Exchange rate & unit calculators
Two calculations every overseas buyer ends up doing on a phone: what is this in real money, and how big is this shipment. These run in your browser, work offline, and nothing is recorded or sent anywhere.
Read this before you trust a number. The rates below are reference values built into this page. Card networks, Alipay, WeChat Pay, banks and airport bureaux all apply their own spread — typically 2–4% worse than mid-market, plus fixed fees. Negotiate in RMB or USD, keep one currency as your reference, and confirm the exact rate with your bank on the day you pay.
Currency converter
Enter an amount to convert.
Check this pair against today’s live rate →
Adjust the rates used
Values are how many RMB one unit buys. Edit any of them and the converter above updates immediately.
Check today’s rate
The values built into this page are for ballpark checks only. Before you agree a price or pay an invoice, confirm the rate with one of these sources — each opens in a new tab:
Bank of China — foreign exchange rates
The reference most Chinese suppliers and banks actually quote against.
boc.cn →
Chinese language, updated several times daily
People’s Bank of China — central parity rate
The official daily RMB central parity rate, the basis for the day’s trading band.
pbc.gov.cn →
XE — currency converter
The most widely used international converter, with a rate chart by period.
xe.com →
Wise — mid-market rate
Useful because it shows the real mid-market rate separately from what a bank would give you.
wise.com →
X-Rates — calculator
Quick conversion for any pair; the link above the calculator updates to whatever pair you select.
x-rates.com →
Google — quick check
For a fast sanity check, simply search “1000 USD to CNY” — Google returns the rate directly.
Search on Google →
Mid-market is not what you get. Whatever rate these sources show, your card network, bank, Alipay or WeChat Pay will apply their own — commonly 2–4% worse, plus fixed fees. On a large payment that difference is real money, so confirm the actual settlement rate with your bank on the day.
Reference rates (built-in)
Indicative mid-market values, useful for checking whether a quote is even in the right ballpark. Not a quotation — edit them below the calculator, or verify against the sources above.
| Currency | 1 unit = RMB | 1 USD = |
|---|
Weight, length & volume
Weight
Cartons → CBM and chargeable weight
Air freight is billed on whichever is greater: actual weight, or volume weight at 6,000 (length×width×height in cm ÷ 6,000 per carton).
What these numbers mean in practice
Small shipments cost more per unit — understand why
Sea freight has a large fixed component: documentation, terminal handling, customs filing, delivery order and local trucking at the destination. These are broadly the same whether you ship 2 CBM or 20 CBM. So:
- Under ~15 CBM — LCL (shared container), priced per CBM or per tonne, whichever is greater. Watch the fixed fees; they often exceed the freight itself.
- Above ~20 CBM — a full container is usually cheaper even half empty. Compare a 20ft (roughly 28–33 CBM usable) against your LCL quote.
- Samples and urgent cargo — air or express courier, priced on chargeable weight, not on how much the goods cost you.
Full explanation: Shipping & freight →
Other rates you will negotiate in RMB
| Item | Usual basis | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Factory interpreter — escort | Per day, 8 hours | 600 – 1,200 RMB |
| Factory interpreter — technical | Per day | 1,000 – 2,500+ RMB |
| Car and driver | Per day, city use | 600 – 1,200 RMB |
| Third-party inspector | Per man-day | USD 200 – 400 (market range) |
| Domestic courier, documents | Per parcel | 20 – 60 RMB |
Market ranges only, gathered for orientation — not quotes, and not a recommendation of any provider. Details: interpreters · inspection.
Frequently asked
Is it better to pay in RMB or USD?
Whichever lets you match your own revenue currency and compare quotes cleanly. RMB quotes are often sharper because the factory avoids its own FX risk, but then that risk sits with you. Pick one reference currency per project and convert everything into it before comparing.
Should I exchange cash at the airport?
For emergencies only. Airport and hotel bureaux carry the widest spreads. Bind your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly — the network rate is usually better than any cash exchange — and keep a small amount of cash for taxis and small vendors. See Apps, SIM & payments.
Why does my bank statement differ from this converter?
Because this shows a mid-market reference rate, and your bank applies its own rate plus fees, often 2–4% away. The difference is normal; it is why quotes should always state which rate and which day they assume.
Do these calculators save my data?
No. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent to us or anyone else. The page also works with no internet connection — only the optional rate refresh needs a network.
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