CAD to USD

CAD to USD explained

This overview tracks the exchange rate between Canadian Dollar (CAD) and US Dollar (USD) and compares it with the cost of an actual conversion at a range of providers. On October 30, 2026, 1 CAD equals 0.715760 USD, and one USD comes to 1.3971 CAD.

The rate shown above is the interbank mid rate. It sits exactly halfway between the price at which large banks buy CAD and the price at which they sell it. Treat it as a fair reference point: it contains no profit margin and no fees, and that is why consumers almost never receive it in full.

What ends up on the USD side is shaped by two things: a markup hidden in the exchange rate and the fee you see on the order screen. In the sections below we take those costs apart, show how they add up on a real amount and share simple habits to keep more of your money when you change CAD into USD.

Sending a larger amount from CAD to USD

Only use providers that are regulated. A regulated provider is registered with a supervisor such as the FCA or your national central bank. Regulation includes rules on keeping your money apart from the company’s own and that offers protection if the company fails.

Double-check the recipient details before you confirm. Once money has left, getting it back is difficult. Be suspicious if someone urges you to pay quickly or suddenly changes bank details. Call to confirm, using contact details you already had.

Larger transfers often come with additional questions. You may need to show proof of the source of funds, for example a contract of sale or an account statement. For big amounts it can pay to ask for a better rate. A rate lock, where offered, removes uncertainty while the money is on its way.

How our CAD/USD comparison works

Every calculation begins with the mid-market rate of 0.715760. We then apply each provider’s published fees and exchange rate margin, and work out how much USD the recipient would end up with. The comparison covers 8 providers, placed side by side.

Rates are refreshed every 30 minutes, so the page reflects the market of October 30, 2026. The final price is always set by the provider itself, since markets keep moving.

We are not owned by any provider. Some links on this page are affiliate links. The order is never affected by them: providers are sorted purely by how much USD the recipient gets.

Sample calculation for 1,000.00 CAD

Take a transfer of 1,000.00 CAD. Using the reference rate of 0.715760, that sum sets the ceiling for what is possible on the USD side. No service pays out that exact figure, as costs are deducted somewhere in the process.

Of the 8 providers we compared, Revolut came out cheapest for this amount: the recipient gets 712.18 USD at the time of our last update. The difference between that figure and the mid-market amount is the real price of the transfer.

Bear in mind that rankings shift with the amount you send. Fixed fees weigh heavily on small sums, whereas the margin in the rate becomes the bigger cost on larger transfers. Run your own figure through the converter to see the ranking that applies to you.

Recent movement in the CAD/USD rate

Compared with a year ago, the price of CAD in USD moved by +0.30%. In that period the rate peaked at 0.739377 USD per CAD, while the lowest was 0.701202. Today’s rate of 0.715760 can be measured against those two levels.

The distance between the high and the low shows how much the rate can move in practice. For a bigger amount, timing has a visible effect on the outcome, occasionally more than the difference between providers.

The rate reflects interest rate decisions, inflation figures, trade flows and general market sentiment. The statistics here are historical, not a forecast. If you are waiting for a particular level, a rate alert is a calmer option than trying to predict the market.

The countries behind CAD and USD

Canadian Dollar is the currency of Canada. US Dollar is the official currency of United States, Ecuador, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Panama. Knowing this helps for anyone who earns in one of these currencies and spends in the other.

There are plenty of everyday reasons to convert CAD to USD: paying suppliers, supporting relatives, buying property or simply travelling. Each situation asks for something different: a one-off large payment benefits most from a sharp rate, whereas regular small amounts are more sensitive to fixed fees.

The way money is paid out also differs per country. Some recipients expect a bank account number with a local bank code, others an IBAN and in certain countries payout to a mobile wallet is the norm. Ask the recipient for the exact details in advance.

Exchange rate markup and fees on CAD/USD

Most providers do not convert at the mid-market rate itself. Instead they shift the rate in their own favour and pocket the gap. People call this the markup. If the margin is 2%, then you lose roughly 2 CAD on every 100 CAD, without it ever appearing as a fee.

Besides the hidden margin, most banks charge an explicit fee. That can be a fixed amount per transfer, a percentage of the amount or both at once. With international bank payments other banks along the route may take their own cut, so the recipient gets less than you expected.

Take a close look at anything sold as commission-free. In many cases the margin in the rate simply does the work of the fee. What really counts is how much USD the recipient ends up with for exactly the same sum, and the comparison table on this page is ranked on exactly that.

How to get a better CAD to USD rate

Compare the total cost, not the fee alone. A low headline fee proves nothing because the margin can make up the difference. The number that matters is the USD amount after every cost, and that already includes both margin and fee.

When you pay by card abroad, a terminal may offer to charge you in your home currency. The trade name for this is dynamic currency conversion. It tends to be among the most expensive ways to convert. Always opt to pay in the local currency and let your own card provider do the conversion.

Timing can also matter. At weekends, with the wholesale market shut, some services add an extra buffer to the rate. If you are not in a hurry, an alert tells you when the rate hits a level you are happy with. That avoids guessing, though the target may never be reached.

The payment method matters as well. Paying by credit card can trigger extra charges, while a plain bank transfer is normally the low-cost option. Combining several small payments into one larger transfer means fixed charges hit you fewer times.

How CAD to USD transfers travel

A traditional bank sends your payment over the SWIFT network. Your transfer may hop between several banks before it arrives, each of which can deduct a charge. It typically arrives within a few working days, with the full cost not always known upfront.

Dedicated providers take another route. They have local accounts on both sides, so your CAD stays in the CAD system and the recipient is paid in USD from a local account. This usually cuts both time and cost, and you see exactly what will arrive before you confirm.

How fast a transfer really is depends on more than the provider: funding method, verification and holidays in the sending and receiving country. A first transfer can take longer because the provider has to verify your identity. Get verified before you need to send if the money has to arrive on a set date.