Cash usage
Cash remains useful for tips, small purchases and merchants that set card minimums.
Country money guide
United States Currency Guide
Learn how the US dollar is used in the United States, then open a dated reference-rate conversion.
Currency overview
United States Dollar in United States
Monetary framework
The United States uses the US dollar as its official currency.
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USD0.85818 EUR1 USD = 0.85818 EUR
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Currency facts
USD at a glance
CurrencyUnited States Dollar
ISO codeUSD
Symbol$
Minor unitCent
Decimal places2
Central bankFederal Reserve
Currency typeOfficial currency
First issuedEstablished as the United States monetary unit in 1792
Money usage guide
Local money guide for the United States
Official use
The United States uses the US dollar as its official currency.
Payment environment
Card payments are widely accepted, while cash remains useful for small purchases and tipping.
Cash and payment habits
Cash, cards and local payments
Card acceptance
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but an issuer may charge a foreign transaction fee.
Mobile and contactless payments
Contactless card and mobile-wallet acceptance is common in larger merchants and transport systems.
ATM availability
ATM operators and the card issuer may each charge a fee.
Tipping practices
Tips are customary in many table-service, taxi and personal-service settings.
Exchange tips
Planning a conversion
Before exchanging
A small amount of cash can be useful on arrival; compare it with card and ATM costs.
Airport exchange
Airport exchange counters may prioritize convenience over price.
Card and ATM costs
Check both the issuer's foreign transaction fee and any ATM operator charge.
Optional terminal conversion
If a terminal offers a home-currency conversion, compare its disclosed rate and fee with paying in U.S. dollars.
Cash declaration
U.S. rules require a report when transported currency or monetary instruments exceed the applicable threshold; confirm current CBP instructions before travel.
Popular currency pairs
USD conversion links
Related currencies
Regional and monetary links
Currency topics
These links use the country dataset's regional and monetary relationships rather than a single global popularity list.
FAQ
United States currency questions
Which currency is used in the United States?
The United States uses the US dollar as its official currency.
Does the United States have multiple official currencies?
The United States has one official currency: the US dollar (USD).
How can I compare the US dollar?
Use the conversion links on this page to compare the United States' official currency with other supported currencies.
Sources and review
Rate data and official references
Data source: Frankfurter
Rate date:
Reviewed by: CurrencyHub Editorial Team
Editorially reviewed:
Content methodology
Country guidance is assembled from official monetary, payment-system and border-information sources. Missing details are omitted rather than inferred.
Sources
Report an errorExchange-rate information is provided for reference only and is not financial, trading or investment advice.