Holiday Spending Money Calculator

How the holiday spending money calculator works

Type in a daily amount for each thing you'll spend money on while you're away, the number of days, and any one-off costs like excursions or airport transfers. Add a buffer for the unexpected and the exchange rate your provider gives you. The calculator shows the total in the holiday currency, the same total in pounds, and how much that leaves you to spend each day.

The sum behind it

Daily amounts added together, times the number of days, plus the one-offs. Then the buffer is added on top, and the total is divided by the exchange rate to give the figure in pounds.

A worked example

A week in Spain for two, with £1 buying €1.15:

• Each day: food and drink €70, days out €25, getting around €10 and treats €15, so €120 a day
• Seven days: €120 × 7 = €840
• One-offs: an excursion €120, souvenirs €40 and transfers €50, so €210
• Buffer: 10% of €1,050 is €105
• Total: €1,155, or about £1,005

That works out at €165 a day to spend, including the buffer. The amounts and the exchange rate are examples, so swap in your own.

Cash, cards and fees

Some cards charge a fee each time you spend abroad, and some charge for taking cash out. MoneyHelper says a currency exchange fee on debit cards is often around 3%, and there may be a separate fee each time you use the card. Check your own card's terms before you go, and type any fee into the calculator to see roughly what it adds.

If you're carrying £10,000 or more in cash between Great Britain and a country outside the UK, you need to declare it. In Northern Ireland the limit is €10,000.

Want to keep track while you're away?

The calculator gives you a number before you go. Our Holiday Spending Money Planner lets you log each spend in the local currency as you go, shows it in pounds and tells you what's left for each remaining day. For more ideas, read our guide to how much spending money to take on holiday.

Frequently asked questions

How much spending money do I need for a week abroad?

It depends on where you go, how you eat and what you want to do, so there's no single right number. Add up a realistic daily amount for food, days out, getting around and treats, multiply by the number of days, then add any one-off costs and a buffer. The calculator does that sum for you.

Should I work it out in pounds or the local currency?

Prices on holiday are in the local currency, so it's usually easier to plan a daily amount in that currency. The calculator then converts the total into pounds using the exchange rate you type in.

Where do I find the exchange rate?

Use the rate your own bank, card or currency provider will give you. Rates change every day and providers add their own margins, so the rate you get may not match the one you see in the news.

What does the card fee box do?

Some cards charge a fee when you spend in a foreign currency. MoneyHelper says a currency exchange fee is often around 3% on debit cards. If your card charges one, type the percentage in and the calculator adds a rough amount to the total in pounds.

Does the calculator save my information?

No. Everything is worked out in your web browser and nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.

Important: This calculator is a planning tool that works with the figures you enter. It is general information, not financial advice, and it does not take your personal circumstances into account. Exchange rates and fees change, so check them with your own provider. For free, impartial guidance, visit MoneyHelper.