The 4 Best FTSE 100 ETFs to Buy

The FTSE 100 has reached record highs in 2026, helping to renew investor interest in UK stocks. Investors seeking exposure to Britain’s biggest listed companies can do so through a range of low-cost exchange-traded funds that track the blue-chip index.

What Are FTSE 100 UK Large-Cap Equity Funds?

UK large-cap equity portfolios invest principally in the equities of large-cap UK companies. Equities in the top 70% of the European equity market are defined as large-cap. At least 75% of total assets are invested in equities and at least 75% of equity assets are invested in UK equities.

The Best FTSE 100 ETFs to Buy in 2026

To find the best FTSE 100 UK large-cap equity ETFs to buy, we screened for those earning a

of Bronze, Silver, or Gold with 100% analyst coverage. All the ETFs on the list fall into the UK large-cap equity and have at least £20 million in assets. All data is as of July 14.

1. HSBC FTSE 100 UCITS ETF HUKX
2. Xtrackers FTSE 100 UCITS ETF
3. Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF VUKE
4. iShares VII PLC - iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF CSUKX

Morningstar expects the highly rated UK large-cap equity funds on this list to outperform their peers over a full market cycle. But even though all the funds on our list fall into the same category, they may practice different strategies, and therefore behave differently from each other. Investors need to do some homework to understand exactly what a particular fund invests in before buying.

Here’s a quick look at each of the best UK large-cap equity ETFs. Be sure to review a fund’s complete report for more details.

HSBC FTSE 100 UCITS ETF

• Fund Size
  : £877.5 million
• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Bronze
• Ongoing Charge: 0.08%

Over the past 12 months, the HSBC fund rose 20.66%, while the average fund in its category rose 14.79%. The fund, which launched in August 2009, has climbed 16.23% over the past three years and gained 12.13% over the past five years.

The FTSE 100 Index tracks the performance of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Representing approximately 85% of the UK’s total market capitalization, it serves as a key benchmark for UK large-cap equities. The index is weighted by free-float-adjusted market cap and reviewed quarterly in March, June, September, and December.

Sectorwise, the index has a notable tilt toward financials, which account for about 25% of the total weight. Consumer staples, industrials, and healthcare each contribute around 10%–15%. While the FTSE 100 Index shares a similar industry profile with its parent FTSE All-Share Index, it is more concentrated at the top. The 10 largest constituents make up roughly 45%–50% of the index’s total weight. Four companies, AstraZeneca, HSBC, Shell, and Unilever, each hold individual weightings above 5%.

As the large-cap segment of the FTSE All-Share Index, the index follows a transparent, rules-based methodology and is a widely used performance benchmark. However, its heavy concentration in the largest companies increases exposure to company-specific risk and can limit performance in periods when mid-cap and small-cap stocks outperform. For these reasons, the index carries a Process rating of Average.

Note: This share class’ Process Pillar rating and analysis are inherited from an analyst-covered passive share class which tracks the same index: iShares Core FTSE 100 ETF GBP Dist (SecID: F0GBR04IXF).

Read Morningstar’s full report on the HSBC FTSE 100 UCITS ETF.

Xtrackers FTSE 100 UCITS ETF

• Fund Size
  : £87.5 million
• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Bronze
• Ongoing Charge: 0.05%

The Xtrackers fund was launched in January 2026.

Read Morningstar’s full report on the Xtrackers FTSE 100 UCITS ETF.

Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF

• Fund Size
  : £6.5 billion
• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Bronze
• Ongoing Charge: 0.1%

The £6.5 billion fund has climbed 20.68% over the past 12 months, outperforming the average fund in its category, which rose 14.79%. The Vanguard fund, which launched in May 2012, has climbed 16.24% over the past three years and gained 12.13% over the past five years.

Vanguard FTSE 100 tracks the FTSE 100 Index, a benchmark consisting of the UK’s 100 largest companies and representing approximately 85% of the UK equity market. The exchange-traded fund uses full physical replication to mirror the index’s performance.

The index leaves investors underexposed to UK small-cap stocks, which reduces the likelihood of consistently outperforming better-diversified peers in the UK large-cap equity Morningstar Category. That said, this does not mean a passive fund tracking the FTSE 100 Index cannot outperform one tracking the FTSE All-Share Index. Over shorter periods, such as one or even several years, UK large caps can lead the market. However, these episodes of outperformance do not change our view that more diversified passive options remain preferable for investors seeking a core UK equity holding.

The FTSE 100 Index has historically been a difficult benchmark for active managers to outperform. The fund has delivered superior risk-adjusted returns compared with the average category peer over the trailing three-, five-, and 10-year periods.

Vanguard’s equity index group is experienced and stable, with manager stability and rotations across funds helping deepen expertise across market segments. Portfolio managers handle trading directly and use Vanguard’s global infrastructure and scalable portfolio management technology to support cost-efficient implementation and accurate index tracking. An independent risk-management team monitors adherence to tracking tolerances.

Overall, we acknowledge the advantages of a passive approach to the UK equity market. Given its meaningful cost advantage, Vanguard FTSE 100 can deliver above-average returns over the long term. The fund maintains a minimal level of tracking error, and Morningstar has a positive view of the experienced portfolio management team. Additionally, the fund benefits from the compounding effect of low fees across most of its share classes. However, the index’s emphasis on large- and mega-cap companies may limit its return potential during periods when smaller-cap stocks lead the market.

Read Morningstar’s full report on the Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF.

iShares VII PLC - iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF

• Fund Size
  : £3.1 billion
• Morningstar Medalist Rating
  : Bronze
• Ongoing Charge: 0.07%

The £3.1 billion fund has gained 20.65% over the past 12 months, while the average fund in its category is up 14.79%. The iShares fund, which launched in January 2010, has climbed 16.22% over the past three years and gained 12.11% over the past five years.

IShares Core FTSE 100 ETF tracks the FTSE 100 Index, a benchmark consisting of the UK’s 100 largest companies and representing approximately 85% of the UK equity market. The fund uses full physical replication to mirror the index’s performance.

BlackRock’s industry-leading technology and investment expertise enhance the fund’s ability to track its benchmark with precision. The team relies on Aladdin, BlackRock’s own risk management and portfolio management platform, to ensure efficiency and effective risk control.

Overall, Morningstar maintains a positive view of the fund’s low-cost approach and BlackRock’s strong implementation capabilities. The ETF has historically exhibited minimal tracking error and benefits from the long-term compounding effect of low fees. However, the FTSE 100’s concentration in large- and mega-cap stocks may limit relative performance during periods when smaller companies outperform.

Read Morningstar’s full report on the iShares VII PLC - iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF.