GBP to USD in July 2026: high, low, average

Updated September 26, 2026

Someone watching the pound in July 2026 saw it start the month at the bottom and climb. The first fixing, 1.324 on July 1, was the low of the month. By July 16 the pound reached 1.3511 dollars, its high, and it finished the month at 1.3421. Over 23 business days the average was 1.3371 dollars per pound, and the gain from the first to the last fixing was 1.37%.

The direction of the month

The pound rose on 12 fixings and fell on 11, so the month was far from one-way. What made the difference was a strong middle: on July 16 the rate jumped 0.8%, the largest daily move of July, and set the monthly high in the same session. After that the pound gave back some ground but stayed well above its starting level. The range from low to high was 2.04%.

Daily GBP/USD rates in July 2026

Date	USD per 1 GBP	Versus previous fixing
July 1	1.324	up
July 2	1.3306	up
July 3	1.3355	up
July 6	1.3345	down
July 7	1.3386	up
July 8	1.3348	down
July 9	1.3396	up
July 10	1.3423	up
July 13	1.3388	down
July 14	1.3384	down
July 15	1.3404	up
July 16	1.3511	up
July 17	1.3437	down
July 20	1.346	up
July 21	1.3401	down
July 22	1.3368	down
July 23	1.3352	down
July 24	1.3324	down
July 27	1.3317	down
July 28	1.3287	down
July 29	1.3289	up
July 30	1.3389	up
July 31	1.3421	up

Compared with June 2026 and July 2025

Period	Average GBP/USD	July 2026 against it
June 2026	1.3335	higher by 0.27%
July 2025	1.3504	lower by 0.99%

The pound was slightly stronger than in June, but still below its level of a year earlier. For a UK traveller who visited the United States in both July 2025 and July 2026, dollars were a little more expensive this year.

What moved within the month matters more than the average

A monthly average hides the path. In July 2026 a pound converted on July 1 brought 1.324 dollars, and a pound converted on July 16 brought 1.3511. For anyone converting a large sum, such as a house deposit or a year of school fees, a difference of 2.04% between the best and worst day is significant.

Two practical approaches help with that uncertainty. The first is to split a large conversion into several parts over a few weeks, so that no single day decides the outcome. The second is to use a forward contract through a bank or payment provider, which fixes a rate for a future date. Both reduce the risk of converting everything on the worst day of the month, at the cost of also missing the best one.

For people paid in dollars

If you earn in dollars and spend in pounds, July 1 was the best day of the month to convert, since each dollar bought the most pounds. At the monthly average one dollar was worth 0.74791 pounds.

About the data

The ECB publishes euro reference rates, and the GBP/USD figures here are cross rates calculated from EUR/USD and EUR/GBP of the same day. They are a consistent daily benchmark that you can use to check the rate your bank or card applied.

What to do

Look up any date on the GBP/USD daily rates for July 2026 page.
Open GBP/USD on the high day of the month to see the July 16 fixing.
For large conversions, consider splitting the amount over several dates, and compare each rate with the reference.
See how July fits into the year on GBP/USD in 2026.
Check the GBP to USD exchange rate today and use the 100 GBP to USD converter for quick sums.

Questions and answers

What was the average GBP/USD rate in July 2026?

The pound averaged 1.3371 US dollars in July 2026, based on 23 ECB cross rates.

What was the highest pound to dollar rate in July 2026?

The highest fixing was 1.3511 on July 16, 2026. The lowest was 1.324 on July 1.

Was the pound weaker in July 2026 than a year earlier?

Yes, slightly. The July 2026 average of 1.3371 was 0.99% below the July 2025 average of 1.3504.

Data sources

European Central Bank: euro foreign exchange reference rates