Reverse Calculator

How Much USD Do You Need to Send to Get a Target Amount Abroad

To have a recipient get €1,000 when the rate is 1.08 USD per euro and the transfer fee is 2%, you need to send about $1,102. The fee alone costs roughly $22 on top of the $1,080 face value. Smaller fees and better rates cut the total quickly, so comparing channels before you send is worth it. This tool reverses a normal currency conversion: instead of dollars to euros, it starts from the euros you want delivered and works back to the dollars required.

Results

Visualization

UnitFig provides illustrative currency and finance estimates only. Exchange rates and transfer fees change constantly and are shown here as user-entered assumptions, not live quotes. This is not financial advice. Verify all rates with your provider before transacting.

How It Works

A normal conversion asks how many euros you get for your dollars. This reverses it. If the recipient should net F foreign units and the rate is R dollars per foreign unit, the face value is F x R. A fee charged as a percentage p of the amount sent means the recipient gets only (1 - p) of what you send. So the dollars you must send are (F x R) / (1 - p). For example 1000 euros at 1.08 with a 2% fee needs 1080 / 0.98 = 1102 dollars. The fee portion is the difference between that and the 1080 face value. The chart scales the target up and down so you can see how the required dollars move with the amount.

What Should You Do?

Always compare the all-in cost, not just the advertised fee. A service with no fee but a weak exchange rate can cost more than one with a small fee and a market rate. Enter the rate your provider actually quotes, including any markup, because that is what determines the real cost. For large or recurring transfers, even a 0.5% rate improvement adds up. Re-run the calculator with each provider's numbers before you commit, and watch for flat fixed fees that hurt small transfers but barely matter on large ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the fee increase the dollars I send?

The fee is taken from the amount you send, so the recipient only gets the remainder. To deliver a fixed foreign amount, you must gross up your send by the fee percentage.

Should I use the mid-market rate?

Providers rarely give the mid-market rate; they add a markup. Enter the rate your provider actually offers, or the result will understate the real cost.

Does this work for any currency?

Yes, as long as you enter the correct USD per foreign-unit rate. The math is the same for euros, pounds, yen, or any pair.

What if the fee is a flat dollar amount?

This tool models a percentage fee. For a flat fee, add it to the face value instead of dividing by (1 - p).

Is the result a live quote?

No. Rates and fees are assumptions you enter. Confirm with your provider at the time of the transfer.

How do I lower the total?

Use a lower fee, a better rate, or send less. Comparing two or three channels usually reveals a meaningful gap.