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INR → VND · VietnamThai Baht (THB)
The Thai Baht is the official currency of Thailand. For Indian
travellers, Thailand is the most-visited international destination after
the UAE, and the baht is the third most-purchased currency from India by
transaction count (after the dollar and dirham). Direct flights from
major Indian cities to Bangkok and Phuket, visa-on-arrival for Indians,
and short travel times make Thailand an easy weekend or week-long
destination.
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About Thai Baht (THB)
The story, the role, and the reach of the thai baht — explained for Indian travellers, students and businesses.
The Thai Baht is the official currency of Thailand. For Indian
travellers, Thailand is the most-visited international destination after
the UAE, and the baht is the third most-purchased currency from India by
transaction count (after the dollar and dirham). Direct flights from
major Indian cities to Bangkok and Phuket, visa-on-arrival for Indians,
and short travel times make Thailand an easy weekend or week-long
destination.
Thailand drew around 1.6 million Indian tourists in 2024, the largest
single source market for inbound visitors. Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket,
Krabi, Chiang Mai, and the islands all feature heavily in Indian travel
planning. The baht is therefore one of the most-bought leisure
currencies in India.
This page covers what the baht is, how it moves against the rupee, and
where to buy it in India. For today's live rate, jump to the rate page
below.
A short history
From its origins to the modern thai baht you know today.
The Thai Baht is one of the oldest currencies in Asia. The word "baht"
originally referred to a unit of weight (about 15 grams) used to measure
silver and gold. For most of Thai history, the baht was a unit of
bullion rather than a coin or note. The modern baht as a national
currency dates from 1928, replacing the earlier tical (the international
name for Thai currency in earlier centuries).
The baht was tied to gold and then to the US Dollar through much of the
20th century. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis is closely tied to the
baht: the Thai government's decision in July 1997 to float the baht,
after defending the peg for months, triggered a regional currency crisis
that spread across Southeast Asia. The crisis reshaped how emerging
Asian economies manage their currencies.
Since 1997, the Thai Baht has been a managed-float currency, with the
Bank of Thailand intervening as needed but not maintaining a fixed peg.
The baht is one of the more stable Southeast Asian currencies today.
Thai banknotes feature the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX)
and King Vajiralongkorn (King Rama X) on different series. Showing
disrespect to baht notes (such as stepping on them, since the King's
image is on them) is a serious legal offence in Thailand under
lèse-majesté laws.
Denominations you'll use
The notes and coins in actual circulation — and which ones you'll see most.
Thai notes are colour-coded and feature the portrait of the current King
on the obverse, with different historical scenes on the reverse. Each
denomination is a different colour, which makes them easy to recognise
even before you read Thai numerals.
Banknotes
- ฿20 (green, smallest commonly used note)
- ฿50 (blue)
- ฿100 (red, most commonly used note for daily spending)
- ฿500 (purple)
- ฿1000 (grey, largest note, equivalent to roughly ₹2,500 at current rates)
Coins
- 25 satang, 50 satang (rarely seen)
- 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht, 10 baht
Coins are useful for small purchases at 7-Eleven, vending machines,
public transport, and tipping. The 10 baht coin is the most useful.
When buying baht from Matrix Forex, ask for a mix of ฿100 and ฿500 notes
for daily spending, plus a few ฿1000 notes for hotels and larger
purchases.
Important: a small but important rule. The image of the King appears on
Thai notes and coins. Treat the currency with respect. Do not deface,
step on, or destroy currency. This is a legal matter in Thailand.
How the THB moves
The forces and policy decisions that shape its value against the rupee.
The Thai Baht is a managed-float currency. The Bank of Thailand sets
monetary policy and intervenes in the FX market when needed, but does
not maintain a fixed peg.
Against the Indian Rupee, the baht moves based on:
- Bank of Thailand policy. Interest rate decisions and signals move the baht.
- Thai tourism flows. Thailand's economy depends heavily on tourism, so tourist arrival numbers affect the baht.
- Asian currency dynamics. The baht moves with other Asian currencies, particularly the Chinese yuan, given China's role as a major source of Thai tourism and trade.
- Gold prices. Thais are major retail buyers of gold, and gold flows affect the baht to some degree.
THB/INR typically trades between ₹2.50 and ₹3.00, with recent rates
closer to ₹2.85 to ₹3.00. The baht has been one of the more stable Asian
currencies against the rupee, with smaller swings than the AUD or NZD.
Why Indians buy THB
The everyday use-cases — travel, education, business — that bring Indians to this currency.
Baht demand from India is almost entirely tourism-driven, which makes it
different from most other currencies.
Leisure travellers (the dominant category)
Family holidays, couple trips, group friends' trips, and
bachelor/bachelorette parties all drive baht demand. Bangkok and
Pattaya, Phuket and Krabi, and the islands are the main destinations. A
typical 5 to 7 day Thailand trip needs ฿15,000 to ฿35,000 in spending
money, depending on style. Peak season for Indian travel to Thailand is
November to February.
Honeymoon travellers
Thailand is one of the top honeymoon destinations for Indian couples.
Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui are popular. Honeymoon trips often have
higher per-day spending.
Medical tourism
Thailand is a recognised medical tourism destination, with high-quality
private hospitals in Bangkok. Cosmetic surgery, dental work, and
elective procedures draw Indian patients.
Repeat travellers
Thailand has a high rate of repeat Indian visitors. Many Indians make
Thailand a regular annual trip.
Using THB in Thailand
Cards vs cash, ATM tips, common pitfalls — what to know before you travel.
Thailand is more cash-based than most major Indian travel destinations.
While Bangkok shopping malls, chain restaurants, and major hotels accept
cards, much of daily Thai life still runs on cash. Street food, markets,
tuk-tuks, taxis, and small shops are almost entirely cash-only.
Places that prefer cash
- Street food and night markets (cash only in most cases)
- Tuk-tuks and street taxis
- Local 7-Eleven (accepts cards but cash is faster)
- Smaller restaurants outside tourist areas
- Massage parlours and street vendors
- Tips for tour guides, hotel porters, and spa staff
- Temple donations
Places where cards work well
- Major shopping malls (Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, ICONSIAM, etc.)
- Chain restaurants and international franchises
- 4-star and 5-star hotels
- BTS Skytrain and MRT (Bangkok subway, use Rabbit card or similar)
- Tourist attractions and tour operators
ATMs
ATMs are widely available across Thailand and accept most foreign cards.
Thai ATMs charge a flat fee of around ฿220 per withdrawal for foreign
cards (about ₹620), plus your Indian bank's international transaction
fee. This is one of the higher per-withdrawal fees globally, so
withdrawing larger amounts less frequently is cost-effective.
Tipping culture
Tipping in Thailand is appreciated but not strictly expected.
Restaurants in tourist areas often add a 10 percent service charge
automatically. If not, rounding up the bill or leaving 20 to 50 baht is
common. Hotel porters: 20 to 50 baht per bag. Massage therapists: 50 to
100 baht. Tour guides: 100 to 200 baht for a half-day. Always tip in
baht, not foreign currency.
How to get THB in India
Your options — branches, banks, online forex providers, and the airport route.
Cash (baht notes)
Up to USD 3,000 equivalent per trip in foreign currency notes, roughly
฿95,000 at current rates. This is more than enough for almost any
leisure trip. Matrix Forex sells baht at the live interbank rate with
same-day delivery across 21 Indian cities. Ask for a mix of ฿100, ฿500,
and ฿1000 notes.
Forex card
Load baht onto a forex card before travel. The Matrix Forex Card
supports 28 currencies including THB, with no markup on the live
interbank rate. Useful for hotels and shopping. For street food and
tuk-tuks, you will still need cash.
Wire transfer
For hotel pre-payments or medical tourism, send baht directly to a Thai
bank account via SWIFT. Funds reach Thailand typically within 24 hours.
What most travellers actually do
For a 5 to 7 day Thailand trip: ฿15,000 to ฿25,000 in cash, a forex card
loaded with another ฿10,000 to ฿20,000 for hotels and shopping, plus an
Indian credit card for emergencies. Lean more towards cash than for most
destinations because of how cash-driven Thai street life is.
CTA: Go to Live Rate Page · Links to: /thai-baht/rate/
Rules and limits
LRS, TCS, KYC and the FEMA rules every Indian needs to know.
USD 3,000 equivalent per trip from India.
Thai immigration occasionally checks that visitors have sufficient funds for their stay. The technical requirement is 10,000 baht per person (or 20,000 baht per family) in cash or equivalent. Checks are not always conducted but are possible, particularly for travellers on visa-on-arrival. Carrying at least ฿10,000 in cash on arrival is sensible.
USD 2,50,000 per financial year.
Most Thailand trips fall below the ₹10 lakh TCS threshold. For tour packages, TCS is 5 percent up to ₹10 lakh and 20 percent above ₹10 lakh. This applies to the package payment, not cash you carry.
PAN, passport, and confirmed flight ticket. Indians can apply for the Thai e-visa or use visa-on-arrival (for short tourist visits). The 30-day visa exemption agreement between India and Thailand makes leisure travel easier.
Keep up to USD 2,000 equivalent in foreign currency notes after return. Matrix Forex buys back unused baht at the live interbank rate.
Frequently asked questions
Bank of Thailand.
has typically traded between ₹2.50 and ₹3.00 over the past two years,
with recent rates closer to ₹2.85 to ₹3.00.
in cash plus another ฿10,000 to ฿20,000 on a forex card. Budget
travellers can manage on ฿2,000 to ฿3,000 per day; mid-range ฿4,000 to
฿6,000 per day.
food, tuk-tuks, taxis, markets, and small restaurants almost always need
cash. Cards work at malls, hotels, chain restaurants, and major tourist
attractions. Carry both, but lean more on cash than for most
destinations.
60 days under the current visa exemption arrangement (verify before
travel as policies can change). You can also apply for e-visa in
advance. Either route is fast and straightforward.
markup of 2 to 3.5 percent on Indian credit cards. A forex card avoids
this markup.
have wide spreads. Buying THB in India from an authorised dealer at the
interbank rate, with same-day delivery, is usually 3 to 5 percent
better.
interbank rate with same-day door delivery across 21 cities, or in
person at our nine branches.
