.wu-calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
background: #ffffff;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
padding: 20px;
}
.wu-calc-header {
background-color: #000000;
color: #ffde00; /* Western Union Brand Colors approximation */
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 6px 6px 0 0;
text-align: center;
margin: -20px -20px 20px -20px;
}
.wu-calc-header h2 {
margin: 0;
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: 700;
}
.wu-input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.wu-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #333;
}
.wu-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.wu-input-group small {
color: #666;
font-size: 0.85em;
display: block;
margin-top: 4px;
}
.wu-calc-btn {
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #ffde00;
color: #000;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
.wu-calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #e6c800;
}
.wu-results-area {
margin-top: 25px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border-radius: 6px;
border-left: 5px solid #000;
display: none;
}
.wu-result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 12px;
padding-bottom: 12px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.wu-result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
margin-bottom: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
}
.wu-result-label {
font-weight: 600;
color: #555;
}
.wu-result-value {
font-weight: 700;
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #000;
}
.wu-highlight {
color: #2e7d32;
font-size: 1.3em;
}
.wu-article-content {
margin-top: 40px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.wu-article-content h3 {
margin-top: 25px;
color: #000;
border-bottom: 2px solid #ffde00;
display: inline-block;
padding-bottom: 5px;
}
.wu-alert {
background: #ffebee;
color: #c62828;
padding: 10px;
border-radius: 4px;
margin-top: 10px;
display: none;
}
Please enter valid positive numbers in all fields.
Understanding Western Union Fees and Rates
When sending money internationally via services like Western Union, the "cost" of the transfer is composed of two distinct parts: the upfront transfer fee and the exchange rate markup. Many users focus solely on the transfer fee, neglecting the often more significant cost hidden within the exchange rate.
1. The Transfer Fee
This is the explicit charge you pay to initiate the transaction. Western Union fees vary significantly based on:
- Payment Method: Paying with a credit card usually incurs higher fees than paying via bank transfer or cash.
- Delivery Method: Cash pickup usually costs more than depositing directly into a bank account.
- Speed: "Money in Minutes" services command a premium over slower, standard transfers.
2. The Exchange Rate Markup
This is the implicit cost. Western Union, like most banks and money transfer services, does not trade at the "mid-market" rate (the rate you see on Google or Reuters). Instead, they add a markup or "spread."
For example, if the mid-market rate for USD to EUR is 0.95, Western Union might offer you a rate of 0.92. This means for every dollar you send, your recipient gets 0.03 EUR less than the market value. On a $1,000 transfer, this "hidden" fee amounts to roughly $32 in value lost, which is often higher than the $5 or $10 flat fee.
How to Use This Calculator
To accurately estimate your recipient's payout and your total costs:
- Amount to Send: Enter the amount of source currency you intend to transfer.
- Transfer Fee: Check the Western Union quote page for the specific fee based on your payment method and enter it here.
- Exchange Rate: Enter the specific exchange rate Western Union is offering for your transaction (not the Google rate).
The Effective Exchange Rate calculated above combines both the fee and the rate markup to show you the true value you are getting for every unit of currency you spend.
function calculateWesternUnion() {
var sendAmountInput = document.getElementById('wuSendAmount');
var feeInput = document.getElementById('wuTransferFee');
var rateInput = document.getElementById('wuExchangeRate');
var errorDiv = document.getElementById('wuError');
var resultsDiv = document.getElementById('wuResults');
var sendAmount = parseFloat(sendAmountInput.value);
var fee = parseFloat(feeInput.value);
var rate = parseFloat(rateInput.value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(sendAmount) || isNaN(fee) || isNaN(rate) || sendAmount <= 0 || fee < 0 || rate <= 0) {
errorDiv.style.display = 'block';
resultsDiv.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
errorDiv.style.display = 'none';
// Calculations
// 1. How much the recipient gets (Send Amount * Rate)
// Note: Standard WU flow is you pay Send Amount + Fee, and Recipient gets Send Amount converted.
var recipientReceives = sendAmount * rate;
// 2. Total cost to sender (Send Amount + Fee)
var totalCost = sendAmount + fee;
// 3. Effective Rate (Total Recipient Amount / Total Cost to Sender)
// This tells you how much destination currency you bought per 1 unit of source currency spent.
var effectiveRate = recipientReceives / totalCost;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('resRecipientAmount').innerHTML = recipientReceives.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resTotalCost').innerHTML = totalCost.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resEffectiveRate').innerHTML = effectiveRate.toFixed(4);
resultsDiv.style.display = 'block';
}