Thai baht (THB) can be bought at banks and at money changers licensed by the Bank of Thailand (BOT). This page covers which currency to bring, how to compare rates and how to tell a legal booth from a dodgy one, as of 17 October 2026. We deliberately do not quote a fixed baht rate: it moves every day, so check it on the day you exchange.
Which currency to bring
| Currency | In Thailand | SuperRich 1965 buy and sell |
|---|---|---|
| USD 100 and 50 | accepted everywhere, best rate | THB 33.26 and 33.40, about 0.4% |
| CNY 100 and 50 | accepted by the big chains | THB 4.98 and 5.05, about 1.4% |
| RUB (notes 10-5,000) | not everywhere, poor rate | THB 0.305 and 0.38, about 20% |
Figures from the SuperRich 1965 website, Silom Plaza branch in Bangkok, 17 October 2026 at 16:43. Tomorrow’s rates will differ, but the pattern usually holds.
The spread between buying and selling is what the changer charges for its risk. Under half a percent on dollars, around a fifth on rubles. Bring large, clean dollar notes: small notes get a lower rate. More in which dollars to bring to Thailand.
Where to exchange
In Thailand foreign currency can only be bought and sold through licensed players: banks with a foreign exchange licence, authorized money changers and authorized money transfer agents. Private swaps arranged in chat groups fall outside this system.
- SuperRich chains: live rates online. SuperRich 1965 charges no commission on cash exchange, needs your original passport and handles up to THB 800,000 per passport per day. About twenty different companies on the Bank of Thailand list have SuperRich in their name; they are separate businesses with separate rates
- Bank exchange booths: in malls and airports; compare their board with the SuperRich website at the same moment
- Airport: handy for a small amount for the taxi and first expenses, the rest is usually better changed in town
How to check a money changer
Bank of Thailand rules require a licensed money changer to:
- display its Ministry of Finance licence where customers can see it
- show the day’s buying and selling rates for every currency it trades
- display the words Authorized Money Changer License No. with its licence number
- give you a receipt with its name and address, a serial number, the date, your name and passport number, the currency and amount, the rate and the baht total
- ask for a copy of your ID for amounts from THB 50,000 equivalent
- keep its rates in line with the average rates of authorized institutions published by the Bank of Thailand
No receipt, no licence on the wall, or a rate that differs from the board: walk to the next booth.
How much cash you can bring in and take out
There is no limit on bringing baht or foreign currency into Thailand. You must declare more than USD 15,000 (or equivalent) in banknotes or more than THB 450,000 to customs on arrival and departure. You can take out up to THB 50,000 (up to THB 2 million to neighbouring countries, Vietnam and Yunnan in China), and foreign currency up to what you bought from banks and changers. See our guide to Thai customs.
Paying without cash
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work at ATMs and in shops; the ATM shows its own fee before you confirm. Thai QR payments need a Thai bank or wallet app; how visitors manage is explained in paying by QR in Thailand.
FAQ
Which currency should I bring to Thailand?
US dollars in 100 and 50 notes are the safest bet: they are accepted everywhere and large notes get a better rate than small ones. Euros and yuan are also easy to change. Less common currencies have wider spreads; on 17 October 2026 SuperRich 1965 quoted a spread of about 20% on rubles against 0.4% on dollars, so convert those at home first.
Where can I check today's baht exchange rate?
The SuperRich chains publish live buying and selling rates for each note size on their websites. The Bank of Thailand publishes the rates of Bangkok commercial banks in its statistics section. Rates change during the day, so check right before you exchange.
How do I know a money changer is legal?
Under Bank of Thailand rules a licensed changer must display its Ministry of Finance licence, the day's buying and selling rates for every currency it handles, and the words Authorized Money Changer License No. with its number. It must give you a receipt showing its name, the date, your passport number, the amount, the rate and the baht total. The Bank of Thailand publishes the full list of licensees as a PDF, latest version dated 31 August 2026.
Do I need my passport to exchange money?
Yes, bring the original. Bank of Thailand rules require the changer to record your passport number, and for amounts from THB 50,000 equivalent it must take a copy of an identity document. SuperRich 1965 only exchanges against an original, valid passport or Thai ID card.
Is it better to exchange at the airport?
Airport exchange booths do not publish their rates online, so you cannot compare them in advance. A common approach is to change a small amount at the airport for the taxi and first expenses, and the rest in town at a booth whose rate matches its website.
Sources
- Bank of Thailand. Rules and Practices regarding the Undertaking of Authorized Money Changers (unofficial translation, PDF)
- Bank of Thailand. List and head-office addresses of authorized money changers, 31 Aug 2026 (PDF, Thai)
- Bank of Thailand. Money changer licensing (Thai)
- Bank of Thailand. Exchange control: carrying cash in and out
- Bank of Thailand. Exchange rate statistics
- SuperRich Currency Exchange (1965). Rates, Silom Plaza branch (17 Oct 2026, 16:43)
- SuperRich Currency Exchange (1965). FAQ: documents, limits, fees
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.