Heading to Japan, Korea or Europe, the first question is usually “what’s the rate today, and where should I change money?” Here is what the numbers on a rate board mean, why cash costs more than transfers, what card payments abroad cost, and how much cash you can take across the border.
In short
- See the latest Bank of Thailand reference rates on our yen to baht, won to baht and dollar to baht pages: a middle figure for comparison, not what a counter gives you.
- Buying cash: read “Bank Sells – Notes”, which is worse than the transfer rate.
- Paying by card: choose the local currency, not baht.
- More than 450,000 baht or USD 15,000 in total must be declared to customs.
What the rate board means
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) explains:
- Buying rate is what a bank pays you for foreign currency, e.g. changing leftover yen back into baht.
- Selling rate is what a bank charges you for foreign currency, e.g. changing baht into yen.
- Mid rate is the average transfer buying rate plus the average selling rate, divided by 2. More in what the mid rate is.
Banknotes vs transfers (T/T): Siam Commercial Bank explains the two rates differ because cash has transport, storage and damaged-note costs, while transfers through the banking system cost and risk less.
Buying cash for a trip: read Bank Sells – Notes; to sell foreign cash back, Bank Buys – Notes. Always check the date and time shown with the rate.
Using the BOT figures
The BOT publishes its rates at 18:00 every business day as a public reference, calculated from the rates Thai banks announce for customers; there is no data on non-business days. The BOT doesn’t collect each bank’s own rates, so our figures are best for seeing how far a counter’s rate is from the middle.
Who to change money with
The BOT says foreign-currency exchange must be done with licensed providers, such as commercial banks or licensed money changers, which may buy and sell foreign banknotes. You can check a licence with BOT License Check.
Paying by card abroad
Currency conversion fee: the BOT Financial Consumer Protection Center’s fee comparison (data as of 30 Sep 2026) shows many credit and debit cards charging up to 2.5% of the reference rate, and some none. Withdrawing cash abroad with many debit cards costs 100 baht per withdrawal. Check your own card in the BOT table before you travel.
Watch out for paying in baht (DCC): some shops and ATMs abroad offer to charge you in baht.
- KTC explains that paying in baht (Dynamic Currency Conversion) can cost more than paying in local currency, because the merchant may use its own, higher exchange rate.
- Visa says merchants and ATMs must let you choose and must not choose for you; if details are missing or you feel pressured, Visa recommends declining and reporting it to your card issuer.
- KTC says a planned 1% fee on baht payments at merchants abroad has been postponed indefinitely.
How much cash you can carry
From the BOT’s page and the Customs Department’s public guide:
| What | Rule |
|---|---|
| Bringing baht or foreign currency in | No limit |
| Taking baht notes to neighbouring countries (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia), Vietnam or Yunnan | Up to 2,000,000 baht per trip |
| Taking baht notes elsewhere | Up to 50,000 baht per trip |
| Taking foreign notes out | As much as you bought from a bank or licensed money changer |
| Must declare to customs | All currencies and negotiable instruments together over 450,000 baht, or over USD 15,000 or equivalent |
Customs says the declaration must be made in person to a customs officer at the checkpoint, free of charge; filling in the form online beforehand is only a convenience.
Note
This article is based on Bank of Thailand documents and pages, the Financial Consumer Protection Center’s fee tables, the Customs Department’s public guide, and SCB, KTC and Visa pages, read on 30 September 2026. Card fees vary by card and can change; check with your issuer before travelling.
