Understanding the CAD/USD exchange rate
1 CAD equals 0.72 USD at the European Central Bank reference rate published 28 August 2026 (1 CAD = 0.72181 USD). The CAD/USD rate tells you how many US Dollar you get for one Canadian Dollar. When the rate goes up, the Canadian Dollar is strengthening against the US Dollar. When it falls, US Dollar is gaining ground. The number on this page is the European Central Bank's daily reference rate — the mid-market midpoint that banks use when they trade with each other, published every business day at 16:00 Central European Time.
This is the fairest single benchmark to compare quotes against. It is not the rate your bank, card, or bureau will give you retail — those providers add a margin. But it's the number every honest quote should be close to.
CAD to USD conversion table
Common Canadian Dollar amounts converted to US Dollar at the reference rate and reference date shown above:
| Amount in CAD | Converts to USD | Rate date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 CAD | 0.72 USD | |
| 5 CAD | 3.61 USD | |
| 10 CAD | 7.22 USD | |
| 25 CAD | 18.05 USD | |
| 50 CAD | 36.09 USD | |
| 100 CAD | 72.18 USD | |
| 250 CAD | 180.45 USD | |
| 500 CAD | 360.91 USD | |
| 1,000 CAD | 721.81 USD | |
| 5,000 CAD | 3,609.07 USD |
What moves the CAD/USD pair
- Interest rate decisions. When the central bank behind Canadian Dollar raises rates faster than the one behind US Dollar, CAD typically strengthens. Watch the Federal Reserve, ECB, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan calendars.
- Inflation surprises. Higher-than-expected inflation usually weakens a currency short-term but can strengthen it if markets expect the central bank to hike aggressively.
- Growth and jobs data. Strong GDP, retail sales, and non-farm payrolls readings tend to lift a currency; weak data does the opposite.
- Risk sentiment. In periods of global stress, "safe-haven" currencies like the US dollar, Swiss franc, and Japanese yen gain against riskier ones.
- Commodity prices. Currencies of resource-heavy economies (CAD, AUD, NOK, BRL, ZAR) rise and fall with oil, metals, and agricultural prices.
- Political and fiscal news. Elections, budget announcements, and geopolitical events can move rates within minutes.
About the Canadian Dollar and US Dollar
Canadian Dollar (CAD). The official currency of Canada, often called the 'Loonie' after the bird depicted on the one-dollar coin.
US Dollar (USD). The world's most widely traded reserve currency, issued by the US Federal Reserve.
How to get a good CAD to USD rate
The rate you get depends on where you convert, not just when. Rather than quote markup averages we cannot verify per provider, here is the method that always works:
- Ask for the exact rate the provider will apply to CAD → USD today, plus any fixed fee, before you commit.
- Compute the markup yourself: (reference rate ÷ their rate − 1) × 100. That single number exposes a spread hidden inside a "zero commission" offer.
- Compare on the total, not the headline: markup plus fee, for the amount you are actually sending.
- Decline dynamic currency conversion at card terminals — it hands rate-setting to the merchant's bank instead of yours.
- Check the reference date. ECB rates publish once per business day, so a weekend quote is compared against Friday's benchmark.
Our rate methodology documents exactly how the CAD/USD figure on this page is sourced, crossed and rounded. See also our guides on avoiding hidden exchange fees and when to exchange currency.
The reverse rate: USD to CAD
1 USD = 1.3854 CAD on the 2026-08-28 ECB reference date. Both directions are computed from the same ECB publication, so they are exact reciprocals of one another rather than two separately rounded numbers. Open the USD to CAD page to convert the other way.
Frequently asked about CAD to USD
What is the current CAD to USD exchange rate?
1 CAD equals 0.72 USD at the European Central Bank reference rate published 28 August 2026 (1 CAD = 0.72181 USD). This is the ECB daily mid-market reference rate. The calculator at the top of this page and the 30-day chart below it show how the rate has moved.
Is the ECB rate the rate my bank uses?
No. Banks and exchange services add a margin on top of the mid-market rate. The ECB reference is a benchmark for comparison, not a retail quote.
When does the CAD/USD rate update?
The wholesale interbank rate moves continuously during market hours. The ECB publishes one reference number per business day at approximately 16:00 CET. Weekends and eurozone bank holidays carry Friday's number forward.
How do I convert a specific amount of CAD to USD?
Use the conversion table on this page for common amounts, or type any value into the calculator at the top — the result updates instantly against the same ECB reference rate.