How to Change Currency in WooCommerce? Easy Steps

Need to change the currency in your WooCommerce store?

You’ve come to the right place. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to change currency in WooCommerce, from simple default currency changes to more advanced multi-currency setups.

We’ll even touch on adding custom currencies for those extra-special situations. Let’s get your store’s money matters sorted!

How to Change Currency in WooCommerce? (Step-by-Step Guide)

All the magic happens in your WooCommerce currency settings. Here’s how to change WooCommerce store currency:

Step 1: Navigate to WooCommerce Settings

1. Go to WooCommerce >> Settings >> General in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Scroll down to the Currency Options section. This is where you can find the default currency WooCommerce settings.

Step 2: Select Your New Currency

Locate the “Currency” dropdown menu. Click on it and select the currency from the list you want to use for your store.

For example, let’s say you want to set British Pound as your default currency for your store. Select the option from the dropdown.

Step 3: WooCommerce Currency Format Customization

Here’s a breakdown of the other key settings you can configure from the Currency Options.

• Currency Position: This determines where the currency symbol will appear beside your product prices. You have four options:
  • Left: e.g., $10.00
  • Right: e.g., 10.00$
  • Left with space: e.g., $ 10.00
  • Right with space: e.g., 10.00 $
• Thousand Separator: This is the character used to separate thousands in larger numbers. Common choices are a comma (,) or a period (.). For example, 1,000 or 1.000.
• Decimal Separator: This is the character used to separate the whole number from the decimal part. Again, a comma (,) or a period (.) are common. For example, 10.50 or 10,50.
• Number of Decimals: This setting controls how many decimal places are displayed in your prices. For example, setting it to 2 will display prices like $10.00, while setting it to 0 will display $10.

Step 3: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve selected your new currency, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Save changes” button.

This will apply your changes to your store. That’s it! This is how to change WooCommerce store currency.

Important Note: Changing your default currency will affect existing products and orders. Product prices will be converted to the new currency using the current exchange rate (if applicable).

However, completed orders will retain the currency they were processed in. It’s a good idea to inform your customers of any significant currency changes to avoid confusion.

How to Add Custom Currencies in WooCommerce?

Sometimes, the standard WooCommerce currency dropdown just doesn’t cut it. You might need to add custom currency WooCommerce if you’re dealing with a lesser-known currency that isn’t included in the default list.

This is a more advanced task than simply changing your default currency and generally involves using code snippets or a specialized plugin.

Why would you need this?

Imagine you’re selling to a niche market that uses a very specific currency. Let’s say you deal in any of the cryptocurrencies that are not listed in WooCommerce’s default selection.

In that case, you’ll need to add it yourself to provide a seamless experience for your customers. This directly relates to WooCommerce’s eCommerce currency settings and helps with localization for online stores.

Important Warning: Back Up Your Website!

Before making any changes to your website’s code, especially when adding custom currencies, it’s absolutely crucial to create a full website backup.

This will allow you to restore your site to its previous state if anything goes wrong. This is paramount for any WordPress WooCommerce customization.

You can also use a child theme instead of inserting code directly into your theme file.

How to Add a Custom Currency (Using Code)

Adding a custom currency typically involves adding a code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file or using a code snippets plugin. Here are the steps for inserting the code in your theme file.

Step 1: Access the Theme file

From your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Appearance >> Theme File Editor.

Step 2: Insert the Code

Click the functions.php file. Scroll down to the bottom and hit enter to create empty space for your code.

Now, add the following code there –

add_filter( 'woocommerce_currencies', 'add_custom_currency' );

function add_custom_currency( $currencies ) {

$currencies['ABC'] = __( 'Awesome Bucks', 'woocommerce' ); // Replace ABC and Awesome Bucks with your currency code and name

return $currencies;

}

add_filter('woocommerce_currency_symbol', 'add_custom_currency_symbol', 10, 2);

function add_custom_currency_symbol( $currency_symbol, $currency ) {

switch( $currency ) {

     case 'ABC': $currency_symbol = 'AB$'; break; //Replace AB$ with your currency Symbol

}

return $currency_symbol;

}

Explanation:

• The first part of the code adds the currency code (ABC in this example) and its name (‘Awesome Bucks’) to the list of WooCommerce currencies. You’ll need to replace ABC with the correct three-letter currency code and “Awesome Bucks” with the actual name of your currency.
• The second part of the code adds the currency symbol. You will need to replace AB$ with the actual symbol of your currency.

Step 3: Save And Test

Save your functions.php file and go back to WooCommerce >> Settings >> General >> Currency Options. Now, you will be able to find and select your custom currency from the currency list.

Here’s your custom currency on the front end.

Important Considerations:

• This is a simplified example. More complex scenarios might require additional code to handle things like exchange rates and currency formatting in WooCommerce.
• Editing your theme’s functions.php file directly can be risky. Using a code snippets plugin is generally recommended as it’s safer and easier to manage.
• This method requires some basic coding knowledge. If you’re not comfortable with code, it’s best to seek assistance from a developer or use a plugin.

How to Add Custom Currency in WooCommerce Using a Plugin

If you’re not comfortable working with code, using a plugin is a much simpler and safer option. There are several plugins available that can help you add custom currencies without needing to write any code.

For example – Custom Currency for WooCommerce by I am Programmer

This is a great way to handle currency options for global customers without delving deep into coding.

Key Takeaways for Adding Custom Currencies:

• It’s necessary for unsupported currencies.
• It usually involves code or a plugin.
• Backups are essential!

How to Change Currency in WooCommerce from Front End – Enabling Multi-Currency Functionality

Taking your WooCommerce store global?

Offering multi-currency functionality is a game-changer for international sales. It allows customers to browse and purchase products in their local currency, which creates a smoother and more convenient shopping experience.

This is a crucial aspect of localization for online stores and significantly improves currency options for global customers. Instead of forcing your international clientele to do mental math with currency conversion for eCommerce, you give them the comfort of seeing prices in a familiar format.

This section covers how to change currency in WooCommerce using plugins for this purpose.

How to Add Multiple Currency in WooCommerce?

Before we discuss anything else, let’s practically check out how to offer multi-currency options in your store.

Step 1: Install the Plugin

Go to Plugins >> Add New and search with “multi-currency.” Install and activate the plugin of your choice.

Step 2: Enable Multi-Currency in WooCommerce

Go to Multi-Currency >> General, where you will find the settings to enable multi-currency in your store.

Step 3: Add Multiple Currencies in WooCommerce Storefront

Scroll down to the General page to find the Currency Options section. By default, it adds USD as your primary currency.

You can delete or add currencies to display at the front from this section. Here’s a breakdown of this section’s key settings:

• Default Currency: Set your store’s primary currency.
• Hidden Currency: Option to hide specific currencies from the frontend.
• Currency Position: Decide where the currency symbol appears (e.g., left of the price: $99).
• Rate + Exchange Fee: Add an exchange rate and include any additional fees for conversion.
• Number of Decimals: Specify how many decimal places the prices will display (e.g., 2 for $99.99).
• Custom Symbol: Set a unique currency symbol if multiple currencies share the same symbol. For example: display US$100 instead of $100. You can also use the format #PRICE# to customize how the price looks, like US 100 $.

Let’s add GBP as our second currency. Click the Add Currency button and select the currency from the dropdown.

Now, the exchange rates for USD and GBP aren’t the same, right? I mean, $100 is not equivalent to £100, GBP has a higher value.

Similarly, you cannot set the same rate in all currencies. You’ll need to input the correct exchange rate for each currency.

The plugin makes this effortless. Simply click the Update Rate from the right corner.

The plugin will automatically fetch and apply the current exchange rate for you.

Step 4: Save and test

Save your changes and jump to the front end. You will now see a currency bar on the right side from where you can change currencies.

Let’s click the GBP option. It will automatically show the correct price in pound sterling.

You can also automate the currency selection process based on customer location using the plugin’s location settings.

Why Use a Multi-Currency Plugin?

Using a WooCommerce currency switcher plugin offers several key benefits:

• Improved Customer Experience: Customers are more likely to complete a purchase when they see prices in their own currency.
• Increased Conversions: A better user experience leads to higher conversion rates and more sales.  
• Enhanced Trust: Offering local currencies builds trust with international customers.
• Reduced Cart Abandonment: Eliminating currency confusion at checkout reduces cart abandonment.

Key Features of Multi-Currency Plugins

These plugins offer a range of features to make multi-currency management easy:

• Currency Switching on the Frontend: This is the core functionality. A currency switcher is typically displayed on your website (often in the header or footer), allowing customers to select their preferred currency.
• Automatic Exchange Rate Integration/Updates: Most plugins automatically fetch and update exchange rates, ensuring your prices are always accurate. This is crucial for accurate currency conversion.  
• Currency Selection Based on Geolocation: Some plugins can automatically detect a customer’s location and display prices in their local currency. This further enhances the user experience.  
• Payment Gateway Compatibility: It’s essential that your chosen payment gateway supports the currencies you offer. Most good multi-currency plugins will address this to avoid payment gateway currency compatibility issues.

Recommended WooCommerce Multi-Currency Plugins

There are several excellent WooCommerce multi-currency plugins available in the market that can be your answer to how to change currency in WooCommerce. Here are a few popular options:

CURCY – WooCommerce Multi-Currency by Villatheme

WooCommerce Multi-Currency by Villatheme is an excellent currency converter plugin. This freemium tool is packed with user-friendly features designed to enhance your store’s global reach.

• Converts prices, coupons, shipping costs, and taxes based on the customer’s chosen currency.
• Offers a widget with seven different front-end styles and a floating currency bar for easy currency selection.
• Features four styles for the price switcher interface on single product pages.
• Detects user location via IP address and displays the native currency automatically.
• Allows store owners to accept payments in all currencies and update exchange rates automatically.
• Provides manual exchange rate settings and customization for currency display formats (e.g., $100, 100.00$, etc.).
• Uses session storage instead of cookies to save selected currencies.

The CURCY plugin is ideal for WooCommerce store owners who want to sell globally by offering automated multi-currency support, accurate exchange rates, flexible payments, and customizable currency displays.

YayCurrency

YayCurrency is a powerful, user-friendly multi-currency plugin for WooCommerce designed to simplify currency switching and provide easy-to-understand sales analysis. This plugin offers a clean interface and robust features that make managing global pricing easy.

• Automatically detects customers’ location and displays the store’s prices in their local currency.
• Allows easy drag-and-drop customization for arranging the order of available currencies.
• Automatically updates exchange rates with accuracy to avoid manual adjustments.
• Fully compatible with major payment gateways, including PayPal and Stripe.
• Provides detailed reports to track currency-based sales performance.

YayCurrency is ideal for stores that want to offer currency flexibility while maintaining smooth functionality.

WOOCS (WooCommerce Currency Switcher)

WOOCS is a versatile and highly customizable multi-currency plugin for WooCommerce. This plugin provides advanced features that allow your customers to select their preferred currency and even pay in it.

• Offers a currency switcher that can be added as a widget or button anywhere on the site.
• Supports GEO IP, automatically detecting the customer’s location and displaying the most appropriate currency.
• Allows customers to manually select their preferred currency if desired.
• Includes automatic exchange rate updates, ensuring your prices are always up to date.
• Fully compatible with WooCommerce and other major plugins.

WOOCS is ideal for those looking for a customizable and reliable multi-currency solution.

For a complete list of the best WooCommerce multi-currency setup plugins, checkout our following article –

• Best WooCommerce Multi-currency Free Plugin

These plugins greatly simplify multi-currency setup and provide a seamless experience for both store owners and customers.

Localization and Currency Formatting (Enhancing User Experience)

Beyond simply offering the correct currency, proper currency formatting plays a significant role in enhancing the user experience, especially for international customers.

Localization for online stores goes beyond just language translation; it also includes adapting your store’s presentation to match local conventions, and currency formatting is a key part of that. This is directly related to WooCommerce currency settings and currency display options.  

Why Proper Formatting Matters

Imagine visiting a website that displays prices in a way that’s unfamiliar to you. It can be confusing and even lead to distrust.

By correctly formatting currencies, you make your store feel more familiar and trustworthy to customers from different regions, contributing to a better overall experience. This is all about providing better currency options for global customers.

Key Formatting Elements

Here’s a reminder of the key formatting elements we touched on earlier and why they matter:

• Currency Symbol: Using the correct symbol ($, €, £, ¥, etc.) is essential for clear identification.
• Symbol Placement: The position of the symbol relative to the price varies by region. Some place it before the amount (e.g., $10.00), while others place it after (e.g., 10.00€).  
• Decimal Separator: The character used to separate the whole number from the decimal part also varies. Some regions use a period (.) (e.g., 10.50), while others use a comma (,) (e.g., 10,50).  
• Thousand Separator: Similarly, the character used to separate thousands differs. Some use a comma (,) (e.g., 1,000), while others use a period (.) or a space ( ) (e.g., 1.000 or 1 000).  

These elements all contribute to clear currency formatting.

Examples of Regional Currency Formatting

Here are some examples of how different regions format currency:

• United States (USD): $1,234.56 (Symbol: $, Position: Left, Thousand Separator: Comma, Decimal Separator: Period)
• Germany (EUR): 1.234,56 € (Symbol: €, Position: Right, Thousand Separator: Period, Decimal Separator: Comma)
• United Kingdom (GBP): £1,234.56 (Symbol: £, Position: Left, Thousand Separator: Comma, Decimal Separator: Period)
• France (EUR): 1 234,56 € (Symbol: €, Position: Right, Thousand Separator: Space, Decimal Separator: Comma)

As you can see, the differences can be significant. Using the wrong format can create confusion and make your store appear less professional.

Implementing Proper Formatting in WooCommerce

WooCommerce provides built-in settings for these formatting options (found in WooCommerce >> Settings >> General).

If you’re using a multi-currency plugin, it will typically handle these formatting differences automatically based on the selected currency. This relates to the WooCommerce currency settings we discussed earlier.  

By paying attention to these details and ensuring proper currency formatting, you can create a more welcoming and trustworthy shopping experience for your international customers. This is a crucial aspect of how to change currency in WooCommerce to better serve a global audience.

Wrap up

Now you know how to change currency in WooCommerce! Whether you need a quick default currency update or a full multi-currency setup for international sales, use this guide as your reference. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comments below.