4 matched items
Burger King vs McDonald's
Price & calories · 2026
The scale rival, cheaper basics, smaller signature burger
Burger King wins on
A bigger signature burger and flame-grilling
McDonald's wins on
Cheaper entry prices and far more locations
Burger King and McDonald's compared across 4 matched items: Burger King is cheaper on 2 of the 3 rows where both chains have a tracked price, and carries fewer calories on 1 of 4. On the headline comparison the Whopper is 670–710 cal at $6.19–$8.04, against Big Mac at 580 cal and $5.99. In short: A bigger signature burger and flame-grilling, while McDonald's wins on cheaper entry prices and far more locations.
Both chains are overwhelmingly franchised, so prices are ranges rather than fixed figures, and rows our sources do not cover are marked not tracked rather than estimated - McDonald's price coverage is 51 of 103 tracked items. Competitor figures come from the same sources and the same checks as our Burger King data, so this comparison is like for like.
Product images are illustrations of the food type, generated for this site or openly licensed. They are not photographs of Burger King products, and the item you are served may look different.
The signature burgers side by side
Burger King Whopper670–710 cal · $6.19–$8.04
McDonald's Big Mac580 cal · $5.99No licensed photo of this product, symbol shown
The Whopper carries 130 more calories than the Big Mac. Calories use the upper bound where our two nutrition sources disagree.
This is the comparison that matters most, and the one people actually type. Burger King and McDonald's sell the same categories to the same customer, and the difference between them is narrower than either chain's marketing suggests, until you look at the signature burgers, where the gap is real and measurable.
The short version: the Whopper is a substantially larger sandwich than the Big Mac, and it costs more. McDonald's wins on the cheap end, where its basic cheeseburger undercuts Burger King's, and it wins overwhelmingly on how likely you are to be near one.
Burger King vs McDonald's at a glance
| Fact | Burger King | McDonald's |
|---|---|---|
| US restaurants | 6,581 | 13,882 |
| Founded | 1954 | 1955 |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida | Chicago, Illinois |
| Menu focus | Flame-grilled burgers | Griddle-cooked burgers |
| Items we track here | 210 | 103 (51 priced) |
McDonald's has the wider reach, roughly 2.1 times as many US restaurants as Burger King on these counts. Across the 4 items both chains price, Burger King comes out cheaper on 2, dearer on 1, too close to call on 1. For where Burger King prices actually land in real restaurants, see our prices by location studies.
US restaurant counts from ScrapeHero (Burger King as of July 14, 2026, McDonald's as of July 27, 2026); counts move as stores open and close. Founding year and headquarters are public record.
How do Burger King and McDonald's compare on price and calories?
4 matched items
Fries are one of the roles compared on both sides. Every figure below uses the same price trackers and nutrition database for Burger King and for McDonald's, so the comparison is like for like.
| Item role | Burger King | McDonald's | Price diff | Calorie diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature burger | Whopper $6.19–$8.04 · 670–710 cal | Big Mac $5.99–$7.19 · 580 cal | ranges overlap | BK +130 |
| Basic cheeseburger | Cheeseburger $1.89 · 300 cal | Cheeseburger $2.99 · 300 cal | BK cheaper by $1.10+ | level |
| Fries (largest tracked) | French Fries - Large price not tracked · 440 cal | not tracked | - | - |
| Crispy chicken sandwich | Royal Crispy Chicken $5.99–$7.79 · 600 cal | McCrispy $4.99 · 470 cal | BK dearer by $1.00+ | BK +130 |
| Chocolate shake | Chocolate Shake $3.39–$5.29 · 590 cal | Chocolate Shake - Medium $5.35 · 650 cal | BK cheaper by $0.06+ | BK -60 |
Price comparisons use the tracked RANGES, not their midpoints. Where two ranges overlap the table says so rather than naming a winner, because at some pairs of restaurants either chain can be the cheaper one. A direction is claimed only where the ranges do not overlap at all, and the figure shown is then the gap between the nearest bounds, which is a minimum rather than an estimate. Calories use the upper bound where our sources disagree, so nothing is understated. See how we source prices and calories.
Who wins at what?
Burger King is better for
- A bigger signature burger, the Whopper carries a quarter-pound patty against the Big Mac's two thin ones
- Flame-grilling, which is a genuine process difference rather than a marketing line
- More generous customisation on the Whopper without a price jump
McDonald's is better for
- Cheaper at the bottom of the menu, where most value-seeking orders sit
- Far more US locations, so the practical choice is often made by geography
- All-day breakfast history and a more developed coffee line
Whopper vs Big Mac: the comparison people actually mean
The Big Mac is built from two small patties with a middle bun layer; the Whopper is a single larger flame-grilled patty. That construction difference is why the calorie gap runs the way it does, and why the Whopper feels like more food despite the Big Mac's three-layer profile.
If you want the larger sandwich, the Whopper is the larger sandwich, that is not a close call. If you want the cheaper sandwich, it is usually the Big Mac, though the margin narrows or reverses in markets where one chain is running a local promotion.
Where McDonald's genuinely wins: the cheap end
McDonald's has historically been more aggressive on entry-level pricing, and that shows in the basic cheeseburger comparison below. For a customer optimising purely on cost per item, that is the single most relevant row in the table.
Coverage is the argument nobody makes out loud
McDonald's operates far more US restaurants than Burger King, and for a large share of customers that settles the question before taste, price or size enter into it. A comparison page can tell you the Whopper is the bigger sandwich; it cannot put a Burger King at the junction you happen to be driving past.
This is worth stating plainly because it is the variable most comparisons ignore. If both chains are equally convenient to you, the tables above are decisive. If they are not, convenience will almost certainly outweigh a dollar of price difference or a hundred calories of size.
Breakfast is where the gap is widest
McDonald's built a far stronger breakfast business than Burger King, and it shows in both menu depth and brand association. Burger King's breakfast line is built around the Croissan'wich and biscuit families and stops at roughly 10:30 am, with no all-day breakfast anywhere in the US.
If breakfast is the occasion you are comparing, our breakfast page covers the Burger King side in full (hours, all 18 items, and calories per dollar) and is a better guide for that specific decision than this one.
Burger King vs McDonald's FAQs
Is a Whopper bigger than a Big Mac?
Yes. The Whopper uses a single larger flame-grilled beef patty, while the Big Mac uses two thinner patties with an extra bun layer between them. The Whopper is the heavier sandwich by both weight and calories.
Is Burger King or McDonald's cheaper?
McDonald's is generally cheaper at the bottom of the menu (basic cheeseburgers and value items) while the two are closer on signature burgers. Both chains are overwhelmingly franchised, so the answer varies by location more than by brand.
Which has more locations, Burger King or McDonald's?
McDonald's operates substantially more restaurants in the United States. For many customers that decides the comparison before any menu difference matters, because the nearer restaurant usually wins regardless of what the menu says.
Does McDonald's or Burger King have better breakfast?
McDonald's has the deeper breakfast menu and the stronger association with the daypart. Burger King's breakfast is built around the Croissan'wich and biscuit families and ends at roughly 10:30 am, with no all-day breakfast option.
Does the Whopper or the Big Mac have more calories?
The Whopper is the heavier sandwich, and the reason is structural rather than incidental: it carries a single quarter-pound patty where the Big Mac carries two thin ones, plus mayonnaise against the Big Mac’s lighter special sauce. Our <a href="/burger-king-calories">calories page</a> lists the Burger King side of that comparison in full. We do not publish calorie figures for other chains, so treat the direction as reliable and check the exact number against the other chain’s own published data.
Which has better fries, Burger King or McDonald’s?
This is the one category where the popular verdict is close to unanimous and goes against Burger King. McDonald’s fries are the more consistently praised product and have been for decades. Burger King has reformulated its fries more than once in response, which is itself an admission of where the gap sits. If fries are the deciding factor in your order, that is a reasonable basis to pick the other chain.
Which chain has the better chicken menu?
Burger King fields the broader chicken range of the two, spanning sandwiches, tenders and nuggets across several price tiers, and our <a href="/burger-king-chicken-menu">chicken menu page</a> ranks the whole category by what a single piece actually costs. McDonald’s counters with the McNugget, which is the stronger single product and the more recognisable one. Breadth against one dominant item is the honest summary.
Are the two value menus comparable?
They are comparable in intent and not in structure, which makes a direct table misleading. Both chains run a rotating cheap tier, but the contents change frequently and vary by franchisee, so a value menu published today is often wrong within a quarter. We track the Burger King side on the <a href="/burger-king-deals">deals page</a> and mark how current each entry is rather than presenting a fixed list.
Which is better for a family with children?
McDonald’s has the stronger position here and it is not close: the Happy Meal is the more established product, the tie-in cadence is faster, and play areas are more common. Burger King’s equivalent is covered on our <a href="/burger-king-kids-meal">kids meal page</a>, including what the current promotion is. If the toy or the play area is what settles the argument in your car, that decides it.
Do Burger King and McDonald’s use the same beef?
Both use 100% beef patties with no fillers, so the raw material is not where they differ. The difference is the cook: Burger King flame-grills over an open flame, McDonald’s griddles on a flat top. That is a genuine process difference rather than a marketing line, and it is the main reason the two taste distinct even at similar patty weights.
Which has the better coffee and drinks line?
McDonald’s, clearly. McCafé is a developed sub-brand with espresso drinks, priced to compete with dedicated coffee chains. Burger King’s coffee offer is narrower and functions as an accompaniment to breakfast rather than a destination. Our <a href="/burger-king-breakfast-menu">breakfast page</a> covers what Burger King actually serves alongside the morning menu.
Sources
- McDonald's calories - FatSecret (100% of values are multiples of ten, our label-value check)
- McDonald's prices, thirstybear.com
- McDonald's prices, menupricetoday.com
- McDonald's corporate site (corporate information
- Burger King figures come from the same sources and the same checks, so this comparison is like for like) see our sourcing and editorial policy.