Where to Change Euro Coins Into Pounds UK Guide
Posted by: Ian • 5 Oct 2025
So, you’re back from a trip with a pocketful of euro coins and wondering how to change them back into pounds? The short answer is that a specialist online service is your best bet, as most high street banks and exchange bureaus in the UK simply won’t accept foreign coins. It's a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to get some value back from that leftover holiday money.
Your Best Options for Exchanging Euro Coins
Finding a place to exchange foreign coins can be frustrating. You quickly realise that coins are treated very differently from banknotes. While a bank might take your leftover euro notes, they’ll almost always turn away the shrapnel. For most institutions, the logistics of counting, sorting, and sending coins back to their home country is just too much hassle and expense.
But that doesn't mean you're stuck with a useless jar of metal. You’ve got a few practical options for your leftover foreign currency:
- Specialist Online Services: These are designed specifically to handle foreign coins and banknotes, offering a guaranteed and straightforward way to get paid.
- Charity Donations: An easy way to put your spare change to good use without worrying about exchange rates or fees.
- Limited High Street Options: A handful of banks or services might accept coins, but usually with very strict conditions attached.
To help you decide what’s right for you, let’s quickly break down the most common methods for changing euro coins into pounds.
At-a-Glance Euro Coin Exchange Options
This table gives you a quick overview of where you stand with each option, helping you make a fast decision based on what you value most—be it convenience, value, or goodwill.
| Exchange Method | Best For | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist Online Service | Maximum convenience and getting the best value for mixed coins and notes. | Requires posting your currency, so you’ll want to choose a trusted service. |
| High Street Banks | Existing customers with large, perfectly sorted amounts of a single currency. | Very few banks actually accept foreign coins from the general public. |
| Airport Kiosks | A last-ditch, small exchange just before you fly home from your trip. | The exchange rates are typically the worst you’ll find anywhere. |
| Charity Donations | Supporting a good cause with currency you don’t want to bother exchanging. | You won't get any cash back, but it's a simple and feel-good process. |
Ultimately, for anyone in the UK with a mix of euro coins, an online service designed for this exact purpose is almost always the most sensible route. It balances convenience with a fair return, which is more than you can say for most other options.
Why Is It So Hard to Exchange Foreign Coins?
Ever tried to change your leftover euro coins at the local bank, only to be turned away? You’re definitely not the first. It might feel like they’re just being difficult, but the truth comes down to simple economics. For most high-street banks and exchange bureaus, handling foreign coins is a logistical and financial headache.
Think about it: banknotes have a high face value, which easily covers the costs of shipping and admin. Coins are the complete opposite. They're heavy, bulky, and individually worth very little. The process of gathering them, sorting them by denomination, counting them all up, and shipping them back to their home country often costs more than the coins are actually worth.
The High Street Hurdle
This is exactly why your bank, the Post Office, and most currency exchange kiosks will only deal with notes. They just don't have the specialised setup needed to process coins without losing money on the deal.
It’s a huge gap in the market. In fact, over 70% of small businesses and shops in the UK won’t take foreign coins, so you can’t even spend them. Because handling coins is so labour-intensive, you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere on the high street that will exchange your foreign coins and notes directly. If you want a deeper look at currency movements, you can explore more about the EUR to GBP forecast.
This common refusal really shines a light on why a dedicated service is so essential. It’s not just a matter of convenience; it’s about solving a real problem that affects millions of us returning to the UK with pockets full of shrapnel.
Understanding this challenge shows just how valuable a fast and easy exchange service can be. A specialist can handle the logistical costs by working at scale, giving you a 100% guaranteed way to exchange your foreign coins without even needing to sort them. Our service was built to solve this exact problem, and it's trusted by major brands from charities, supermarkets, and airports to police forces.
Comparing Your Options for Exchanging Euro Coins
So, you've got a pocketful of euro coins and need to change them back into pounds. What's the best way to do it? The truth is, it really depends on what you value most – are you after the best possible rate, pure convenience, or just getting it done quickly? Let's break down the main options you'll come across.
This infographic shows a familiar scene: the traveller at an airport kiosk, ready to offload their leftover holiday money. It’s a common choice, but often the most expensive one.
What it really highlights is that classic trade-off between convenience and value. Airport exchanges are right there when you need them, but they rarely give you a good deal for your leftover foreign currency.
High Street Banks and The Post Office
Most of us naturally think of our local bank or the Post Office for anything to do with money. But when it comes to foreign coins, you’ll almost certainly hit a brick wall. The simple reason is that for them, the hassle and admin cost of handling foreign shrapnel just isn't worth it.
- You have: A small bag of mixed euro coins from a couple of city breaks.
- What happens: Your bank will probably exchange the euro notes without an issue but politely refuse the coins, leaving you right back where you started. Some might make an exception for premium account holders, but only if the coins are perfectly sorted and bagged.
Airport Currency Exchange Kiosks
There’s no denying the convenience of an airport kiosk. You've just stepped off the plane, and there’s a counter waiting to take your leftover euros. That convenience, however, comes at a serious cost. Airport exchange rates are notoriously poor, and commissions can be surprisingly high, eating into the value of your money.
- You have: A few euro coins left and need pounds for a coffee the second you land.
- What happens: For tiny amounts, it’s a workable last resort. But for anything more than a few euros, it's a financially poor move – you’ll lose a significant chunk of what your coins are actually worth.
The key takeaway here is that traditional, face-to-face services are built for the simple, high-value world of banknotes. They just aren't set up to efficiently handle the specific problem of mixed foreign coins.
Specialist Online Exchange Services
This is where dedicated online services come into their own. They were created specifically to solve the foreign coin headache, offering a process that is fast, easy, and hassle-free. Their entire business model is built around efficiently processing huge volumes of mixed coins and notes from all over the world, which allows them to offer much fairer exchange rates.
Our service provides a 100% guarantee and doesn't require you to sort anything. Just send us your leftover foreign currency, and we do all the work. We're trusted by major UK organisations – including well-known charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces – to manage their foreign currency needs. For a detailed look at how different services stack up, check out our complete foreign currency exchange comparison.
- You have: A big jar of unsorted euro coins and old notes you’ve been collecting for years.
- What happens: You can easily convert foreign coins and banknotes into pounds without any faff. The process is simple, and the money is sent straight to your bank account, giving you the best blend of convenience and real value. For most people, this is the ideal solution.
To help you decide, here’s a quick side-by-side look at your options.
Detailed Comparison of Euro Coin Exchange Services
| Exchange Option | Typical Fees/Commission | Processing Speed | Convenience Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Street Banks | N/A (usually refuse coins) | Instant (if accepted) | Low | Premium account holders with pre-sorted coins (rarely an option). |
| The Post Office | N/A (refuses coins) | N/A | Low | Banknotes only; not a viable option for coins. |
| Airport Kiosks | Very high (poor rates) | Instant | Very High | Emergencies or tiny amounts where convenience is the only factor. |
| Online Services | Low (fair rates) | A few days | High (post-in) | Anyone with a significant amount of mixed coins and notes. |
Ultimately, while the airport kiosk might seem tempting in the moment, a specialist online service will almost always put more money back in your pocket.
Understanding Coin Exchange Rates and Fees
When you look up "where to change euro coins into pounds," the exchange rate you see splashed across the internet is almost never what you'll get. That headline figure is the mid-market rate—a sort of wholesale price that exists between banks. It’s a good benchmark, but it’s not for us, the general public, especially when it comes to a pocketful of coins.
The rate you're actually offered is the tourist rate, and it always has a margin built in for the exchange service. For coins, that margin is much wider because of the extra hassle involved in handling, sorting, and processing them. This is where fees and commissions sneak in and take a real bite out of your final payout.
The Real Cost of Conversion
Plenty of services add handling fees or commissions specifically for coins, and they’re not always upfront about it. This is the single most important thing to watch for when you want to exchange foreign coins and notes.
It’s a classic mistake to just look at the exchange rate and ignore the small print. A service might tempt you with a great-looking rate, but a hefty commission on coins can easily wipe out that advantage, leaving you with far less cash than you expected.
Take independent currency exchange bureaux, for example. They handle thousands of transactions every month and often charge a 3-7% commission on coins—a figure that's miles higher than what they charge for banknotes. To get a better grip on the mechanics behind these numbers, you can find some great resources on understanding the global currency exchange market.
How Market Volatility Affects Your Coins
Currency markets are always on the move. In 2025 alone, the Euro to GBP exchange rate has bounced between roughly £0.82 and £0.88 per euro. While these shifts affect all currency, the lower value of coins means that a bad rate combined with high fees can have a much bigger impact on your return.
Knowing all this helps you see the true value of an exchange offer. A trustworthy service will be completely transparent about its rates for your leftover foreign currency, making sure the process is fast, simple, and 100% guaranteed with no hidden surprises. It’s why we’re trusted by major organisations like charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces—we make it hassle-free and clear, with no need to sort your coins. Find out more on our homepage.
The Easiest Way to Exchange Your Foreign Coins and Notes
After the frustration of dealing with high street banks and the poor rates at airports, you might be looking for a better way to handle your leftover travel money. The modern answer is a specialised online exchange service, designed from the ground up to make converting foreign coins and notes into pounds as simple as possible. The whole process is built to be fast, easy, and completely hassle-free.
Unlike other places, there's absolutely no need to sort through your collection of coins and notes. Just gather up all your leftover holiday money—even old or obsolete currency—and send it over to us. We handle all the counting and sorting for you, which makes for a straightforward experience from start to finish.
A Service Built on Trust and Reliability
Our credibility isn't just something we talk about; it's proven by the organisations that rely on us every day. We're trusted by major UK brands, including well-known charities, supermarkets, airports, and even police forces, to manage their currency exchange needs efficiently and transparently.
This trust is built on a simple promise: a 100% guaranteed exchange at competitive rates with no hidden surprises. We provide a reliable, customer-focused choice for anyone wanting to get real value from their leftover money.
The process couldn't be simpler. Once we receive your currency, we verify what's inside and get your payment processed quickly. This method turns a common travel headache into a simple, rewarding task. That forgotten jar of coins could be worth much more than you think, and our service is the easiest way to find out.
A Few Common Questions About Exchanging Euro Coins
You've probably got a few questions buzzing around, and that's completely normal. Let's tackle some of the most common ones to make sure you feel confident about how to turn those leftover coins into pounds.
Can I Exchange Old or Obsolete Foreign Coins?
Yes, you can, but you'll struggle to find anywhere on the high street that will help. Most banks and exchange bureaus simply won't touch out-of-circulation currency. This is where specialist online services really shine, as they have the right channels to value and exchange obsolete coins and banknotes. It’s a great way to unlock cash from money you probably thought was worthless.
Our service was built for exactly this. We provide a fast and easy way to convert all sorts of foreign currency, including old, pre-euro coins and notes that are just collecting dust.
The ability to exchange old currency is a huge advantage of using a specialist service. That forgotten collection of Deutsche Marks or French Francs isn't worthless—it can be converted into pounds with the right help.
What Is the Minimum Amount I Can Exchange?
This really depends on where you go. Banks, on the rare occasion they do offer a coin exchange service, often set high minimum amounts or insist you're already a customer. We designed our online service to be much more flexible, allowing you to cost-effectively exchange both small and large stashes of leftover foreign currency without any fuss.
How Can I Donate My Foreign Coins to Charity?
Donating your foreign coins is a fantastic way to support a cause you're passionate about. Many UK charities team up with currency exchange specialists to handle these donations, as it's the most efficient way to turn a collection of mixed coins into vital funds. We're proud to work with dozens of major charities, offering a smooth system that does just that.
If you'd like to learn more, you can donate foreign coins to charity through our service or explore our helpful guide on where you can donate foreign coins to make a real difference.
And while you're sorting out your currency, it’s worth remembering it’s just one piece of the travel puzzle. For a broader look, there are some great tips in this guide on preparing for international travel.
For a fast, easy, and hassle-free way to convert your foreign coins and notes into pounds, choose We Buy All Currency. Our process is 100% guaranteed, requires no sorting, and is trusted by major UK brands, including charities, supermarkets, airports, and police forces. Visit our homepage to get started today!