汇率风险是指汇率波幅所造成的风险。汇率波幅会影响海外贸易和投资盈亏、亦有不少人视汇率的波幅为投机获利的机会。各国的中央银行均负债控制汇率的波幅、确保金融体系的稳定。

根据在Shapiro所着的Multinational Financial Management（2006）中对于汇率风险有更明确的划分，分为三种基本的风险：换算风险（Translation Exposure）又称做会计风险（Accounting Exposure），而将经济上的外汇风险再分为营运风险（Operation Exposure）和交易风险（Transaction Exposure），以下针对这三种风险做更明确的解释。

Foreign exchange risk (also known as FX risk, exchange rate risk or currency risk) is a financial risk that exists when a financial transaction is denominated in a currency other than that of the base currency of the company. Foreign exchange risk also exists when the foreign subsidiary of a firm maintains financial statements in a currency other than the reporting currency of the consolidated entity. The risk is that there may be an adverse movement in the exchange rate of the denomination currency in relation to the base currency before the date when the transaction is completed. Investors and businesses exporting or importing goods and services or making foreign investments have an exchange rate risk which can have severe financial consequences; but steps can be taken to manage (i.e., reduce) the risk.