USDUnited States DollarUnited States Dollar (USD)
The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States and several other economies. It is issued within the US monetary system, with Federal Reserve notes forming the banknotes most people use. The ISO code USD distinguishes it from other dollar currencies in international prices, payments and accounting records. One dollar is divided into 100 cents.
- ISO code
- USD
- Symbol
- $
- Region
- Americas
- Currency type
- Fiat currency
- Exchange system
- USD has a floating exchange-rate arrangement rather than an official fixed parity against another currency.
- Last reviewed
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Quick facts
USD at a glance
Currency profile
How USD works
The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States and several other economies. It is issued within the US monetary system, with Federal Reserve notes forming the banknotes most people use. The ISO code USD distinguishes it from other dollar currencies in international prices, payments and accounting records. One dollar is divided into 100 cents.
USD appears in a wide range of cross-border transactions, from travel spending and online purchases to trade invoices and financial reporting. A USD reference rate shows how much another currency is worth for comparison at a stated publication date. It is not the final rate offered by a bank, card issuer or money-transfer service, which may use different timing and charges.
- USD is divided into 100 cents and is identified internationally by ISO 4217 code USD.
- Its reserve role makes dollar-denominated comparisons common across many currency regions.
Context
Why this currency matters
USD matters because it is widely used for international settlement, reserve holdings and commodity pricing. That broad role makes dollar pairs useful reference points for comparing currencies across regions. People also encounter USD when checking airline fares, subscriptions, supplier invoices and financial statements. For a dependable comparison, the currency direction, provider and publication date should travel with the number. This is especially important when a later transaction is reconciled against an earlier estimate. The inverse pair should be checked separately before reusing any quoted value.
Monetary framework
Exchange arrangement
USD has a floating exchange-rate arrangement rather than an official fixed parity against another currency.
CurrencyHub shows daily reference rates. Banks, card networks, ATMs and transfer providers may apply different exchange rates, fees or spreads.
History timeline
Key dates for USD
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act created the U.S. central banking system.
Federal Reserve History - Federal Reserve ActFederal Reserve notes entered circulation
Federal Reserve notes began to replace earlier forms of bank-issued currency.
Federal Reserve - payment systems and U.S. currencyOfficial gold convertibility ended
The official convertibility of the dollar into gold at a fixed rate ended, changing the international monetary framework.
Federal Reserve - payment systems and U.S. currency
Usage and economy
How USD is used
- Domestic prices, wages and payments in the United States.
- International invoices, reserve reporting and cross-border currency comparisons.
Country currency guides
Banknotes and coins
USD currency units
The Federal Reserve documents the banknotes issued as United States currency.
The United States Mint documents the circulating coins issued for the United States dollar system.
One United States Dollar unit is recorded with 2 decimal places and uses Cent as its minor unit.
Related currencies
Currency relationships
Explore currencies connected through regional use, trade comparisons or monetary relationships.
Currency topics
FAQ
USD questions
Who issues U.S. dollar banknotes?
Federal Reserve notes are issued within the Federal Reserve System and printed by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Why is USD used as an international reference currency?
USD is separately reported in the IMF's reserve-currency statistics and is widely used in cross-border financial records and settlement.
Is a CurrencyHub USD rate a bank quote?
No. It is a dated reference calculation from the named data provider, not a guaranteed customer rate from a bank or payment service.
Sources
Data and editorial review
Rate source: Frankfurter
Last reviewed:
Currency identity and cash information is checked against central-bank, government, ISO and official international sources.