McDonald’s menu with prices, updated for 2026

You pull into the drive-thru, glance at the board, and the price is not what you remembered. That happens a lot lately. This McDonald’s menu with prices keeps the current US numbers in one place so you can plan an order, compare a combo against the single items, and see the calorie count before you commit. Everything below reflects representative September 2026 pricing, cross-checked against the full McDonald’s menu categories and the official app.

One thing to set straight: McDonald’s does not publish a single national price list. Around 95 percent of US restaurants are independently owned, and each owner sets prices for their area. The figures here are typical mid-range US prices. Treat them as a close guide, then confirm the exact amount for your restaurant in the app or at the counte

Featured Favorites

These are the McDonald’s picks that show up in most orders. Prices and calories are for the single item, not the combo.

Most popular meals, and why people order them

A quick side by side of the signature meals, so you can weigh taste against price and portion in one glance.

McDonald’s breakfast menu prices

Breakfast is the sharpest value window at McDonald’s. A sandwich, hash browns, and a coffee as a meal usually costs about the same as the sandwich and hash browns alone, so the coffee is close to free. See the full McDonald’s breakfast menu with prices for bagels and combos.

McDonald’s burger prices

The burger lineup runs from the plain Hamburger near four dollars up to the new Big Arch. For the Big Mac taste for less, order a McDouble with Mac sauce, shredded lettuce, and no ketchup. Compare the full set on the McDonald’s burgers menu.

Chicken & fish sandwich prices

The McCrispy line replaced the older Buttermilk Crispy sandwiches, and the Snack Wrap returned as a permanent item at a price most sandwiches cannot touch.

Chicken McNuggets & McCrispy Strips

McNuggets scale well for sharing. The 20 piece works out cheaper per nugget than two 10 piece boxes, and sauces are free with any order. McCrispy Strips are the newer tender-style option.

Fries & sides prices

Medium is the size most people order and usually the best cost per fry. Apple Slices swap in for fries on any Happy Meal at no charge.

McCafe coffee prices

McCafe undercuts most coffee-shop pricing, and the app almost always has a free or discounted drink for rewards members. Browse the full McCafe menu for seasonal drinks.

Beverages & refreshers prices

Fountain drinks are the cheapest way to round out a meal. McDonald’s also added a run of fruit refreshers and energy drinks for 2026, priced a step above the sodas.

Sweets & treats prices

The Vanilla Cone under two dollars is one of the best-value items anywhere on the menu. McFlurry flavors rotate, with the KIT KAT Banana Split McFlurry the newest for 2026.

Happy Meal prices

Every Happy Meal comes with kids fries or apple slices, a drink, and a toy. See swaps and toy details on the Happy Meal page.

Extra Value Meal (combo) prices

A combo bundles the sandwich, medium fries, and a medium drink. It usually saves a dollar or two over ordering the same three items separately, and you can size the fries and drink up for a small upcharge.

Shareables & bundles

Bundles are built for group orders. They cost less per person than ordering the same food as separate items, and the big nugget boxes are the cheapest way to feed a crowd.

Dipping sauces

Sauces come free with McNuggets and McCrispy Strips. Extra tubs usually run between a quarter and sixty cents each depending on the restaurant.

Secret menu order hacks

McDonald’s has no official secret menu, but crews can usually build these from standard items. Be polite, be specific, and know that not every location will do every one.

Nutrition & allergen notes

A quick reference for lighter picks and the allergen points that catch people out. For exact numbers, check the item in the official McDonald’s website for your restaurant.

Ways to order and how Rewards work

The app is the cheapest way to order almost anything, because it stacks deals and points that the counter does not offer. See the McValue deals page for what is live now.

McDonald’s hours (USA)

Breakfast runs until mid-morning, then lunch and dinner take over. Many restaurants stay open late or around the clock, but every location sets its own hours, so confirm yours in the app.

Which items give you the most food for the money

If you are ordering on a budget, a few items beat the rest on cost per calorie and cost per gram of protein. The McDouble at $4.59 is the value benchmark: two patties, a slice of cheese, and 390 calories for well under five dollars. The McChicken matches it on price and doubles as the filler in the $5 Meal Deal.

For protein, the 20 piece McNuggets is the quiet winner. At $11.39 for 830 calories and about 43 grams of protein, it splits well between two people or across two meals. The Snack Wrap at $2.99 is the cheapest hot handheld now that it has returned, and the Vanilla Cone at $1.99 is the best dessert value on the board.

A short history of McDonald’s

McDonald’s started in 1940 as a drive-in run by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Their Speedee Service System, built for fast and consistent food, caught the eye of salesman Ray Kroc, who opened the first franchised restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955 and bought the company outright in 1961.

From that single stand, McDonald’s grew into the largest fast-food chain in the world, with tens of thousands of restaurants across more than 100 countries. The classic Hamburger from the early menu is still on sale today, which is part of why price and value stay at the center of how people think about the brand.

McDonald’s menu prices, answered