The McDonald's guide
McDonald's is the largest burger chain in the US, and for most people the questions are simple: what should I order, and what will it cost here? This guide answers both without guessing. It covers how to customize an order, how to use the app, and how to find the real price at your nearest restaurant.
It does not quote prices, because McDonald's prices vary by location. The nutrition figures in our table now come from McDonald's official US product pages, linked in the sources box above.
How the McDonald's nutrition calculator works
The McDonald's calculator runs in four steps. First you choose a goal, such as maintaining weight, eating lighter, gaining or prioritizing protein, and the meal type you are planning. The tool turns that choice into a meal budget so the totals you see at the end are compared with a number that actually means something for your day. Second, you build the order by picking menu items. Third, you review every line, change quantities and remove anything you do not want. Fourth, you press Calculate to see calories, protein, carbs, fat and sodium for the whole meal.
Results only appear after you press Calculate. That is deliberate: totals that jump around while you are still choosing make it harder to think about the order, and a single result screen is easier to compare with your budget. If you change anything after calculating, press Calculate again to refresh the totals.
Everything happens in your browser. The calculator does not ask for an account, does not save your order to our servers and does not need your weight or age unless you choose to use the separate calorie planner to set a daily target.
Lowest-calorie, highest-protein and lowest-sodium McDonald's picks
These lists are calculated directly from the calculator data, so they update when the menu data updates. They are a starting point for comparison, not a recommendation that any single item suits your diet.
Lowest calories: Hash Browns (140 calories), Small French Fries (230 calories), Hamburger (250 calories), 6 pc Chicken McNuggets (250 calories), Cheeseburger (300 calories). Low-calorie items are often drinks, sides or smaller portions, so check that the pick actually works as the meal you want.
Most protein: Quarter Pounder with Cheese (30 g), Big Mac (25 g), Double Cheeseburger (25 g), 10 pc Chicken McNuggets (23 g), McDouble (22 g). The items with the most protein are often the larger items too, so compare them with the protein per calorie list below.
Most protein per 100 calories: Quarter Pounder with Cheese (5.8 g per 100 calories), Double Cheeseburger (5.7 g per 100 calories), McDouble (5.6 g per 100 calories), 10 pc Chicken McNuggets (5.6 g per 100 calories), 6 pc Chicken McNuggets (5.6 g per 100 calories).
Lowest sodium: Small French Fries (190 mg), McFlurry with OREO Cookies (210 mg), Medium French Fries (260 mg), Hash Browns (310 mg), Large French Fries (400 mg). Sodium adds up fast at restaurants, and the general daily value used on US nutrition labels is 2,300 mg.
Example McDonald's meals and their totals
These quick-start orders appear in the calculator and on the McDonald's pages, and they all come from the same shared data, so the totals match wherever you see them. Load one in the calculator and change it to fit your goal.
Classic burger & fries: Cheeseburger plus Small French Fries. Total 530 calories, 18 g protein, 62 g carbs, 24 g fat and 910 mg sodium.
Nuggets & fries: 10 pc Chicken McNuggets plus Small French Fries. Total 640 calories, 26 g protein, 57 g carbs, 35 g fat and 1040 mg sodium.
Fish sandwich: Filet-O-Fish. Total 380 calories, 16 g protein, 38 g carbs, 19 g fat and 580 mg sodium.
Breakfast sandwich & hash browns: Egg McMuffin plus Hash Browns. Total 450 calories, 19 g protein, 48 g carbs, 21 g fat and 1080 mg sodium.
McDonald's sauces and extras
Sauces, dressings, cheese and extras are where restaurant meals quietly gain calories and sodium. The calculator lets you add these to any order. They are labeled Estimate until each one is checked against McDonald's's current official guide, and their prices show as Varies.
Ketchup packet: about 10 calories and 100 mg sodium. Tangy BBQ sauce: about 45 calories and 310 mg sodium. Sweet 'N Sour sauce: about 50 calories and 140 mg sodium. Creamy Ranch sauce: about 110 calories and 210 mg sodium. Hot Mustard sauce: about 60 calories and 250 mg sodium. Slice of American cheese: about 50 calories and 220 mg sodium.
Where the McDonald's numbers come from
Nutrition figures in this calculator come from McDonald's US product nutrition pages, published by the chain. They were last checked on November 6, 2026. The source link is shown above the calculator so you can compare any number yourself.
Menu prices vary by location, so the calculator shows Varies wherever we could not confirm a price for a specific restaurant. Check your local McDonald's ordering page for the current price.
If you see a number that no longer matches McDonald's's current information, email be@well.now with the item and a link to the source. Our editorial policy explains how corrections are reviewed and dated.
Tips for using the McDonald's calculator well
A few habits make the totals more useful and closer to what you actually eat.
- Set your goal first so the result compares with a real budget
- Add drinks, sides and sauces, not just the main item
- Use quantity for shared items instead of guessing halves
- Compare two versions of an order before you visit
- Check the source date when a menu has recently changed
- Treat light and extra portions as estimates
How to order smarter at McDonald's
Most McDonald's items can be customized. You can remove or add sauces, cheese, pickles, onions and other toppings in the app or at the kiosk. Small changes like dropping a sauce or cheese, or choosing a smaller size of fries or a drink, are the easiest ways to adjust a meal without giving up the item you came for.
- Customize toppings and sauces in the app or kiosk
- Choose the size of side and drink you actually want
- Compare the combo with individual items
- Water or an unsweetened drink keeps the order simple
Combo meals bundle a sandwich with fries and a drink. If you do not want all three, ordering items separately can make more sense. If you do, the meal is often the simpler choice. Check both totals in the app for your store.
Breakfast, lunch and late night
McDonald's breakfast hours and late night menus are set by each restaurant, and some locations offer a shorter menu overnight. If you want a specific item, check the app for your store's current menu and hours before you go.
Using the McDonald's app
The app lets you pick a restaurant, see that store's prices, customize items, apply offers and order ahead for pickup or curbside where available. It is also the easiest place to check whether a limited time item is still on the menu at your location.
McDonald's prices: how to find the real number
McDonald's does not publish one national US price list. Most restaurants are run by franchise owners who set their own prices, so the same item can cost noticeably more in a big city or an airport than in a small town. Rent, wages, local taxes and regional promotions all play a part. Any site listing exact McDonald's prices for the whole country is rounding, guessing or reporting a single store without saying so, which is why our McDonald's table shows Varies.
- Pick your exact restaurant in the app first
- Compare the same item at two nearby locations
- Check the total after tax before paying
- Note the date if you share a price
The most reliable way to see what you will pay is the McDonald's app or website. Choose your nearest restaurant first, because the menu and prices change with the location you pick. Prices for that store appear on each item and again before checkout, including tax. Screenshots from social media or old blog posts are often months or years out of date.
Delivery apps versus ordering direct
Third-party delivery apps frequently show higher menu prices than the restaurant itself, and then add service, delivery and small order fees on top. If you order McDonald's through a delivery app, compare the item price there with the price in the McDonald's app or website for the same location. The gap can be larger than the delivery fee alone suggests.
Ordering ahead in the McDonald's app or website and picking up yourself usually avoids those extra charges. It also gives you access to app-only deals when McDonald's runs them, which are not always available through delivery partners.
Where our McDonald's nutrition numbers come from
The figures in our McDonald's table come from McDonald's's own US product pages at mcdonalds.com, linked in the sources box above with the date we last checked them. This guide focuses on ordering and prices, so use the table for the numbers and check mcdonalds.com for any item or customization we do not list.
Each figure is copied from the official source for the exact item and size shown, then rounded to whole numbers. Restaurants change recipes and portion sizes from time to time, so we recheck the source on a regular schedule and update the last-checked date whenever we do. If you spot a number that no longer matches mcdonalds.com, email be@well.now and we will review it.
Allergies and special diets at McDonald's
If you have a food allergy, intolerance or medical diet, use McDonald's's official allergen and ingredient information and speak with staff when you order. Shared kitchens and fryers mean cross contact is possible. Our pages are a planning tool, not medical or dietary advice, and a registered dietitian can help with personal targets.
Using our tools with McDonald's
Our nutrition calculator can add up a McDonald's order using the official figures in our table. For items or customizations we do not list, check McDonald's site. The calorie budget planner works the same for any restaurant.
Frequently asked questions
Is the McDonald's nutrition calculator free?
Yes. The McDonald's calculator is free, needs no account and runs in your browser.
How accurate are the McDonald's calculator totals?
Totals add up the sourced values for standard recipes. Restaurant preparation varies, and custom portions are estimates, so treat results as a close guide rather than an exact measurement.
Why does the McDonald's calculator show Varies for prices?
McDonald's prices differ by US location. We only show a price when we confirmed it on an official menu for a named restaurant.
Why does your McDonald's page show prices as Varies?
McDonald's has no national price list. Franchise owners set prices, so check the app for your nearest restaurant.
Are your McDonald's nutrition numbers official?
Yes. They come from McDonald's official US product pages, with the date we last checked them.
Is the app cheaper than delivery?
Often, yes. Delivery apps can show higher item prices plus fees. Compare the same order in both.
Can I customize McDonald's items?
Yes. Most toppings and sauces can be added or removed in the app or at the kiosk.
The takeaway
For McDonald's, customize in the app, compare combo and single item totals, check offers before each order and always pick your exact restaurant to see the real price. Use our table or mcdonalds.com for official nutrition.