The Quarter Pounder is McDonald’s is almost twice as big as the Classic Hamburger and made with fresh rather than frozen beef. The Quarter Pounder was introduced in 1971 by “Fremont’s Hamburger King” Al Bernardin, a McDonald’s franchise owner in Fremont, California.
Back then, a Quarter Pounder sold for only 60 cents — 70 cents if you wanted it with cheese.
And how much is the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder today? Let’s find out.
In this article
- McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Prices: Research Summary
- Where Is McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Cheapest?
- Where Is McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Most Expensive?
- What Is the Average Price of a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the US?
- McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Prices
- What’s In a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder?
- What’s the Difference Between a McDouble and a Double Quarter Pounder?
- What’s the Difference Between a Quarter Pounder and Quarter Pounder Deluxe?
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Prices: Research Summary
- The state with the most expensive Quarter Pounder is San Diego, California at $9.49, followed by Tucson, Arizona, and East Greenwich, Rhode Island at $8.39.
- The cheapest you can get a Quarter Pounder is in Charlotte, North Carolina at only $5.15. Austin, Texas, Jacksonville, Florida, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin also sell it at a budget-friendly price of $5.29.
- The average price of a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder is $6.65.
Where Is McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Cheapest?
Without discounts or promotions, the cheapest you can get a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder is in Charlotte, North Carolina at only $5.15.
Austin, Texas, Jacksonville, Florida, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin follow suit at $5.29, a difference of 11 cents from Charlotte’s.
Houston and El Paso, Texas, as well as Nashville, Tennessee, and Las Vegas, Nevada also sell the Quarter Pounder at an economical price of $5.69.
These states sell the Quarter Pounder for less than $6:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
- Texas
Where Is McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Most Expensive?
San Diego, California tops the list of the most expensive cities to buy a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder at $9.49, almost double the price of Charlotte, North Carolina. Tucson, Arizona, and East Greenwich, Rhode Island share the second spot at $8.39.
Meanwhile, Seattle, Washington, and Sacramento, California sell the Quarter Pounder for $8.31 and $8.29 respectively.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder costs over $7 in these states:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
What Is the Average Price of a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the US?
In the US, the average price of a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder is approximately $6.65. This makes the Quarter Pounder around $4.11 more expensive than the classic McDonald’s Hamburger which costs, on average, $2.54.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Prices
Here are McDonald’s Quarter Pounder prices in different states in cities in the United States. These are the prices we used to arrive to facts and numbers presented in this article.
| City | Sate | Quarter Pounder with Cheese 520 Cal. |
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese 740 Cal. |
Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese 630 Cal. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | Alabama | $5.89 | $8.39 | $8.19 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $7.30 | $9.70 | $9.50 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $5.79 | $7.39 | $7.49 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $8.39 | $11.19 | $10.79 |
| Mesa | Arizona | $6.49 | $8.29 | $7.89 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $6.39 | $7.89 | $7.59 |
| Los Angeles | California | $7.09 | $8.79 | $8.04 |
| San Diego | California | $9.49 | $11.99 | $11.19 |
| San Jose | California | $5.99 | $7.89 | $7.19 |
| San Francisco | California | $7.99 | $9.49 | $10.09 |
| Fresno | California | $5.99 | $7.29 | $7.49 |
| Sacramento | California | $8.29 | $10.19 | $9.99 |
| Long Beach | California | $5.99 | $8.59 | $7.72 |
| Oakland | California | $6.59 | $8.49 | $8.39 |
| Bakersfield | California | $6.19 | $7.69 | $7.29 |
| Denver | Colorado | $7.29 | $8.49 | $8.29 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $6.79 | $8.29 | $8.79 |
| Aurora | Colorado | $6.99 | $7.09 | $8.59 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $7.99 | $10.49 | $9.49 |
| Washington | DC | $6.99 | $8.69 | $9.19 |
| Wilmington | Delaware | $6.59 | $8.81 | $8.91 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $5.29 | $7.59 | $6.89 |
| Miami | Florida | $6.71 | $8.03 | $7.79 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $5.89 | $8.19 | $8.19 |
| Honolulu | Hawaii | $6.19 | $8.19 | $8.19 |
| Twin Falls | Idaho | $6.19 | $7.69 | $7.49 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $6.29 | $8.69 | $7.39 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $6.78 | $8.59 | $8.79 |
| Cedar Rapids | Iowa | $5.99 | $8.19 | $7.29 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $5.71 | $7.79 | $6.69 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $6.59 | $7.29 | $7.69 |
| Lafayette | Louisiana | $5.89 | $7.19 | $7.19 |
| Westbrook | Maine | $7.49 | $9.86 | $9.49 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $6.59 | $6.99 | $6.99 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $8.19 | $9.89 | $9.09 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $6.49 | $7.89 | $7.79 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $7.19 | $8.89 | $8.49 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $6.19 | $7.30 | $7.59 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $6.89 | $8.79 | $8.39 |
| St. Louis | Missouri | $7.19 | $9.89 | $8.09 |
| Billings | Montana | $8.09 | $10.99 | $9.79 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $7.59 | $9.29 | $9.09 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $5.69 | $7.99 | $7.19 |
| Concord | New Hampshire | $7.99 | $10.09 | $9.79 |
| Newark | New Jersey | $7.19 | $8.59 | $7.69 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $5.79 | $6.69 | $6.29 |
| New York City | New York | $7.99 | $9.79 | $9.39 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $5.15 | $7.34 | $6.69 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $6.09 | $8.99 | $7.69 |
| Bismarck | North Dakota | $6.69 | $8.99 | $8.29 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $6.59 | $8.69 | $7.89 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $7.49 | $8.69 | $7.99 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $5.99 | $7.59 | $7.49 |
| Portland | Oregon | $7.20 | $9.39 | $9.70 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $7.19 | $9.19 | $8.49 |
| East Greenwich | Rhode Island | $8.39 | $10.59 | $9.89 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $6.79 | $7.69 | $7.79 |
| Sioux Falls | South Dakota | $5.99 | $8.29 | $7.29 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $5.69 | $7.99 | $7.49 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $6.59 | $8.49 | $8.19 |
| Houston | Texas | $5.69 | $7.89 | $7.13 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $5.70 | $7.75 | $7.15 |
| Dallas | Texas | $5.79 | $7.79 | N/A |
| Austin | Texas | $5.29 | $7.89 | $6.89 |
| Fort Worth | Texas | $5.79 | $7.59 | $7.09 |
| El Paso | Texas | $5.69 | $7.39 | $6.49 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $6.40 | $7.81 | $6.98 |
| Williston | Vermont | $7.79 | $9.79 | $9.59 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $5.99 | $7.59 | $6.99 |
| Arlington | Virginia | $6.39 | $8.49 | $7.09 |
| Seattle | Washington | $8.31 | $10.10 | $11.38 |
| Bridgeport | West Virginia | $5.99 | $7.99 | $7.49 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $5.29 | $6.69 | $6.49 |
| Casper | Wyoming | $5.79 | $7.65 | $7.39 |
What’s In a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder?
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder features ¼ pound of beef, hence the name “Quarter Pounder.”
The beef patty is seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper and cooked on a grill. It’s topped with onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and two slices of American cheese, and served in a sesame seed bun. The meal totals 520 calories, 42 grams of carbohydrates, and 30 grams of protein.
As for McDonald’s Bacon Quarter Pounder, it contains everything you’ll find in a regular Quarter Pounder but with the inclusion of thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. It totals 630 calories, 43 grams of carbs, and 36 grams of protein.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder takes the classic Quarter Pounder experience to the next level by doubling the amount of beef, featuring not one but two ¼ pound beef patties. The toppings and preparation method remain unchanged.
In terms of nutritional content, the Double Quarter Pounder contains 740 calories, 43 grams of carbs, and 48 grams of protein.
What’s the Difference Between a McDouble and a Double Quarter Pounder?
Apart from the price, which is approximately a $2.50 difference, the most obvious distinction between the McDouble and the Double Quarter Pounder is the amount of beef found in the burger.
The McDouble features two beef patties, weighing approximately 3.2 ounces (1.6 ounces per patty) before cooking. On the other hand, the Double Quarter Pounder comes with two larger beef patties, with each patty weighing 4 ounces, totaling 8 ounces of beef.
Another notable difference is the cheese and the toppings. The Double Quarter Pounder features two slices of American cheese, while the McDouble only has one.
And finally, the McDouble is served in a standard hamburger bun, while the Double Quarter Pounder comes in a larger sesame seed bun.
Here’s a table that summarizes the difference:
| Item | McDouble | Double Quarter Pounder |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Patties | Two (1.6 oz each before cooking) | Two (4 oz each before cooking) |
| Total Meat Content | 3.2 ounces | 8 ounces |
| Cheese | One slice of American cheese | Two slices of American cheese |
| Bun | Standard hamburger bun | Sesame seed bun |
| Caloric Content | 740 calories | 400 calories |
| Protein | 22 grams | 48 grams |
What’s the Difference Between a Quarter Pounder and Quarter Pounder Deluxe?
The difference between a Quarter Pounder and a Deluxe lies in the toppings.
Alongside all the ingredients found in the regular Quarter Pounder, the Deluxe features three slices of Roma tomatoes, crisp shredded lettuce, and mayonnaise.
In most locations, the Deluxe costs around $1 extra, give or take a few cents.
The prices are too high! We haven’t stopped at Mc D’s in over 6 months. We are now stopping at BK and buying the Whopper w/cheese. It has a fresh slice of tomato on it and the toppings are always fresh! We can now buy a lunch special at Red Lobster or Olive Garden for the cost of a combo meal at Mc D’s!