How to send money to UK from US with the best USD-GBP rate
Get the best deals when you transfer from the United States to the United Kingdom. Find the cheapest, fastest, and most reliable providers with the best USD to GBP exchange rates.
Read on for analysis on the best ways to send money to United Kingdom from United States.
Transferring the other way? Send GBP from United Kingdom to United States instead.
"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
"Xe has over 30 years of currency exchange experience, and is one of the most reputable names on the market. 200 countries, 100 currencies, & funds often received in seconds."
"Xe has over 30 years of currency exchange experience, and is one of the most reputable names on the market. 200 countries, 100 currencies, & funds often received in seconds."
"Key Currency offers a personal service with a dedicated account manager. There are no transfer limits or fees which is perfect for larger send amounts."
"Key Currency offers a personal service with a dedicated account manager. There are no transfer limits or fees which is perfect for larger send amounts."
"Currencyflow is a modern FX broker backed by industry veterans with 30+ years of currency trading experience. Contact the UK-based team for a free quote."
"Currencyflow is a modern FX broker backed by industry veterans with 30+ years of currency trading experience. Contact the UK-based team for a free quote."
.svg)
"Regency's UK-based account management team has vast experience. Get support on all kinds of transfers, from overseas property transactions to business payments & more."
"Regency's UK-based account management team has vast experience. Get support on all kinds of transfers, from overseas property transactions to business payments & more."
"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
"OFX have been helping individuals and businesses send money for over 25 years. Transfer in 50+ currencies to 170+ countries, with 24/7 phone access to currency experts."
"OFX have been helping individuals and businesses send money for over 25 years. Transfer in 50+ currencies to 170+ countries, with 24/7 phone access to currency experts."
"Currencies Direct have over 30 years of global money transfer expertise. Award winning service with a TrustPilot rating of 4.9. Lock-in rates for the future or trade 24/7 on web or mobile."
"Currencies Direct have over 30 years of global money transfer expertise. Award winning service with a TrustPilot rating of 4.9. Lock-in rates for the future or trade 24/7 on web or mobile."
"Securely send money to and from 150+ countries and 20+ currencies. Same-day transfers avaialble on most major currencies."
"Securely send money to and from 150+ countries and 20+ currencies. Same-day transfers avaialble on most major currencies."
"Xe has over 30 years of currency exchange experience, and is one of the most reputable names on the market. 200 countries, 100 currencies, & funds often received in seconds."
"Xe has over 30 years of currency exchange experience, and is one of the most reputable names on the market. 200 countries, 100 currencies, & funds often received in seconds."
"Remitly focuses on sending money to friends and family in Asia, Africa and South America. Wide coverage and well-suited to regular transfers home."
"Remitly focuses on sending money to friends and family in Asia, Africa and South America. Wide coverage and well-suited to regular transfers home."
"24/7 live chat support provided in six languages. Special first transfer rates available, with airtime topup supported to many countries in Africa, Asia and South America."
"24/7 live chat support provided in six languages. Special first transfer rates available, with airtime topup supported to many countries in Africa, Asia and South America."
"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
"Over 16 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
"Xe has over 30 years of currency exchange experience, and is one of the most reputable names on the market. 200 countries, 100 currencies, & funds often received in seconds."
"Xe has over 30 years of currency exchange experience, and is one of the most reputable names on the market. 200 countries, 100 currencies, & funds often received in seconds."
Overall best way: Wise
Wise scored the highest of the 17 money transfer companies supporting USD to GBP transfers.
For example, sending 7,000 USD to GBP will cost you $30.03 in fees, and the recipient will get 5,213.92 GBP. The delivery time is same day.
For a great mix of cost, speed & features, we suggest trying Wise for your United States to United Kingdom transfer.
How to compare companies offering money transfers from United States to United Kingdom
Always compare rates
Use our live comparison tool to make sure you aren't missing the best rates to send money from the United States to the United Kingdom. This ensures the best price.
Choose a provider
Select the company that offers you the best value & options for sending to the United Kingdom.
Click, sign up & send
Sign up & make your transfer. Your funds will soon be on their way from the United States to your chosen country & currency.
Summary of recent searches
Considerations for sending money from United States to United Kingdom
Always compare ways to send money from the United States to the United Kingdom to get the best options for fees, speed, and reliability.
Our analysis included 17 providers that operate between United States and United Kingdom.
Through this, you get a comprehensive view of all the options you have in the United States when you need to send money to the United Kingdom.
Cheapest way to send money to the United Kingdom from the United States: Key Currency
They offer a fee of 0 USD and exchange rate between USD-GBP that is 0.25% different to the mid-market rate.
In comparison, Key Currency is 0.01% cheaper than the second-best option.
To secure affordable and great rates on a USD to the United Kingdom transfer, Key Currency is our recommended choice.
Fastest way to send money to the United Kingdom from the United States: Wise
The transfer time is same day with Wise for a $7,000 transfer, but it will depend on the time, day of the week, and the amount you send.
A USD-Pound Sterling transfer through Wise comes with a 30.03 USD fee (based on a $7,000 transfer).
To ensure Wise was the 'fastest' option we compared 17 providers. This comparison was for overall speed of sending money from the United States to the United Kingdom and is a combination of depositing US Dollar, transfer times to the United Kingdom and withdrawal timeframes where applicable.
When speed is a priority, Wise is the top choice for sending into the United Kingdom from the United States.
The best apps to send USD to United Kingdom from United States
Most money transfer companies have apps you can use to send money abroad.
We've compared and analyzed over 17 apps & companies for USD/GBP transfers and these are the best apps we found. All these apps are available on iOS and Android for free.
App | Rating | Mobile wallet |
|---|---|---|
iOS: 4.8 / 4.4K reviews Android: 4.7 / 2.09K reviews | Yes (21 currencies) | |
iOS: 4.6 / 951 reviews Android: 3.7 / 1.06K reviews | Yes (17 currencies) | |
iOS: 4.7 / 106 reviews Android: 4.8 / 835 reviews | No | |
iOS: 4.8 / 158K reviews Android: 4.8 / 1.52M reviews | Yes (40+ currencies) | |
iOS: 4.8 / 108.4K reviews Android: 4.8 / 346K reviews | No |
Need to make a large transfer to the UK? Use Currencies Direct
Opt for a service proven with large transfers when size matters. For large payments to the UK, your top option is Currencies Direct.
While Currencies Direct may not always be the cheapest or fastest way to send USD to the UK, they will ensure your money is safe and give you peace of mind while your money moves to United Kingdom.
Tax implications on transfers from the United States and into the UK
When receiving money in the UK from the United States, the recipient should be aware of any legal and tax implications of the transfer.
Depending on the type of transfer being received, obligations in the UK will differ.
There are also potential tax reliefs that those receiving money in the UK from the United States should be aware of.
These are:
Type of Income/Tax | Declaration or Relief | Details | Monetary Values |
|---|---|---|---|
Employment Income | Declaration | Salary or wages received from abroad are subject to UK income tax. | Tax rates: 20%, 40%, 45% based on income. |
Self-Employment Income | Declaration | Payments from clients abroad are subject to UK income tax. | Tax rates: 20%, 40%, 45% based on income. |
Pension Income | Declaration | Overseas pensions are subject to UK income tax, with possible exemptions depending on tax treaties. | Variable based on pension income. |
Foreign Investments | Declaration & Relief | Gains from selling overseas assets are subject to capital gains tax, with relief under double taxation agreements. | Tax-free allowance: £12,300 (2023-2024). Tax rates: 10% or 20%. |
Gifts and Inheritances | Declaration | Subject to UK inheritance tax, especially if the deceased was a UK domicile. | Threshold: £325,000. Tax rate: 40% above threshold. |
Foreign Dividends | Declaration & Relief | Subject to UK income tax, with possible relief for foreign tax paid. | Tax-free dividend allowance: £1,000. Tax rates: 8.75%, 33.75%, 39.35%. |
Foreign Interest | Declaration & Relief | Interest from foreign accounts is subject to UK income tax, with possible relief for foreign tax paid. | Tax-free savings allowance: £1,000 (basic rate), £500 (higher rate). |
Double Taxation Relief | Relief | Relief against UK tax liability for foreign tax paid on the same income. | Varies based on foreign tax paid. |
Remittance Basis (Non-Domiciled) | Declaration & Relief | Tax on foreign income and gains only if brought into the UK, with specific rules and charges. | Annual charge: £30,000 (residents of 7 out of 9 years), £60,000 (residents of 12 out of 14 years). |
Reporting Requirements | Declaration | All foreign income and gains must be reported to HMRC via self-assessment tax return. | Penalties and interest for non-compliance. |
Understanding the cost of transferring money from United States to United Kingdom
The total cost of money transfers from United States to United Kingdom is a combination of fees and exchange rates. Get the best of both, and you will be getting a good deal.
The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The mid-market rate for USD-GBP is currently 0.7471 GBP per US Dollar. Providers offering services closer to this rate will ensure more Pound Sterling for your US Dollars.
To give a historic average, over the last 7 days the USD-GBP mid-market rate has been 0.7477 GBP per US Dollar, this has had a high of 0.7485 and a low of 0.7464.
From the 17 companies compared, Wise offers the best exchange rate on transfers to the United Kingdom and the United States.
Generally, the exchange rate you receive on converting USD to GBP will be the biggest factor impacting the cost of sending US Dollars to the United Kingdom.
Fees: Transfer fees are charged alongside a transfer. The company offering the lowest fee is Key Currency, just 0 USD per transfer. In all cases, we recommend searching for your exact send amount as fees may change.
Amount Received: Money transfer companies will show you the amount eventually received in Pound Sterling. Simply, the higher the amount received in the United States, the lower the cost of sending from the United Kingdom.
How to find the best exchange rate for US Dollar to Pound Sterling
Timing is essential for sending money between USD and GBP. The exchange rate you secure impacts how much GBP you get for your USD.
Let's dive into some interesting recent trends.
Over the past week, the exchange rate from USD to GBP has seen some fluctuation. On average, it stood at 0.7477.
During this period, the highest value recorded was 0.7485, while the lowest was 0.7464.
Wise, which is our recommended service to send money online from United States to United Kingdom offers an exchange rate that is only -0.01% above the mid-market rate.
Want to secure the best USD-Pound Sterling exchange rates?
Sign up for our rate alerts and we'll tell you when it's the best time to move your money from United States to United Kingdom!
Payment options for United States to United Kingdom money transfers
Bank transfers in the UK
Bank transfers are usually the best and easiest way to send money from the United States to the United Kingdom.
By using a money transfer company such as Key Currency for transfers from the United States to the United Kingdom, you can send money via a bank transfer while benefitting from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get from a traditional bank.
Key Currency is the cheapest money transfer company for bank transfers from the 17 we compared for transfers from USD into the United Kingdom.
With a fee of 0 USD to send money from the United States to the United Kingdom, Key Currency offers a strong combination of competitive exchange rates and lower fees.
Debit cards and prepaid options
Sending money from the United States to the United Kingdom with a debit or a prepaid card is available through Xe.
Xe is one of the cheaper options for debit card payments for transfers from the United States to the United Kingdom. This cost is against a total of 17 money transfer companies offering this option.
If you want to know more about money transfers from the United States to the United Kingdom we recommend taking a look at our top guides:
Credit cards
When it comes to international credit card transfers from the United States to the United Kingdom, we recommend running a quick comparison, as not many companies will let you send money with a credit card directly.
Be aware of fees: using a credit card to transfer money often results in a fee being charged by your card issuer. Where possible, we recommend a bank transfer or debit card payment.
Opt for a multi-currency account to receive into GBP
There are receiving fees to be aware of in the UK when receiving international transfers from the United States. These are specific to using a bank account to receive money. Incoming transfers are also subject to conversion into GBP as well in some scenarios.
Bank | Receiving Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
Santander | No fee | Santander does not charge a fee to receive an incoming international payment. However, intermediary banks and exchange rate markups may apply additional costs. |
NatWest | £1 - £5 | NatWest charges between £1 and £5 for receiving international payments. Additional agent fees may apply depending on the intermediary banks involved. |
HSBC | £4 - £9 | HSBC charges £4 for online payments to another HSBC account and £9 to non-HSBC accounts. Their Global Transfer service allows fee-free transfers between global HSBC accounts. |
Lloyds | £7 | Lloyds charges £7 for receiving payments over £100. Payments in pounds from within the EU to their Basic Account are fee-free. |
Barclays | £6 - £15 | Barclays charges £6 for online international payments and £15 for payments arranged in branch or by telephone. SEPA payments made online are fee-free. |
When receiving (or sending) payments regularly, it can pay to have access to a multi-currency account. This will give you local account details and reduce the time, and cost, of transferring money.
How we analyze the market
We track the cost, speed, and product offerings of the leading money transfer services available between United Kingdom and United States.
Our comparison engine and algorithms evaluate providers based on over 25 factors, including transfer fees, ease of use, exchange rates, mobile apps, transfer times & customer support.
We also consider how these services are rated on platforms like TrustPilot, AppStore, and Google Play, giving you a comprehensive view of what to expect.
This thorough analysis helps you get the best available deal - every time you want to move money from United States to United Kingdom.
We also provide unbiased and detailed reviews of all the top money transfer companies. You can use these reviews to send USD to GBP.
For a deeper understanding of our commitment to integrity and transparency, we invite you to read our editorial policy and review methodology.
Related transfer routes
Send money from United States
Send money to United Kingdom
How much money can be transferred from United States to United Kingdom?
Are there any tax implications to sending money from United States to United Kingdom?
Can I send money from United States to United Kingdom with MoneyTransfers.com?
What are the typical transfer fees for sending US Dollars to United Kingdom through various providers?
How long does it take to send money from United States to United Kingdom?
What is the best exchange rate I can get for sending money from United States to United Kingdom?
Are there any minimum or maximum transfer amounts for sending money from United States to United Kingdom?
Can I schedule regular transfers between United States and United Kingdom?
Tools & resources
Contributors
