Comparison · 4 matched items
Burger King vs McDonald's 2026
Prices checked 8 August 2026 103 McDonald's items tracked
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 4 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.
The signature burgers side by side
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.
How do Burger King and McDonald's compare on price and calories?
4 matched items| 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 | BK $0.53 more | BK +130 |
| Basic cheeseburger | Cheeseburger $1.89 · 300 cal | Cheeseburger $2.99 · 300 cal | BK $1.10 cheaper | 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 $1.90 more | BK +130 |
| Chocolate shake | Chocolate Shake $3.39–$5.29 · 590 cal | Chocolate Shake - Medium $5.35 · 650 cal | BK $1.01 cheaper | BK -60 |
Price differences use the midpoint of each chain's tracked range. 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.
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.