Sending pounds to US dollars (GBP to USD) with Wise
Wise converts GBP to USD at the mid-market rate and shows its fee upfront. Below are real quotes, the arrival times you can expect, and the US bank details your recipient needs to give you.
Fees and comparison checked 18 October 2026, 18:06 UTC.
GBP → USD calculator
Rate for 2026-10-18
GBP
USDEstimate only. The fee uses a model fitted to Wise quotes from 18 Oct 2026. Wise's live quote, shown before you pay, is final, and paying by card can cost more than paying by bank transfer.
Worked example: sending £1,000 to the USA
Wise's fee is charged in pounds and taken off the amount you send. What's left is converted at the mid-market rate. On 18 October 2026, 18:06 UTC Wise quoted:
£995.40 × 1.33265 = $1,326.52 received
The fee has a small fixed part and a percentage part, so it costs proportionally less on bigger transfers:
| You send | Wise fee | Fee as % of amount | Recipient gets |
|---|---|---|---|
| £100 | £1.37 | 1.37% | $131.44 |
| £500 | £2.80 | 0.56% | $662.59 |
| £1,000 | £4.60 | 0.46% | $1,326.52 |
| £5,000 | £18.94 | 0.38% | $6,638.01 |
Source: Wise quotes at a rate of 1 GBP = 1.33265 USD, collected 18 October 2026, 18:06 UTC. Your quote will differ as rates move.
How Wise compared on the day
What each provider's recipient would have got for £1,000, from Wise's own comparison data at the same time:
| Provider | Stated fee | Recipient gets |
|---|---|---|
| Instarem | £0.00 | $1,327.50 |
| Wise | £4.60 | $1,326.52 |
| RBS / NatWest | £0.00 | $1,303.48 |
| Barclays | £0.00 | $1,295.74 |
| Lloyds | £9.50 | $1,272.63 |
Wise was not the cheapest here. Instarem delivered $0.98 more on £1,000. The high street banks delivered $23 to $54 less.
Source: Wise price comparison, collected 18 October 2026, 18:06 UTC. Wise gathers these figures itself. Rates change through the day, so compare on the day you send.
How long it takes
Wise's quote, taken on a Sunday evening, estimated about 27 hours, which means Monday. Wise's US page also showed "by Monday" for the same amount. Allow longer at weekends.
Wise says 77% of its transfers arrive in under 20 seconds and 95% in less than a day across all routes, and that speed depends on how you pay.
What you need from your recipient
- Full name of the account holder
- Their US account number
- Their ACH routing number (9 digits)
- Whether it's a checking or savings account
GBP to USD: common questions
What exchange rate does Wise use for GBP to USD?
Wise uses the mid-market rate and charges its fee separately. On 18 October 2026 Wise quoted 1 GBP = 1.33265 USD.
How much does Wise charge to send £1,000 in dollars?
On 18 October 2026 Wise quoted £4.60 to send £1,000 to USD. The recipient got $1,326.52. Wise shows the exact fee before you confirm.
Is Wise the cheapest way to send pounds to the US?
Not always. In Wise's own comparison on 18 October 2026, Instarem delivered slightly more ($1,327.50 against Wise's $1,326.52 on £1,000). Wise did beat the high street banks listed by $23 or more.
Why does a US transfer take longer at the weekend?
A quote we took on a Sunday estimated about 27 hours, so arrival on Monday. Wise's estimate updates when you start a transfer.