🍔 Burgers · McDonald's

McDonald's Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese

The Quarter Pounder with Cheese is McDonald's answer to the demand for a bigger, beefier burger. Introduced in 1971, it remains one of the most iconic items on the McDonald's menu — a fresh-beef quarter-pound patty, two slices of American cheese, onions, pickles and mustard on a sesame bun.

The McDonald's Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese contains 520 calories, 30g of protein and 26g of fat. It costs $5.79 in the United States, up from $0.59 in 1971. Available in 33 countries, with prices ranging from $1.74 in Egypt to $7.06 in Sweden. This page covers full Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese nutrition facts, price history, and worldwide price comparison.

🔥 520 cal 💪 30g protein 🌍 33 countries ⭐ Popular Item

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US Price

$5.79

baseline price

Calories

520

26% daily value

Cheapest

$1.74

Egypt

Most Expensive

$7.06

Sweden

Countries

available worldwide

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Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese Nutrition Facts

US standard serving · Source: McDonald's official nutrition data

520

KCAL

Calories

26g

TOTAL FAT

Fat

42g

CARBS

Carbohydrates

30g

PROTEIN

Protein

Total Fat

26g

— Saturated

13g

Carbohydrates

42g

— Sugars

10g

Protein

30g

Sodium

1090mg

Fibre

ℹ️ Nutritional values are approximate and may vary by location, preparation method and date. Always verify with the McDonald's official nutrition page before making dietary decisions.

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Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese Price History

US average price · Updated when prices change on PriceMyMeal

Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese Price — United States

Hover data points for details

+881% since 1971

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Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese Price by Country

Current prices converted to USD · Click any country for the full menu

🟢 Cheapest

🔴 Most Expensive

View all 33 countries →

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The History of the Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese

Origins and story behind this iconic item

1971

The Quarter Pounder is created by franchisee Al Bernardin in Fremont, California, as a response to customer demand for a larger beef patty.

1972

McDonald's rolls out the Quarter Pounder nationally across the US, making it one of the first major burger additions to the core McDonald's menu since the Big Mac.

1973

The Quarter Pounder with Cheese is introduced as a variant, adding two slices of American cheese — it quickly outsells the original.

2000

The Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese is added to the permanent menu, offering two quarter-pound patties for the most dedicated beef fans.

2018

McDonald's switches the Quarter Pounder to fresh, never-frozen beef — a significant quality upgrade that brings it in line with premium burger chains.

2019

The Quarter Pounder Deluxe and other variants are tested in select markets, expanding the Quarter Pounder platform.

2023

The Quarter Pounder remains one of McDonald's five core burger products globally, outselling the Big Mac in several markets.

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Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese — Did You Know?

Interesting facts about the Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese

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Since 2018, the Quarter Pounder uses fresh, never-frozen beef — cooked to order, unlike most other McDonald's burgers.

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The Quarter Pounder with Cheese uses two slices of American processed cheese, adding around 90 calories and 6g of fat over the plain version.

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The quarter-pound refers to the pre-cooked weight of the beef patty. After cooking, the patty weighs closer to 3 ounces.

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The Quarter Pounder is known by different names in some markets — in France it was famously called the 'Royale with Cheese', as referenced in Pulp Fiction.

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In blind taste tests, the fresh-beef Quarter Pounder consistently outperforms the Big Mac — despite the Big Mac having higher overall brand recognition.

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The Quarter Pounder with Cheese is regularly featured in McDonald's meal deals and is one of the most commonly discounted items via the McDonald's app.

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