Compare the latest Canadian dollar exchange rates from the UK's best currency providers
If you're travelling to Canada, it's important to shop around and compare currency suppliers to maximise your chances of getting a good deal. We can help you to find the best Canadian dollar exchange rate by comparing a wide range of UK travel money suppliers who have Canadian dollars in stock and ready to order online now. Our comparisons automatically factor in all costs and commission, so all you need to do is tell us how much you want to spend and we'll show you the top suppliers who fit the bill.
Compare before you buySome of the best travel money deals are only available when you buy online. By using a comparison site, you're more likely to see the full range of deals on offer and get the best rate.
Order onlineAlways place your order online, even if you plan to collect your currency in person. Most supermarkets and high street currency suppliers offer better exchange rates if you order online beforehand.
Combine ordersIf you're travelling with others, consider placing one large currency order instead of buying individually. Many currency suppliers offer enhanced rates that improve as you order more.
The best Canadian dollar exchange rates are usually offered by online travel money companies who have lower operating costs than traditional 'bricks and mortar' stores, and can therefore offer better currency deals than their high street counterparts.
For supermarkets and companies who sell travel money online and on the high street, it's generally cheaper to place your order online and collect it from the store rather than turning up out of the blue and ordering over the counter. Many stores set their 'walk-in' exchange rates lower than their online rates because they can. By ordering online you're guaranteed to get the online rate and you can collect your order from the store as usual.
Over the past 30 days, the Canadian dollar rate is up 0.07% from 1.6 on 4 Jun to 1.6011 today. This means one pound will buy more Canadian dollars today than it would have a month ago. Right now, £52 is worth approximately $83.26 which is $0.06 more than you'd have got on 4 Jun.
These are the average Canadian dollar rates taken from our panel of UK travel money providers at the end of each day. You can explore this further on our British pound to Canadian dollar currency chart.
Timing is key if you want to maximise your Canadian dollars, but the best time to buy will depend on the current market conditions and your personal travel plans.
If you have a fixed travel date, you should start to monitor the Canadian dollar rates as soon as possible in the period leading up to your departure so that you've got time to buy when the rate is looking favourable. For example, if the Canadian dollar rate has been steadily increasing over several weeks or months, it could be a good time to buy while the rate is high.
Some people prefer to buy half of their Canadian dollars as soon as they've booked their holiday, and the remaining half just before they depart. This can be a good way of maximising your holiday money if the exchange rate continues to rise after you've bought, but will also help to minimise your losses if the rate drops.
You could also consider signing up to our newsletter and we'll email the latest rates to you each month.
If you need your Canadian dollars sooner and don't have time to wait for the rates to improve, you can still save money by comparing rates from a range of different providers before you buy. Online travel money suppliers usually have better Canadian dollar rates than high street exchanges, but supermarkets are a good compromise if you want to collect your currency in person and still get a decent rate. Just remember to buy or reserve your Canadian dollars first before you collect them from the store so you benefit from the supplier's better online rate.
One Canadian dollar ($) can be subdivided into 100 cents (¢).
There are five denominations of Canadian dollar banknotes in circulation: $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100; and five coin denominations: 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), 25¢ (quarter), $1 and $2.
You might hear Canadians refer to their dollar coins as 'loonies' and 'toonies'. In 1987, a $1 coin was released that featured an image of a common loon (a water bird) on its reverse which led the coins being colloquially referred as 'loonies' by locals. In 1996, a new $2 coin was introduced which quickly become known as a 'toonie' - a combination of 'two' and 'loonie'.
| Denomination | Sterling equivalent |
|---|---|
| $5 | £3.13 |
| $10 | £6.25 |
| $20 | £12.50 |
| $50 | £31.25 |
| $100 | £62.50 |
| Denomination | Sterling equivalent |
|---|---|
| 5c | £0.03 |
| 10c | £0.06 |
| 25c | £0.16 |
| $1 | £0.63 |
| $2 | £1.25 |
There's no evidence to suggest that you'll get a better deal if you buy your Canadian dollars in Canada. While there may be better exchange rates available in some locations, your options for shopping around may be limited once you arrive, and there's no guarantee the exchange rates will be any better than they are in the UK.
Exchange rates aside, here are some other reasons to avoid buying your Canadian dollars in Canada:
Lastly, it can be handy to have some cash on you when you arrive at your destination so you can pay for any immediate expenses like food, transport and tips. You don't want to be searching for the nearest currency exchange when you've just landed and you're desperate for a cup of tea - or a cocktail!
Sending money to a company you might not have heard of before can be unsettling. We routinely check all the companies that feature in our comparisons to make sure they meet our strict listing criteria, but it's still worth knowing how your money is protected in the unlikely event a company goes bust and you don't receive your order.
Your money is not protected if you pay by bank transfer. If the company goes bust and you've paid by bank transfer, it's unlikely you'll get your money back. For this reason, we recommend you pay by debit or credit card wherever possible because they offer more financial protection.
Debit cards are the most popular payment method and they offer some financial protection. If you pay by debit card and the company goes bust, you can instruct your bank to make a chargeback request to recover your money from the company's bank. This isn't a legal right, and a refund isn't guaranteed, but if you make a chargeback request your bank is obliged to try and recover your money.
Credit cards offer full financial protection, and your money is protected by law under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Section 75 states that your card issuer must refund you in full if you don't receive your order. Be aware that many credit cards charge a cash advance fee (typically around 3%) for buying currency, so you may have to weigh up the benefits of full financial protection with the extra cost of using a credit card.