What rate does a 100 dollar note get in Phuket?
The 50 and 100 dollar notes take the top tier. CAT Exchange sorts every US dollar exchange into three tiers by note size, and the difference between the top and bottom tier is larger than most visitors expect.
On 4 September 2026 CAT Exchange buys US dollars in Bang Tao, Phuket at 32.5 THB per dollar for 50 and 100 notes, 32.33 THB for 5, 10 and 20 notes, and 31.84 THB for 1 and 2 dollar notes.
Key facts
- On 4 September 2026 50 and 100 USD notes are bought at 32.5 THB per dollar.
- 5, 10 and 20 dollar notes are bought at 32.33 THB per dollar on 4 September 2026.
- 1 and 2 dollar notes are bought at 31.84 THB per dollar on 4 September 2026.
- A confirmed dollar rate holds for 60 minutes after you agree it in chat.
- Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fixed 220 THB per withdrawal as of 2026.
- A typical Thai ATM limit runs 20,000 to 30,000 THB per operation.
- The Bang Tao office is open 12 hours a day, 09:00 to 21:00.
- A 1,000 USD exchange in top-tier notes follows the same 60-minute rate hold.
| Currency | Notes | We buy (THB) | We sell (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 50-100 | 32.5 | 33 |
| USD | 5-20 | 32.33 | 32.95 |
| USD | 1-2 | 31.84 | 32.85 |
Why do small notes pay less?
Handling cost. A hundred single dollars weigh the same in a counting machine as a hundred hundreds but carry one percent of the value, and the wholesale market that eventually takes the cash back pays less for small paper.
So the tier reflects what the note is worth further down the chain, not the state you keep it in.
Practical consequence: if you are still packing for Phuket, ask your bank for 100s. Ones and fives are worth carrying only for tips and taxis.
How much baht do 500 and 1,000 dollars give?
Multiply the amount by the tier rate. Nothing is deducted afterwards, because the quoted rate is a net rate with counting and handling already inside it.
Five 100 dollar notes exchanged at CAT Exchange on 4 September 2026 come to 500 x 32.5 THB. The same 500 USD handed over in 20 dollar notes is calculated at 32.33 THB per dollar, and the difference stays in the customer's pocket when the notes are large.
A 1,000 USD exchange follows the same arithmetic: 1,000 multiplied by 32.5 THB in the top tier as of 4 September 2026. Ask in the chat before you set out and the office confirms the figure for your exact mix of notes.
Are old white dollars accepted?
Yes, at a lower rate than the current notes. The pre-2006 series, the pale ones without the coloured background, still gets exchanged in Bang Tao, and the discount reflects what Thai banks pay for older US paper.
Two conditions apply to any dollar note. It must be intact, without tears, tape, stamps or ink, and it must be genuine, which the cashier verifies on the spot. Photograph anything doubtful and send it to WhatsApp or Telegram before travelling.
Exchange office or ATM?
An ATM withdrawal carries fixed costs that a cash exchange does not. As of 2026 Thai banks charge foreign cards a fixed fee of 220 THB per withdrawal, 250 THB at some banks, and cap most machines at 20,000 to 30,000 THB per operation.
On top of that, the screen usually offers to charge you in dollars rather than baht, which is dynamic currency conversion, and that conversion carries its own markup.
A Thai ATM charges a foreign card a fixed 220 THB per withdrawal as of 2026, with a typical limit of 20,000 to 30,000 THB per operation. Cash dollars exchanged at CAT Exchange on 4 September 2026 carry no separate fee, since counting and handling sit inside the 32.5 THB rate.
Two conclusions follow. If you do use an ATM, take the maximum in one go and always choose to be charged in baht. If you brought dollars in cash, exchanging them at the counter skips both costs.
What do you need to bring?
Your passport and the notes. Thai law requires a licensed money changer to identify each customer exchanging cash on the premises, so the passport is not optional and a photo on the phone does not replace it.
The office is on Bandon-Cherngtalay Road in Si Sunthon and opens every day from 09:00 to 21:00. Directions sit on the Bang Tao office page. For large sums, cash delivery is the alternative to carrying dollars across the island.
How long is the quoted rate valid?
Sixty minutes from your confirmation in the chat. Send the amount and the denominations, get the rate back, and it holds while you travel to the office.
Rates published on this page belong to the 4 September 2026 snapshot and move during the day, so the rates page or the chat gives the live number.
Bang Tao office
246 Bandon-Cherngtalay Rd, Si Sunthon, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand- HoursDaily 09:00–21:00
- Phone+66 84 263 9185
FAQ
Which dollar notes get the highest rate at CAT Exchange?
The 50 and 100 notes, at 32.5 THB per dollar as of 4 September 2026. Everything smaller falls into a lower tier.
Can I exchange dollars without a passport?
No, not at the counter. Cash exchange on the premises requires identification under Thai law.
Do you exchange baht back into dollars?
On request, subject to what the office holds that day. Ask in the chat with the amount before you come.
What happens to a torn 100 dollar note?
Send a photo of both sides first. Damaged notes are either taken at a reduced rate or declined, and the answer arrives in the chat rather than at the counter.
Is the rate the same for 5,000 dollars as for 200?
The published tier covers ordinary amounts. For a large exchange, send the sum and the office quotes it individually.
What else can I exchange besides dollars?
Twelve other cash currencies, listed on the cash currency page, including euros and pounds.