McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large): calories and sugar by portion and age

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic, a dark cola drink over ice in a clear cup with a straw

Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) at 11% of an adult’s daily calories and 13.2 teaspoons of free sugar.

How many calories are in a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)? It contains 212 kcal, 0g of fat (0g saturated), 53g of sugar and 0g of salt.

Build a full meal with our nutrition calculator

A drink is easy to overlook when working out what a meal adds up to. Use the Boone meal calculator to build a full meal rather than view this item on its own — add a main, fries, dips and a dessert, then choose your age and sex for a more accurate view of how a Coca-Cola Classic (Large) fits into a day.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Energy	212 kcal
Fat	0g
of which saturates	0g
Carbohydrate	53g
of which sugars	53g
Fibre	0g
Salt	0g
Protein	0g

Nutrition figures are McDonald’s UK published data, per item as sold and before any optional sauces or extras. Boone converts them to the portion and age comparisons on this page.

A McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 212 kcal, which is 11% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 0g of total fat, of which 0g is saturated, 53g of sugar, 0g of salt, 0g of protein and 0g of fibre.

Every portion compared

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic comes in 3 portions. Boone puts the range at 106 kcal for the small up to 212 kcal for the large, a difference of 106 kcal from the same food.

Nutrition by portion: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic

Portion	Energy	Fat	Saturates	Carbs	Sugar	Fibre	Protein	Salt
Small	106 kcal	0g	0g	27g	27g	0g	0g	0g
Medium	170 kcal	0g	0g	42g	42g	0g	0g	0g
Large	212 kcal	0g	0g	53g	53g	0g	0g	0g

Figures are McDonald’s UK published data per portion. Any as-served row is Boone’s calculation, adding the dip McDonald’s says the item is served with but excludes from its published figures.

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) is assembled from 1 separately manufactured component. The Coca-Cola Classic alone carries 3 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names acidity regulators, colours and flavourings. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, freezing and transport.

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) exceeds a young child’s whole daily sugar allowance

A McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 53g of free sugar, which is 279% of the entire daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6, and 177% of an adult’s.

Adult daily reference intakes (Reference Intake, RI)

Calories2,000 kcal

Total fat70g

Saturated fat20g

Carbohydrate260g

Sugars90g

Fibre30g

Salt6g

Protein50g

Sugar in McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 53g of free sugar per standard serving (13.2 teaspoons). High sugar

The NHS free sugar limit is 30g per day for adults, 24g for children aged 7 to 10, and 19g for children aged 4 to 6. Free sugar excludes the sugars naturally present in milk and whole fruit. The table below shows how this compares across all age groups.

Free sugar by portion: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Portion	Adult (female) 30g	Adult (male) 30g	Age 11 to 17 30g	Age 7 to 10 24g	Age 4 to 6 19g
Per portion	53g 177%	53g 177%	53g 177%	53g 221%	53g 279%
Teaspoons	13.2 tsp

Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.

Salt in McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 0g of salt per standard serving. Low salt

Children have lower salt limits: 3g per day for ages 4 to 6, 5g for ages 7 to 10. The table below shows how this serving compares to daily limits for adults and children.

Salt by portion: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Portion	Adult (female) 6g	Adult (male) 6g	Age 11 to 17 6g	Age 7 to 10 5g	Age 4 to 6 3g
Per portion	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%

Calories in McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 212 kcal per standard serving. Low calorie share

Daily calorie needs vary by age and sex. The table below shows how this serving compares to typical daily reference intakes.

Calories by portion: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Portion	Adult (female) 2000 kcal	Adult (male) 2500 kcal	Age 11 to 17 1936 kcal	Age 7 to 10 1553 kcal	Age 4 to 6 1291 kcal
Per portion	212 kcal 11%	212 kcal 8%	212 kcal 11%	212 kcal 14%	212 kcal 16%

Saturated fat in McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 0g of saturated fat per standard serving. Low saturated fat

The saturated fat guideline is 20g a day for women and 30g for men, and lower again for children. The table below shows how this serving compares.

Saturated fat by portion: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Portion	Adult (female) 20g	Adult (male) 30g	Age 11 to 17 20g	Age 7 to 10 18g	Age 4 to 6 16g
Per portion	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%

Fibre in McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 0g of fibre per standard serving. Very little fibre

Fibre is the one figure here that is a target to reach rather than a limit to stay under. UK guidance is 30g a day for adults, 25g for ages 11 to 17, 20g for ages 7 to 10 and 15g for ages 4 to 6. Most people in the UK fall well short. The table below shows how much of a day’s fibre this serving provides.

Fibre by portion: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Portion	Adult (female) 30g	Adult (male) 30g	Age 11 to 17 25g	Age 7 to 10 20g	Age 4 to 6 15g
Per portion	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%	0g 0%

Free sugar vs total sugar

Where the sugar comes from: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

All 53g counts as free sugar. There is no dairy or whole fruit in McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) to hold any of it back, so the whole figure counts against the daily limit, or about 13.2 teaspoons.

Free (added) sugars come from

sugar in the Coca-Cola Classic

NHS daily free sugar limits: 30g for adults and children 11+, 24g age 7 to 10, 19g age 4 to 6. Sources are read from the published ingredient list for each component.

Ultra-processed food: what is really in it

Processing and additives: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) is assembled from 1 separately manufactured component. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains acidity regulators, colours and flavourings. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.

Acidity regulators

Hold the ph steady so flavour and shelf life stay consistent. Found in the Coca-Cola Classic.

Colours

Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the Coca-Cola Classic.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the Coca-Cola Classic.

Boone classifies McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) as NOVA group 4, ultra-processed, based on the additives named above. NOVA groups foods by how far they are from their whole-food form, not by how nutritious they are. A group 4 food is not automatically unhealthy, and a group 1 food is not automatically healthy. Read from the published ingredient list, 17-18 August 2026.

A McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains at least 5 distinct ingredients: 2 raw and 3 manufactured.

Ingredient count by order: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

What you order	Raw	Manufactured	Total	% manufactured
McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) on its own	2	3	5	60%

The 3 manufactured ingredients

caffeine flavouring, caramel e150d, phosphoric acid.

The 2 raw ingredients

carbonated water, sugar.

What those ingredients are, by type

Sugars and syrups1

Flavourings1

Acids and acidity regulators1

Boone counts every distinct named ingredient on McDonald’s published component lists, including sub-ingredients, and removes duplicates, so salt appearing in four components counts once. Additive class names are dropped and the named substance kept, so “stabiliser (guar gum)” counts guar gum once. Raw covers whole foods and basic kitchen staples such as flour, sugar, salt and oil. Manufactured covers substances that only exist as an output of industrial processing. Where McDonald’s lists more than one approved supplier recipe only the primary one is counted, so every figure here is a minimum. The build uses a Sweet and Sour dip.

Ingredients

Ingredients by component: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Coca-Cola Classic

carbonated water, sugar, colour (caramel E150d), acid (phosphoric acid), natural flavourings, caffeine flavouring.

Ingredients taken from the McDonald’s UK product pages, retrieved 17-18 August 2026. Recipes change - always check in restaurant before ordering if you have an allergy.

Allergens at a glance

McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) does not contain any of the 14 major allergens as a declared ingredient.

Allergen information: McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)

Allergen	Status
Wheat	Not present
Rye	Not present
Barley	Not present
Oats	Not present
Sesame	Not present
Soya	Not present
Milk	Not present
Eggs	Not present
Fish	Not present
Crustaceans	Not present
Celery	Not present
Mustard	Not present
Molluscs	Not present
Lupin	Not present

Contains = declared as an ingredient. May contain traces = McDonald's states the allergen cannot be excluded. McDonald's prepares food in kitchens where all 14 major allergens are present and equipment is shared, so no item can be guaranteed allergen free, even when ingredients are removed on request. Buns, rolls and tortilla wraps are toasted in the same toaster as sesame-topped buns. Retrieved 17-18 August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)?+

Boone calculates that a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 212 kcal, which is 11% of an adult’s 2,000 kcal daily reference intake and 16% of the daily intake for a child aged 4 to 6.

How much sugar is in a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)?+

Boone calculates that all 53g of the sugar in a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) is free sugar, or about 13.2 teaspoons. There is no dairy or whole fruit in it to hold any of it back.

How much of a child’s daily sugar limit is a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)?+

Boone measures the 53g of free sugar in a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) against NHS limits: 279% of the daily allowance for a child aged 4 to 6, 221% for ages 7 to 10, and 177% for an adult.

Is a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it is assembled from 1 separately manufactured component and contains acidity regulators, colours and flavourings. NOVA group 4 describes how far a food is from its whole-food form, not how nutritious it is.

How much fibre is in a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large)?+

A McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) contains 0g of fibre. Boone calculates that as 0% of an adult’s 30g daily target and 0% of the 15g target for a child aged 4 to 6. Fibre is a target to reach rather than a limit to stay under.

Is a McDonald's Coca-Cola Classic (Large) suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that its 53g of free sugar exceeds the entire daily allowance for a child aged 4 to 6. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a Coca-Cola Classic (Large) uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one item.