Converter for Dollars, Euros and Pounds to Rand
Loading the latest rate…
| Amount | In rand |
|---|
How the Converter Works
The converter uses the reference rates published by the European Central Bank (ECB) every working day. These are mid-market rates: the middle point between the price banks buy and sell at. They are a fair guide to what a currency is worth, and they are widely used for comparisons, invoices and budgeting.
The rate is not updated on weekends or public holidays in Europe, so on a Saturday you will see Friday’s rate.
Why Your Bank Gives You a Different Rate
When you buy or sell foreign currency, you do not get the reference rate.
| Where you change money | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Your bank (branch or app) | A buy rate and a sell rate, each with a margin of a few percent from the mid-market rate, plus a commission or fee on many transactions |
| Bureau de change (airports, malls) | Often a bigger margin, especially at airports |
| Card payments abroad | Your bank’s card exchange rate plus a foreign transaction fee |
| Money transfer apps | Rates and fees differ a lot between providers, so compare the total amount the other person receives |
To compare offers, ask: “How many rand will I pay, in total, for this amount of dollars?” or “How many dollars will arrive?” That total includes both the rate and the fees.
What Moves the Rand?
The rand is one of the most traded emerging-market currencies, so it can move quickly. Common reasons include:
- Interest rate decisions by the South African Reserve Bank and the US Federal Reserve. See repo rate and prime lending rate.
- Prices of South Africa’s main exports, such as gold, platinum group metals and coal.
- How much risk global investors are willing to take, which affects money flowing into or out of emerging markets.
- Local news about the economy, electricity supply, government finances and politics.
- The strength of the US dollar against all currencies.
No one can reliably predict short-term moves, so be careful of anyone who promises a “guaranteed” rate in the future.
Taking Money Out of South Africa
Adults living in South Africa can send or spend up to R2 million a year abroad under the single discretionary allowance, without asking SARS for approval first. Read our guide to the single discretionary allowance for the rules.
Dollar to Rand Questions
How many rand is one dollar today?
Use the converter at the top of this page. It shows the latest European Central Bank reference rate and the date it applies to.
How much is 100 dollars in rand?
Enter 100 in the converter with US dollar selected. The table also shows common amounts such as 50, 500 and 1,000 dollars.
Why is the bank’s dollar rate higher than the converter?
Banks add a margin to the mid-market rate when they sell you currency, and many charge a commission. The converter shows the mid-market reference rate without these costs.
When is the exchange rate updated?
The European Central Bank publishes new reference rates every working day at about 16:00 Central European Time, which is 16:00 or 17:00 in South Africa depending on the season.
Can I convert rand to dollars too?
Yes. Change the direction to “From rand” to see how much a rand amount is worth in another currency.
More money guides: single discretionary allowance, prices and loan calculator.