McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese Price in UK 2026
A McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese costs £6.29 in the UK, while a medium meal starts at £9.09 and a large meal costs £10.09 or more. You get a quarter-pound (113g) 100% beef patty, two slices of melting cheddar, sharp pickles, white onions, ketchup and mustard, all tucked inside a toasted sesame seed bun. Simple ingredients. Serious burger cravings.
I’ve grabbed plenty of these at the drive-thru, and opening that box can be a proper mess. Half the cheese ends up stuck to the cardboard lid, while those tiny diced onions make a bid for freedom straight onto my lap. Brilliant. Exactly what you want when you’re trying to eat in the car.
But then comes that first bite. Yum! It’s like a little light bulb switches on in my brain every single time. The beef has a gorgeous crispy crust, and that fresh, never-frozen patty delivers a deep, savoury umami flavour that hits the spot. The melted cheese, tangy pickles and sharp mustard bring everything together without drowning out the beef.
And honestly, the standard Quarter Pounder with Cheese beats the bacon and deluxe versions hands down. No unnecessary extras. Just glorious simplicity.
At £6.29, it isn’t exactly cheap for a single burger. But that pure beefy character keeps me coming back for another, even if I end up with cheese on my fingers. Again.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese Price UK
Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese
Medium Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese Meal
Large Quarter Pounder™ with cheese Meal
| Item name | Price (UK) | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese | £6.29 | 514 kcal |
| Medium Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese Meal | From £9.09 | Approx. 850+ kcal |
| Large Quarter Pounder™ with Cheese Meal | From £10.09 | Approx. 960+ kcal |
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Ingredients
Exactly where do those 514 calories come from? Let’s strip the burger down. Seven components. That’s it. No hidden layers.
The heavy lifting happens exactly where you expect: the meat and the bread.
- Beef Patty (235 kcal | 978 kJ): The undisputed core. Almost half your total calories sit right here in the pure forequarter and flank beef.
- Sesame Bun (161 kcal | 679 kJ): The classic toasted carb base.
- Cheddar Cheese Slices (95 kcal | 393 kJ): You get two slices of processed vegetarian cheddar. Heavy on the salt. Heavy on the fat.
- Tomato Ketchup (19 kcal | 81 kJ): Brings the subtle sugar hit and tang.
- Onions (3 kcal | 12 kJ): Diced white onions. Barely registers on the calorie count.
- Mustard (0 kcal | 2 kJ): Sharp, acidic contrast. Practically zero dietary impact.
- Pickle Slices (0 kcal | 2 kJ): The gherkin crunch.
All the flavor, driven by the beef and cheese. The sauces and veg just cut through the fat. Simple math.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Calories & Macros (UK)
One burger. 514 calories. 31g of protein. The fat and saturated fat figures deserve attention, though: a single Quarter Pounder contains 13g of saturated fat and 2.3g of salt.
| Nutrient | Amount per burger | Reference Intake (RI) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 514 kcal | 26% |
| Protein | 31g | 61% |
| Fat | 27g | 38% |
| Saturated fat | 13g | 63% |
| Carbohydrates | 36g | 14% |
| Sugars | 11g | 12% |
| Salt | 2.3g | 38% |
| Fibre | 2.3g | Not specified |
The protein figure is useful for tracking daily intake. But 63% of your saturated fat reference intake in one burger is significant. Account for it.
The 100% Beef Patty & Ingredients Breakdown
The ingredient list stays focused. No elaborate toppings, no extra layers.
- Beef: 100% pure forequarter and flank beef, with zero fillers. Salt and pepper are added after cooking.
- Cheese: Two slices of processed vegetarian Cheddar cheese.
- Bun: Sesame seed bun.
- Extras: White onions, gherkin pickles, tomato ketchup and mustard.
Allergens & Grill Preparation Warning
Declared allergens include mustard, milk, sesame and wheat/gluten. Check McDonald’s UK’s latest allergen information before ordering, particularly if you have an allergy.
And the onions matter. McDonald’s cooks them directly on the beef patties on the grill, so ordering “no onions” does not guarantee an onion-free burger. Shared cooking surfaces and preparation equipment create a risk of cross-contact. If you have an onion allergy, don’t assume a customised order is safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Quarter Pounder cost in the UK (Burger vs. Meal)?
The Quarter Pounder with Cheese costs £6.29 on its own. Want fries and a drink? A medium meal starts at £9.09, while a large meal starts at £10.09.
The estimated calories rise to 850+ kcal for a medium meal and 960+ kcal for a large meal. Prices can vary by restaurant and ordering platform.
How many calories are actually in a Quarter Pounder?
One UK Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 514 kcal. Here’s what comes with it: 31g protein, 27g fat, 36g carbohydrates and 2.3g salt.
That fat figure includes 13g of saturated fat. The burger isn’t enormous, but the numbers still count towards your daily intake.
Quarter Pounder vs. Big Mac: Which is higher in calories and protein?
The Quarter Pounder edges ahead on both calories and protein, though the difference isn’t huge.
| Nutrition | Quarter Pounder with Cheese | Big Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 514 kcal | 509 kcal |
| Protein | 31g | 27g |
That’s just 5 extra calories for 4g more protein. If protein is your priority, the Quarter Pounder wins this comparison.
Is the Quarter Pounder good for a high-protein diet?
Yes. 31g of protein makes it a solid option when you’re trying to hit your daily target without ordering several burgers.
But don’t ignore the other numbers. You’ll also get 13g of saturated fat and 2.3g of salt, so make sure it fits your daily macros.
Quarter Pounder allergens and the McDonald’s “Onion Warning”
The main allergens are wheat/gluten, sesame, milk and mustard. You can customise your burger through the McDonald’s app, including asking for certain ingredients to be left out.
Here’s the big warning for anyone avoiding onions: McDonald’s cooks onions directly on the beef patties on the grill. The restaurant explicitly states it can’t guarantee an onion-free burger, even when you order without onions, because cross-contamination can occur.
If you’ve got an onion allergy, don’t assume removing the topping makes the burger safe. Check with McDonald’s before ordering.
Does McDonald’s UK actually use local British beef?
Yes. The Quarter Pounder uses 100% British and Irish beef, sourced from whole cuts supplied by farms across Britain and Ireland.
So the beef isn’t imported from halfway around the world. It comes from British and Irish farming, which is a useful detail if you care about where your burger starts.
Worth The Price?
At £6.29, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese isn’t cheap. You get 31g of protein, proper beef flavour and two slices of cheese, but that 13g of saturated fat is hard to ignore.
Still, I’d pick it over the fancier options when I want a straightforward beef burger. Even the Big Mac feels more complicated by comparison. Sometimes, less really is more.
Want something different? Have a look through the McDonald’s burger menu before you order.
My verdict? Best for beef lovers who value simplicity. Just don’t pretend it’s a bargain.
Jamie is a fast-food expert, researcher, and digital creator dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and up-to-date guides on UK menu items, prices, and nutritional facts. With a sharp eye for detail and a genuine love for high-street dining, Jamie tests, verifies, and updates menu data so you can plan your next meal with total confidence.
