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Send money to United Kingdom
USD
GBP|Updated recentlyMid-market 0.7463Cheapest todayof 18 providers
InstaReM
Rate 0.7452 · Fee free
You send
$1,000
Recipient gets
£745
Affiliate link · No extra cost to you
Quick answer: The cheapest way to send money to United Kingdom in May 2026 is InstaReM, which delivers 745.21 GBP on a 1,000 USD transfer with a fee of zero and an exchange rate of 0.7452. According to SendMoneyCompare's comparison of 18 providers updated every 6 hours, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive provider on this corridor is 3 GBP.
Last reviewed: by Awais Imran, Reviews Editor
→
Rates are typical right now
34th percentile
Based on 60 days of data (2026-03-13 to 2026-05-20)
Today's best
£74.31
Remitly
60-day avg
1 USD = 0.75 GBP
Best rate
0.75
2026-04-03 · Remitly
Worst rate
0.74
2026-05-14 · Remitly
What is the cheapest way to send USD to GBP?
Sending $1,000 from to United Kingdom. Sorted by best value — most money received.
Source: SendMoneyCompare · Data updated every 6 hours from live provider APIs
#ProviderRateFeeRecipient gets
Rate 0.7452·Fee Free·0.15% markup
↓ 1.5% over 60dAvg: 0.74 GBP (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.75
1
InstaReMBest value
1-3 business days0.15% markup
↓ 1.5% over 60dAvg: 0.74 GBP (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.75
0.7452
Free
£745.21
Rate 0.7445·Fee $1.50·0.24% markup
↓ 0.6% over 54dAvg: 0.75 GBP (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 0.74–0.75
2
0.7445
$1.50
£743.34
Rate 0.7440·Fee $1.99·0.31% markup
Rate up 0.8%
↑ 0.8% over 54dAvg: 0.74 GBP (+0.7% vs avg)Range: 0.74–0.75
3
0.7440
$1.99
£742.53
Rate 0.7463·Fee $5.89·0.00% markup
↓ 1.3% over 60dAvg: 0.74 GBP (+0.2% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.76
4
0.7463
$5.89
£741.93
Rate 0.7422·Fee $0.99·0.55% markup
↓ 0.5% over 54dAvg: 0.75 GBP (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 0.74–0.75
5
0.7422
$0.99
£741.49
Rate 0.7410·Fee Free·0.71% markup
↓ 1.1% over 54dAvg: 0.74 GBP (+0.3% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.75
6
Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)0.71% markup
↓ 1.1% over 54dAvg: 0.74 GBP (+0.3% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.75
0.7410
Free
£741.03
Rate 0.7428·Fee $2.99·0.47% markup
Best rate 29 of 60 days
↓ 1.2% over 60dAvg: 0.74 GBP (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.75
7
Minutes to 3-5 days0.47% markup
Best rate 29 of 60 days
↓ 1.2% over 60dAvg: 0.74 GBP (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.75
0.7428
$2.99
£740.60
Rate 0.7415·Fee $3.37·0.65% markup
↓ 0.5% over 54dAvg: 0.74 GBP (-0.4% vs avg)Range: 0.74–0.75
8
0.7415
$3.37
£738.98
Rate 0.7393·Fee $1.99·0.94% markup
↓ 1.1% over 60dAvg: 0.74 GBP (+0.3% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.75
9
0.7393
$1.99
£737.84
Rate 0.7359·Fee Free·1.40% markup
Rate 0.7323·Fee Free·1.88% markup
2.0% markup
↑ 0.1% over 54dAvg: 0.73 GBP (+0.1% vs avg)Range: 0.73–0.74
11
0.7323
Free
£732.30
Rate 0.7313·Fee $2.49·2.01% markup
→ 0.0% over 54dAvg: 0.73 GBPRange: 0.72–0.73
Rate 0.7259·Fee Free·2.74% markup
↓ 1.4% over 54dAvg: 0.72 GBP (+0.2% vs avg)Range: 0.71–0.74
13
2-5 business days2.74% markup
↓ 1.4% over 54dAvg: 0.72 GBP (+0.2% vs avg)Range: 0.71–0.74
0.7259
Free
£725.88
Rate 0.7291·Fee $5.00·2.31% markup
Rate 0.7259·Fee $1.99·2.74% markup
↓ 1.2% over 60dAvg: 0.72 GBP (+0.2% vs avg)Range: 0.71–0.74
15
0.7259
$1.99
£724.43
Rate 0.7240·Fee Free·2.99% markup
↓ 1.2% over 58dAvg: 0.72 GBP (+0.4% vs avg)Range: 0.71–0.73
16
0.7240
Free
£724.01
Rate 0.7251·Fee $5.00·2.84% markup
↓ 1.3% over 44dAvg: 0.72 GBP (+0.1% vs avg)Range: 0.71–0.74
17
0.7251
$5.00
£721.50
Rate 0.7426·Fee Free·0.50% markup
Potential savings: Choosing the best provider over the most expensive saves your recipient £2.62 on a $1,000 transfer.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our rankings, which are based on real transfer data. Editorial policy
The United Kingdom has one of the world's most advanced payment systems — Faster Payments delivers GBP transfers between banks in seconds, around the clock. Whether you're sending money to family, paying rent, or covering university fees, the UK's open banking infrastructure means you have more delivery options than almost anywhere else in the world.
- Faster Payments Service (FPS) settles transfers between UK banks in under 10 seconds, 24/7/365. Most specialist providers use FPS for GBP delivery, meaning your recipient can access funds almost immediately.
- UK bank accounts are identified by Sort Code (6 digits) + Account Number (8 digits). No IBAN is required for domestic transfers, though UK IBANs (GB format, 22 characters) are used for international SWIFT wires.
- Major receiving banks: Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC UK, NatWest, Santander UK, and Monzo/Starling for digital-first recipients. All use FPS for instant credit.
- The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) regulates all UK money transfer services. Only use FCA-authorised providers — you can verify any firm on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk.
- The UK GBP is a major global reserve currency. Exchange rates are competitive, and most specialist providers offer within 0.3–0.8% of the mid-market rate on major corridors.
Which provider offers the best USD to GBP rate?
InstaReM
4.0Exchange rate
0.7452
Fee
Free
Recipient gets
£745.21
Speed
1-3 business days
Which provider is best for each transfer type?
Different providers excel at different things. Here's who's best for each use case on the to United Kingdom route.
Cheapest transfer
InstaReM
Delivers the most GBP for your money
Fastest transfer
Wise
Delivers in Instant
Cash pickup
Western Union
Widest cash pickup network
Bank transfer
InstaReM
Best rate for bank deposit to United Kingdom
How to send money to United Kingdom
Sending money to United Kingdom is straightforward with the right provider. Here's how it works in 3 simple steps.
Step 1
Enter your transfer details
Choose how much USD you want to send, compare providers above, and pick the one offering the best GBP amount for your transfer to United Kingdom.
Step 2
Add your recipient
Enter your recipient's details in United Kingdom — you'll need their sort code. Most providers verify details instantly.
Step 3
Send & track your transfer
Pay using bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. Track your money in real-time until it arrives — faster payments typically takes minutes to 2 hours.
What you need to send money to United Kingdom
Make sure you have these details from your recipient before starting your transfer.
Full name
Recipient's name as it appears on their UK bank account
Sort code
6-digit sort code identifying the bank and branch (format: XX-XX-XX)
Example: 20-00-00
Account number
8-digit UK bank account number
Example: 12345678
IBAN
Optional22-character UK IBAN (some providers accept sort code + account number instead)
Example: GB29NWBK60161331926819
Note: Most providers accept the UK sort code and account number combination. IBAN is optional for domestic UK transfers but may be needed for SWIFT-routed international transfers. Faster Payments delivers to most UK bank accounts within hours.
Transfer examples: USD to GBP
See how much your recipient would get for common transfer amounts.
Send $500
ProviderFeeReceives
InstaReM
0.75 · 1-3 business days
Wise
0.75 · Instant
Revolut
0.74 · 0-1 days
Paysend
0.74 · 2 days
TapTap Send
0.74 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Western Union
0.74 · 0-5 days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
InstaReMFree0.75£3731-3 business days
Wise$1.420.75£372Instant
Revolut$0.750.74£3710-1 days
Paysend$1.990.74£3712 days
TapTap SendFree0.74£371Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Western Union$0.990.74£3700-5 days
Send $1,000
ProviderFeeReceives
InstaReM
0.75 · 1-3 business days
Revolut
0.74 · 0-1 days
Paysend
0.74 · 2 days
Wise
0.75 · Instant
Western Union
0.74 · 0-5 days
TapTap Send
0.74 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
InstaReMFree0.75£7451-3 business days
Revolut$1.500.74£7430-1 days
Paysend$1.990.74£7432 days
Wise$5.890.75£742Instant
Western Union$0.990.74£7410-5 days
TapTap SendFree0.74£741Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Send $5,000
ProviderFeeReceives
Wise
0.75 · Instant
InstaReM
0.75 · 1-3 business days
Revolut
0.74 · 0-1 days
Paysend
0.74 · 2 days
Remitly
0.74 · Minutes to 3-5 days
Western Union
0.74 · 0-5 days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
Wise$1.420.75£3,731Instant
InstaReMFree0.75£3,7261-3 business days
Revolut$0.750.74£3,7190-1 days
Paysend$1.990.74£3,7192 days
Remitly$2.990.74£3,712Minutes to 3-5 days
Western Union$0.990.74£3,7100-5 days
How much does it cost to send money from to United Kingdom?
Transfer fees to United Kingdom vary by provider and how you pay. Specialist services charge £0–10 per transfer, while banks charge $25–50 plus a 2–5% exchange rate markup. The exchange rate markup is usually the bigger cost — always compare the total GBP your recipient receives.
Understanding the total cost
The true cost of a money transfer has two components:
Transfer fee
The upfront charge — typically $0–$10 with specialist providers.
Exchange rate markup
The hidden cost — the difference between the provider's rate and the mid-market rate (0.7463).
Ways to send money to United Kingdom
Choose how you want to pay for your transfer. Each payment method has different costs and speeds.
Faster Payments is the default delivery method for UK bank transfers — it's free and near-instant. Almost all UK bank accounts are enrolled in the Faster Payments scheme.
Bank Transfer
Low costSpeed: 1–3 business days
Usually the cheapest option — lowest fees and no card processing charges
Debit Card
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Fast and convenient — small card processing fee applies
Credit Card
Higher costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Fastest option but highest fees — card issuer may charge cash advance fee
Apple Pay
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Convenient mobile payment — linked card fees apply
Cash
Medium costSpeed: Varies
Pay cash at an agent location — available at select providers
Google Pay
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Convenient mobile payment — linked card fees apply
How can my recipient receive money in United Kingdom?
Your recipient in United Kingdom can receive money through these delivery methods. The best option depends on their location and preferences.
Faster Payments
Minutes to 2 hours
UK's instant payment system — delivers to virtually all UK bank accounts 24/7. The standard for most transfers.
WiseRemitlyWorldRemitOFX
BACS Transfer
1–3 business days
Standard bank transfer processed in daily batches. Slower but sometimes used for larger amounts.
OFXXE
Cash Pickup
Minutes
Collect cash from Post Office branches and other agent locations across the UK.
Western UnionMoneyGram
What are the transfer limits and regulations for United Kingdom?
Important rules and requirements to know before sending money to United Kingdom.
Regulatory body
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Inbound transfer limits
No restriction on receiving international transfers in the UK
Documentation you may need
- Sender's government-issued ID
- Proof of source of funds for large transfers
Important things to know
- The FCA regulates all money transfer providers operating in the UK, providing consumer protection.
- No tax is due on receiving money transfers in the UK (it's not income), though HMRC rules apply to gifts over £325,000 for inheritance tax purposes.
- Post-Brexit, SEPA transfers from Europe to UK may incur additional fees depending on the sender's bank.
How long does it take to send money to United Kingdom?
Most transfers to United Kingdom arrive within 1–2 business days with specialist providers. Mobile wallet and cash pickup options are often available within minutes. Bank deposits typically take 1–3 business days.
FastExpress delivery
- WiseInstant
- TapTap SendUnder 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
- RemitlyMinutes to 3-5 days
- MoneyGramMinutes to 3 days
- BOSS MoneyInstant
Standard delivery
- InstaReM1-3 business days
- Revolut0-1 days
- Paysend2 days
- Western Union0-5 days
- CurrencyFair0-6 days
Popular banks in United Kingdom
These are the most commonly used banks for receiving international transfers in United Kingdom.
BankSWIFT/BICNotes
HSBC
MIDLGB22XXX
Barclays
BARCGB22XXX
Lloyds Bank
LOYDGB2LXXX
NatWest
NWBKGB2LXXX
Santander UK
ABORINBKXXX
Monzo
—
Starling Bank
—
USD to GBP Exchange Rate History
Daily best exchange rates from top providers over the last 60 days. Rates shown are for sending $100.
| Date | MoneyGram | InstaReM | Remitly | WorldRemit | Wise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trend | |||||
| May 20 | 0.7393 | 0.7416 | 0.7431 | 0.7259 | 0.7463✓ |
| May 19 | 0.7381 | 0.7394 | 0.7412 | 0.7240 | 0.7446✓ |
| May 18 | 0.7427 | 0.7458 | 0.7478 | 0.7303 | 0.7510✓ |
| May 17 | 0.7419 | 0.7449 | 0.7469 | 0.7295 | 0.7505✓ |
| May 16 | 0.7439 | 0.7449 | 0.7469 | 0.7295 | 0.7505✓ |
| May 15 | 0.7406 | 0.7433 | 0.7453 | 0.7196 | 0.7481✓ |
| May 14 | 0.7333 | 0.7359 | 0.7373 | 0.7196 | 0.7411✓ |
| May 13 | 0.7310 | 0.7333 | 0.7350 | 0.7303 | 0.7386✓ |
| May 12 | 0.7289 | 0.7310 | 0.7329 | 0.7303 | 0.7359✓ |
| May 11 | 0.7294 | 0.7305 | 0.7323 | 0.7151 | 0.7355✓ |
| May 10 | 0.7272 | 0.7283 | 0.7302 | 0.7129 | 0.7335✓ |
| May 9 | 0.7261 | 0.7283 | 0.7302 | 0.7129 | 0.7335✓ |
| May 8 | 0.7301 | 0.7321 | 0.7337 | 0.7168 | 0.7375✓ |
| May 7 | 0.7276 | 0.7292 | 0.7308 | 0.7143 | 0.7349✓ |
| May 6 | 0.7291 | 0.7309 | 0.7330 | 0.7154 | 0.7366✓ |
| May 5 | 0.7326 | 0.7475 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7303 | 0.7392 |
| May 4 | 0.7326 | 0.7475 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7303 | 0.7361 |
| May 3 | 0.7282 | 0.7312 | 0.7328 | 0.7161 | 0.7366✓ |
| May 2 | 0.7305 | 0.7312 | 0.7328 | 0.7161 | 0.7366✓ |
| May 1 | 0.7284 | 0.7298 | 0.7315 | 0.7144 | 0.7349✓ |
| Apr 30 | 0.7342 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7381 | 0.7209 | 0.7417 |
| Apr 29 | 0.7311 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7365 | 0.7190 | 0.7395 |
| Apr 28 | 0.7324 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7363 | 0.7187 | 0.7395 |
| Apr 27 | 0.7344 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7350 | 0.7183 | 0.7389 |
| Apr 26 | 0.7344 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7355 | 0.7183 | 0.7390 |
| Apr 25 | 0.7324 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7355 | 0.7183 | 0.7390 |
| Apr 24 | 0.7354 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7387 | 0.7216 | 0.7424 |
| Apr 23 | 0.7322 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7372 | 0.7199 | 0.7406 |
| Apr 22 | 0.7338 | 0.7475✓ | 0.7364 | 0.7196 | 0.7403 |
| Apr 21 | 0.7324 | 0.7333 | 0.7355 | 0.7186 | 0.7393✓ |
| Apr 20 | 0.7328 | 0.7349 | 0.7376 | 0.7201 | 0.7407✓ |
| Apr 19 | 0.7317 | 0.7338 | 0.7364 | 0.7191 | 0.7397✓ |
| Apr 18 | 0.7323 | 0.7338 | 0.7364 | 0.7191 | 0.7397✓ |
| Apr 17 | 0.7329 | 0.7339 | 0.7365 | 0.7192 | 0.7397✓ |
| Apr 16 | 0.7299 | 0.7319 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7165 | 0.7369 |
| Apr 15 | 0.7310 | 0.7315 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7160 | 0.7369 |
| Apr 14 | 0.7326 | 0.7354 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7197 | 0.7404 |
| Apr 13 | 0.7400 | 0.7407 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7253 | 0.7462 |
| Apr 12 | 0.7368 | 0.7374 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7221 | 0.7429 |
| Apr 11 | 0.7359 | 0.7374 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7221 | 0.7429 |
| Apr 10 | 0.7388 | 0.7400 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7241 | 0.7450 |
| Apr 9 | 0.7414 | 0.7414 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7259 | 0.7469 |
| Apr 8 | 0.7381 | 0.7422 | 0.7532✓ | 0.7259 | 0.7457 |
| Apr 7 | 0.7476 | 0.7499 | 0.7524 | 0.7346 | 0.7559✓ |
| Apr 6 | 0.7470 | 0.7492 | 0.7518 | 0.7340 | 0.7550✓ |
| Apr 5 | 0.7482 | 0.7524 | 0.7542 | 0.7364 | 0.7574✓ |
| Apr 4 | 0.7482 | 0.7524 | 0.7542 | 0.7364 | 0.7574✓ |
| Apr 3 | 0.7504 | 0.7527 | 0.7546 | 0.7366 | 0.7580✓ |
| Apr 2 | 0.7487 | 0.7509 | 0.7528 | 0.7349 | 0.7559✓ |
| Apr 1 | 0.7460 | 0.7475 | 0.7494 | 0.7308 | 0.7516✓ |
| Mar 31 | 0.7491 | 0.7499 | 0.7515 | 0.7343 | 0.7559✓ |
| Mar 30 | 0.7502 | 0.7524 | 0.7542 | 0.7369 | 0.7582✓ |
| Mar 29 | 0.7451 | 0.7515 | 0.7519 | 0.7342 | 0.7550✓ |
| Mar 28 | 0.7449 | 0.7490 | 0.7506 | 0.7326 | 0.7535✓ |
| Mar 18 | 0.7411 | 0.7458 | 0.7452 | 0.7279 | 0.7489✓ |
| Mar 17 | 0.7457 | 0.7484 | 0.7478 | 0.7302 | 0.7515✓ |
| Mar 16 | 0.7442 | 0.7457 | 0.7449 | 0.7288 | 0.7499✓ |
| Mar 15 | 0.7462 | 0.7529 | 0.7523 | 0.7347 | 0.7561✓ |
| Mar 14 | 0.7462 | 0.7529 | 0.7523 | 0.7347 | 0.7561✓ |
| Mar 13 | 0.7479 | 0.7529 | 0.7523 | 0.7350 | 0.7561✓ |
Common questions about sending money from to United Kingdom
What is the cheapest way to send money to the UK?
Wise consistently offers the best GBP exchange rate for international transfers, typically within 0.4% of the mid-market rate. For USD-to-GBP, OFX and CurrencyFair are also competitive for larger amounts. Remitly covers the UK for everyday transfers. GBP is a highly liquid currency, so rate spreads tend to be lower than for emerging market currencies.
How long does a transfer to the UK take?
Wise and Remitly typically deliver to UK bank accounts within a few hours. Once the SWIFT or local payment leg completes, Faster Payments credits the recipient's account within seconds. Transfers sent during business hours often arrive the same day. Traditional SWIFT wires from non-specialist banks take 1–3 business days.
What bank details do I need to send money to the UK?
For transfers via specialist providers, you need the recipient's Sort Code (6-digit, format: 00-00-00) and Account Number (8 digits). For international SWIFT wires, you need the UK IBAN (e.g. GB29NWBK60161331926819 — 22 characters starting with GB) and the bank's BIC/SWIFT code. Most UK banks show the IBAN in their mobile app under 'account details'.
Can I send money to a Monzo, Starling, or Revolut account in the UK?
Yes. Monzo, Starling, and Revolut UK accounts have standard Sort Codes and Account Numbers and receive Faster Payments like any traditional bank. Wise transfers work seamlessly to these accounts. Revolut UK has Sort Code 04-00-75, Monzo uses 04-00-04, and Starling uses 60-83-71.
Is there a limit on how much I can send to the UK?
The UK has no cap on inbound personal remittances. Faster Payments has a per-transaction limit of £1,000,000 for bank-to-bank transfers. Specialist providers have their own limits — Wise allows up to £1M per transaction with full KYC. Transfers above £10,000 equivalent may trigger AML reporting at the sender's end. UK banks do not tax inbound transfers.
Do I pay tax on money sent to me in the UK?
Gifts received from abroad are generally not taxable in the UK — there is no gift tax. However, if you are a UK tax resident and receive income from abroad (e.g. salary, business income, rental income), it may be subject to UK income tax depending on your domicile status and the remittance basis. Family support payments and gifts are exempt. Consult HMRC guidance or a UK tax advisor for your specific situation.
Send money to United Kingdom from these countries
Compare providers for your specific sending country to get the most accurate rates and fees.
Other routes to United Kingdom
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