GBP/USD update & alerts
1 GBP = 1.3088 USD
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GBP/USD Exchange Rates and Providers Compared
This guide to the British Pound Sterling to United States Dollar exchange rate with 90-day chart & alerts, historic rates, forecasts and GBP to USD comparison tables for foreign transfers and travel money rates and fees on offer by banks and foreign exchange providers. If you want to calculate equivalent amounts in foreign currencies or rate margins then use our GBP/USD Quick Calculator.
Exchange rates can vary significantly depending on the transaction type (transfer, cash or card), currency pair and amount. The below table shows an example of total costs charged by FX specialists and banks for GBP/USD International Money Transfers. Costs are calculated against the current interbank mid-rate.
| Foreign Transfer Providers | Receive USD(U$) | Exchange Rate | Fee GBP | Total Cost | Deal Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | U$6,528.5 Best Overall | 1.3057 | 0 | 0.5% | |
 | U$6,465 U$63 less | 1.293 | 0 | 1.47% | |
 | U$6,509 U$19 less | 1.3018 | £0^ | 0.8% | |
Banks - Average Rate      Average Bank Rate | U$6,270 U$258 less | 1.2578 | 15 | 4.44% |
Example of the margins and possible savings when you order travel money online with a currency specialist rather than in-person from banks and currency kiosks.
GBP to USD Forecasts
Brexit continues to dominate GBP markets and forecasts, with "no deal" likely to induce exchange rates near $1.10; a deal will bring rates closer to $1.50. Read more
GBP and USD in the Markets
When determining the best time to make a foreign exchange transaction, in this case the GBP vs USD, you should pay attention to the recent market trends for both currencies.
British Pound Sterling (GBP)
In the post UK election euphoria the pound rose to over 1.33 USD and 1.20 EUR but has since dropped back over the uncertainty of what sort of trade deal the UK can realistically negotiate with Europe over the next 11 months.
GBP has given up all of those election result gains as Mr Johnson pledged to outlaw any extension to the UK’s post-Brexit transition period at the end of next year. It appears the Brexit volatility in the pound is set to continue for the foreseable future.
For GBP forecasts and predictions read our British Pound Forecasts summary.
Read more in the article GBP Forecasts.
United States Dollar (USD)
The US dollar held its value in 2019 despite a serious escalation in US-China trade tensions, mainly because the greenback is still considered a safer currency to own than most others.
At its October meeting the Federal Reserve cut the target range for the federal funds rate to 1.5-1.75 percent, the third rate cut so far this year, amid soft inflation indicators and general worries about the economy. However the central bank also signaled a pause in the easing cycle.
Taking the blame for the economic downturn is US President Donald Trump, whose trade war policies have set a ball rolling that could wipe $455bn from global output according to the IMF.
For more USD bank forecasts and cross-rate trends read the report USD trends and forecasts.
Read more in the article USD Forecasts.
Why can't I just get the GBP/USD market rate I see online or in the media?
The mid-rate is the rate you will see quoted online or the news. It is actually just the half-way point (hence mid-rate) between the last rate at which the GBP / USD was traded (bought or sold) in the international markets.
All foreign exchange providers charge a fee for providing their service and this fee is usually contained within the exchange rate margin (or difference to the mid-rate). Some providers such as Transferwise will quote you the mid-rate (or close to) and charge a separate percentage fee.
Our real-time foreign transfer and travel money/cards comparison calculators make shopping around easy and help you calculate how much you can save.
We help you Compare & Save Money on Exchange Rates.
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