GBP to USD in August 2026: high, low, average
Updated September 26, 2026
One pound sterling bought 1.3542 US dollars on average in August 2026. The figure is the mean of 21 daily cross rates derived from the European Central Bank's euro reference rates, from August 3 to August 31.
For a small business that invoices in pounds and pays American suppliers, the month brought a moderate swing. The cheapest day to buy dollars with pounds was August 4, when the rate stood at 1.3446. The best day was August 21, at 1.3656. The gap between those two fixings is 1.56% of the low.
Key figures for GBP/USD in August 2026
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average | 1.3542 |
| Lowest fixing | 1.3446 (August 4) |
| Highest fixing | 1.3656 (August 21) |
| First fixing | 1.347 (August 3) |
| Last fixing | 1.3539 (August 31) |
| First to last change | up 0.51% |
| USD to GBP average | 0.73844 |
How a typical payment changed during the month
Take a supplier invoice priced in dollars. Paying it on August 4 cost more pounds than paying it on August 21, because each pound was worth fewer dollars at the start of the month. The difference between the best and the worst day was 1.56%, so for a regular monthly payment the timing inside August moved the cost by that share of the invoice.
For most of the first half the rate stayed in a narrow band below 1.35. It climbed through the middle of the month, and on August 20 it rose 0.52% in one session to 1.3626, the largest daily gain of August. The high of 1.3656 followed the next day. The final week drifted lower, and the month closed at 1.3539, still above the opening fixing of 1.347.
The pound rose on 10 of the 21 fixings and fell on 11, so the monthly gain came from a few larger up days rather than a steady climb.
Comparison with earlier months
- July 2026: the average was 1.3371, so August was 1.28% higher.
- August 2025: the average was 1.3443, and August 2026 came in 0.74% above it.
Both comparisons point the same way: a pound bought more dollars in August 2026 than in the month before and than a year earlier.
Day-by-day rates
| Date | GBP/USD rate |
|---|---|
| August 3 | 1.347 |
| August 4 | 1.3446 |
| August 5 | 1.3479 |
| August 6 | 1.3467 |
| August 7 | 1.345 |
| August 10 | 1.3504 |
| August 11 | 1.35 |
| August 12 | 1.3525 |
| August 13 | 1.3492 |
| August 14 | 1.3537 |
| August 17 | 1.3559 |
| August 18 | 1.3526 |
| August 19 | 1.3556 |
| August 20 | 1.3626 |
| August 21 | 1.3656 |
| August 24 | 1.3634 |
| August 25 | 1.3632 |
| August 26 | 1.363 |
| August 27 | 1.3582 |
| August 28 | 1.3583 |
| August 31 | 1.3539 |
Rates are expressed as US dollars per 1 pound. Because the ECB publishes euro rates only, the GBP/USD figure is a cross rate calculated from EUR/USD and EUR/GBP on the same day.
What to do
- Look up the rate for the exact invoice date on the GBP/USD daily rates for August 2026 page.
- If you pay dollar invoices every month, compare your bank's rate with the average of 1.3542 to see how much margin you are paying.
- For planning, check the GBP/USD in 2026 page, which shows how August fits into the year so far.
- Before the next payment, check the GBP to USD exchange rate today and use the 100 GBP to USD converter for quick sums.
- Keep the ECB rate of the payment day with your records. It gives you a neutral reference if a counterparty questions the conversion.
Questions and answers
What was the average pound to dollar rate in August 2026?
The average GBP/USD cross rate from ECB data was 1.3542 dollars per pound over 21 business days.
What was the highest GBP to USD rate in August 2026?
The highest fixing was 1.3656 on August 21, 2026. The lowest was 1.3446 on August 4.
Was the pound stronger in August 2026 than a year earlier?
Yes. The August 2026 average of 1.3542 was 0.74% above the August 2025 average of 1.3443.