Why this corridor is different
Germany pays in euros and Poland in zloty (PLN), so a currency conversion always happens somewhere along the way. Inside the euro area, a SEPA transfer is simple and cheap. Between Germany and Poland, the simple part covers only the euro leg.
Two pieces of EU regulation help you here. First, the fee your bank may charge for a cross-border euro payment within the EU must be the same as for a domestic one of the same value (Regulation (EU) 2021/1230). Second, where a bank or card provider converts currency for you, the charge has to be shown as a percentage mark-up over the European Central Bank's euro reference rate (Regulation (EU) 2019/518). Neither rule sets the exchange rate itself, which is why the conversion is where the cost hides.
Four ways to do it
| Method | Where the conversion happens | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist transfer service (for example Wise) | At the mid-market rate, with a separate upfront fee. | The fee for your payment method, and the amount that arrives. |
| Multi-currency app (for example Revolut) | In the app, at the market rate within a monthly allowance on the Standard plan. | Weekend fee (1% on Standard), fair-usage fee above the allowance, and any fee for sending onward to a bank account. |
| Your bank, as a euro (SEPA) transfer | Usually on the receiving side, when the euros are credited to a zloty account. | Ask both banks for the mark-up over the ECB reference rate. The transfer fee alone tells you little. |
| Cash exchange office or card | At the counter or the terminal. | Exchange offices quote a buy and a sell rate: the gap between them plus any commission is the cost. By card, always pay in zloty. |
A worked example: EUR 1,000 to Poland
The table uses two real inputs from 20 September 2026: the mid-market rate shown on Wise's page (EUR 1 = PLN 4.3638) and the fees Wise displays for sending EUR 1,000 to Poland. At the mid-market rate, EUR 1,000 is PLN 4,363.80. The last column shows about how much arrives after the cost. The bank and Revolut rows are illustrative and assume a hypothetical 2.5% mark-up and Revolut's 1% weekend fee respectively.
| Route | Cost | About what arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Wise, from Wise balance | EUR 5.78 fee, mid-market rate | PLN 4,339 |
| Wise, bank transfer | EUR 8.04 fee, mid-market rate | PLN 4,329 |
| Wise, debit card | EUR 9.75 fee, mid-market rate | PLN 4,321 |
| Wise, credit card | EUR 40.29 fee, mid-market rate | PLN 4,188 |
| Revolut Standard, weekend exchange | 1% weekend fee (about EUR 10), plus any onward transfer fee | PLN 4,320 |
| Bank with a hypothetical 2.5% mark-up | EUR 0 fee, 2.5% worse rate (about EUR 25) | PLN 4,255 |
Two things stand out. A "no fee" transfer can leave you with less than a transfer that shows a fee, because the cost is inside the rate. And the way you pay can matter more than the provider: the same Wise transfer paid by credit card leaves about PLN 150 less than one paid from a balance.
How much does your provider's margin actually cost you?
"Total margin" combines the exchange-rate markup and any stated fee into one percentage, so you're comparing the full cost, not just the advertised fee line.
How to get the best result
- Compare the amount that arrives in zloty, not the advertised fee.
- Pay from a balance or by bank transfer rather than by credit card.
- Avoid an unseen conversion on the receiving side. Either convert first with a provider that shows the rate, or ask your bank for its mark-up over the ECB reference rate.
- On Revolut's Standard plan, avoid weekend exchanges and watch the monthly allowance.
- For larger amounts, check whether the provider discounts its fee. Wise, for example, states that it discounts its fee for transfers above about USD 25,000 or the equivalent.
- When paying by card in Poland, choose zloty and decline the offer to be charged in euro.
Sending from Poland to Germany
The same logic applies in reverse: the conversion happens either at your Polish bank, at a specialist provider or in an app, and the cost is the difference between the rate you get and the mid-market rate, plus any fee. Ask your bank which rate it will use before the transfer, and compare it with a quote from a provider that shows its rate up front.
For people who live or work on both sides
If you regularly earn in one currency and spend in the other, a multi-currency account lets you hold both euros and zloty and pay in the currency of the country you are in, so you convert only when you choose to. See our multi-currency banking guide and the Wise vs Revolut comparison for how the main options differ.
Try Wise
Wise
Send euros to a Polish account with the mid-market rate and a fee shown in the quote before you confirm.
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Frequently asked questions
Are euro transfers between Germany and Poland free?
Your bank's charge for a cross-border payment in euro within the EU must be the same as its charge for a domestic euro payment of the same value (Regulation (EU) 2021/1230). If domestic euro transfers are free at your bank, the transfer itself should be too. The conversion of euros into zloty is a separate matter and is where most of the cost usually sits.
Is it cheaper to send euros or zloty?
Neither is cheaper by default. What matters is where the currency is converted and at what rate. A euro transfer to a Polish account in zloty is converted by the receiving side, often at a rate you cannot see beforehand. Converting first with a provider that shows the rate and the fee removes that uncertainty.
What is the mid-market rate?
The midpoint between the buy and sell prices of a currency pair on the wholesale market, the rate you see on Google or Reuters. The gap between the rate you are offered and the mid-market rate is your real exchange cost.
Should I pay by card in Poland in zloty or in euro?
In zloty. If a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in euro, that is dynamic currency conversion. EU rules require its charge to be shown as a percentage mark-up over the European Central Bank reference rate, which lets you compare it with what your own card provider charges.
Do the numbers on this page change?
Yes. Rates move every second and providers change fees, so the figures here show the method and a snapshot from 20 September 2026, not a live quote. Always use the provider's own quote before you send money.
Sources
Figures and statements on this page were checked against the following sources on 20 September 2026. Fees, rates and rules change, so always confirm on the provider's own page before you act.