Understanding the CHF/USD exchange rate
The CHF/USD rate tells you how many US Dollar you get for one Swiss Franc. When the rate goes up, the Swiss Franc is strengthening against the US Dollar. When it falls, US Dollar is gaining ground. The number you see 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, updated 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.
What moves the CHF/USD pair
- Interest rate decisions. When the central bank behind Swiss Franc raises rates faster than the one behind US Dollar, CHF 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 Swiss Franc and US Dollar
Swiss Franc (CHF). The official currency of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, known for its stability and safe-haven status.
US Dollar (USD). The world's most widely traded reserve currency, issued by the US Federal Reserve.
How to get a good CHF to USD rate
The rate you get depends on where you convert, not just when. Ranked from best to worst for most amounts:
- Multi-currency fintech cards (Wise, Revolut, Monzo, N26): typically within 0.3–0.7% of the ECB mid-market rate. Best for travel spend and small-to-medium transfers.
- Specialist FX brokers (OFX, CurrencyFair, Moneycorp): competitive for transfers above 5,000 units, with negotiable margins.
- High-street bank wires: convenient but usually 1–3% worse than mid-market, plus a fixed fee.
- Airport and hotel bureaux: often 3–8% worse. Only use in emergencies.
- Dynamic currency conversion at the terminal: always decline. This lets the merchant's bank set the rate — typically 5–12% worse than your own card's rate.
Learn more in our guides on avoiding hidden exchange fees and when to exchange currency.
CHF to USD — quick amount pages
| Amount | Live conversion |
|---|---|
| 1 CHF | See 1 CHF in USD → |
| 5 CHF | See 5 CHF in USD → |
| 10 CHF | See 10 CHF in USD → |
| 50 CHF | See 50 CHF in USD → |
| 100 CHF | See 100 CHF in USD → |
| 500 CHF | See 500 CHF in USD → |
| 1,000 CHF | See 1,000 CHF in USD → |
| 5,000 CHF | See 5,000 CHF in USD → |
| 10,000 CHF | See 10,000 CHF in USD → |
Frequently asked about CHF to USD
What is the current CHF to USD exchange rate?
The live rate is shown at the top of this page and updates against the ECB daily reference. For a historical view, use the 30-day chart directly under the calculator.
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 CHF/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 CHF to USD?
Type any value into the calculator at the top of this page — the result updates instantly. For popular round amounts, see the quick links above.