# Transfer Tokens

Transfer tokens to a recipient, or move them on behalf of an owner using an allowance.

These recipes assume you have [set up a Client](/tokens) extended with `publicActions` and
`walletActions`.

## Recipes

### Transfer Tokens

Use [`transfer`](/tokens/actions/transfer) (via the `transferSync` variant) to send tokens and wait
for the transaction to be confirmed. Use `amount: { formatted: '10.5' }` to parse a
human-readable decimal string for a Client-declared token.

:::code-group

```ts twoslash [example.ts]
import { client } from './viem.config'

const { value, formatted, receipt } = await client.token.transferSync({
  amount: { formatted: '10.5' },
  to: '0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f0bEbb',
  token: 'usdc',
})
// @log: {
// @log:   value: 10500000n,
// @log:   formatted: '10.5',
// @log:   receipt: { status: 'success', … },
// @log: }
```

```ts twoslash [viem.config.ts] filename="viem.config.ts"
// [!include ~/snippets/token/viem.config.ts:setup]
```

:::

### By Token Address

When passing a token address, include `amount.decimals` so the formatted amount can be parsed.

:::code-group

```ts twoslash [example.ts]
import { client } from './viem.config'

const { value, formatted, receipt } = await client.token.transferSync({
  amount: { decimals: 6, formatted: '10.5' },
  to: '0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f0bEbb',
  token: '0xA0b86991c6218b36c1d19D4a2e9Eb0cE3606eB48',
})
// @log: {
// @log:   value: 10500000n,
// @log:   formatted: '10.5',
// @log:   receipt: { status: 'success', … },
// @log: }
```

```ts twoslash [viem.config.ts] filename="viem.config.ts"
// [!include ~/snippets/token/viem.config.ts:setup]
```

:::

### Base Amounts

Pass a `bigint` to use the token's base unit amount directly.

:::code-group

```ts twoslash [example.ts]
import { client } from './viem.config'

const { value, formatted, receipt } = await client.token.transferSync({
  amount: 10500000n,
  to: '0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f0bEbb',
  token: 'usdc',
})
// @log: {
// @log:   value: 10500000n,
// @log:   formatted: '10.5',
// @log:   receipt: { status: 'success', … },
// @log: }
```

```ts twoslash [viem.config.ts] filename="viem.config.ts"
// [!include ~/snippets/token/viem.config.ts:setup]
```

:::

### Transfer From an Approved Account

Pass `from` to move tokens on behalf of an owner that has approved the caller (calls `transferFrom`).

:::code-group

```ts twoslash [example.ts]
import { client } from './viem.config'

const { receipt } = await client.token.transferSync({
  amount: { formatted: '10.5' },
  from: '0x55FE002aefF02F77364de339a1292923A15844B8',
  to: '0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f0bEbb',
  token: 'usdc',
})
// @log: {
// @log:   receipt: { status: 'success', … },
// @log: }
```

```ts twoslash [viem.config.ts] filename="viem.config.ts"
// [!include ~/snippets/token/viem.config.ts:setup]
```

:::

### Transfer Without Waiting

If you are optimizing for performance, use the non-sync [`transfer`](/tokens/actions/transfer) action
and wait for inclusion manually.

:::code-group

```ts twoslash [example.ts]
import { waitForTransactionReceipt } from 'viem/actions'
import { client } from './viem.config'

const hash = await client.token.transfer({
  amount: { formatted: '10.5' },
  to: '0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f0bEbb',
  token: 'usdc',
})
// @log: '0x4ca7ee652d57678f26e887c149ab0735f41de667966bf...'
const receipt = await waitForTransactionReceipt(client, { hash })

const { args } = client.token.transfer.extractEvent(receipt.logs)
// @log: args: {
// @log:   from: '0xf39Fd6e51aad88F6F4ce6aB8827279cffFb92266',
// @log:   to: '0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e7595f0bEbb',
// @log:   value: 10500000n,
// @log: }
```

```ts twoslash [viem.config.ts] filename="viem.config.ts"
// [!include ~/snippets/token/viem.config.ts:setup]
```

:::

## See More

<Cards>
  <Card icon="lucide:send" title="transfer" description="Action reference for transferring tokens (and transferFrom)." to="/tokens/actions/transfer" />

  <Card icon="lucide:check-check" title="Approve Spending" description="Allow another account to transfer your tokens via an allowance." to="/tokens/guides/approve-spending" />
</Cards>