How to read USD to AUD
USD to AUD is the number of AUD (Australian Dollar) that 1 USD (US Dollar) buys. The opposite direction is AUD to USD.
The European Central Bank publishes its reference rates against the euro, so USD to AUD is a cross rate, derived from the two published figures for USD and AUD. The rate for this pair is (AUD per EUR) ÷ (USD per EUR).
Who converts USD to AUD
Dollars to Australian dollars is used by travellers, students, expatriates and investors who deal with Australia. The Australian dollar is closely followed because Australia exports commodities such as minerals, and the currency is often seen as sensitive to global commodity demand. Everyday users mainly want to know how far a dollar budget stretches on a trip or how much an overseas purchase will cost.
Facts about this pair
- USD is ISO 4217 code 840 and AUD is code 036; the three letter codes are what the converter and the ECB use to tell currencies apart.
- Both currencies are written with 2 decimal places in ISO 4217, so a result in AUD is rounded to 2 decimal places.
- The reverse pair is the reciprocal: the AUD to USD rate is 1 divided by the USD to AUD rate, apart from rounding.
Australian shops show the full price including goods and services tax, so the tag price is what you pay. That makes conversion more direct than in the United States. Online, check the checkout currency, because some Australian stores sell to overseas buyers in US dollars and others only in Australian dollars.
The US Dollar and the Australian Dollar
| Detail | US Dollar | Australian Dollar |
|---|---|---|
| ISO code | USD | AUD |
| Symbol | $ | A$ |
| Central bank | The Federal Reserve System | The Reserve Bank of Australia |
| Minor unit | cent, 1/100 of the main unit | cent, 1/100 of the main unit |
| Used in | The United States and its territories, and it is official or widely used in some other economies such as Ecuador and El Salvador | Australia and its external territories, plus Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu |
It is the most widely held reserve currency, and many commodities, including crude oil, are priced in it. Australian banknotes are printed on polymer rather than paper.
Getting a fair rate on USD to AUD
Before a large transfer, ask the provider for the exact Australian dollars that will arrive and divide by the dollars you send, then compare that figure with the reference rate here. A small percentage difference on a large amount adds up quickly.
Australia is expensive for many visitors, so build a daily budget in Australian dollars first and convert the total using this page. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, including for small purchases, so you rarely need to carry much cash. If you plan to work or study there for months, open an Australian bank account early, which avoids repeated conversion costs on rent and bills.
Several countries use a currency called the dollar, so write the code AUD when you ask for a price. A bare dollar sign in an Australian listing means Australian dollars.
Where the rate comes from
The rate loads in your browser from Frankfurter, which republishes European Central Bank reference rates. They are published on working days for information only, and a bank is not obliged to deal at them. If the service cannot be reached the page shows no number, except a rate saved in your browser within six hours, marked as cached. How the rates work is explained on the currency pairs page. Nothing here is financial advice.
FAQ
What does USD to AUD mean?
It is the number of Australian dollars received for one US dollar. Multiply your dollar amount by the rate for the Australian dollar total.
Which other countries use the Australian dollar?
Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu use it, along with several Australian external territories such as Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands.
Is the rate here a market price?
No. It is a daily reference rate published by the European Central Bank for information and carries no guarantee that you can trade at it.
Why is there a date next to the rate?
The date tells you which working day the ECB published the rate. It is shown so you can judge how fresh the number is.
More currency pairs
Other pairs on this site, each with its own latest rate and notes:
- AUD to USD: the same exchange read the other way.
- USD to MXN: another way to spend USD.
- USD to INR: another way to spend USD.
- USD to PHP: another way to spend USD.
- USD to KRW: another way to spend USD.
- USD to EUR: another way to spend USD.
- USD to GBP: another way to spend USD.
- USD to BRL: another way to spend USD.
- All currency pairs: the full list.
- Currency converter: choose any two of the supported currencies.