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McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese: calories, sodium and protein by portion, age and sex

Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese at 37% of an adult’s daily calories, 91% of the daily sodium limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 2.0 teaspoons of added sugar.

How many calories are in a McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese? It contains 740 calories, 42g of fat (20g saturated), 8g of added sugar and 1,360mg of sodium, one of the higher-calorie items on the menu.

Build a full meal with our nutrition calculator

Use the Boone meal calculator to build a full meal rather than view this item on its own. Add fries, a drink, dips and a dessert, then choose your age and sex, and switch between US and UK guidance, for a more accurate view of how a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese fits into a day.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

Calories740
Total fat42g
of which saturated20g
Trans fat2.5g
Carbohydrate43g
Total sugars10g
Includes added sugars8g
Fibre2g
Protein48g
Sodium1,360mg

Nutrition figures are McDonald’s USA 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.

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 740 calories, which is 37% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 42g of total fat, of which 20g is saturated, 10g of total sugars (8g added), 1,360mg of sodium, 48g of protein and 2g of fibre.

The saturated fat content of 20g represents 100% of the 20g Daily Value.

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The quarter pound bun alone carries 7 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names corn syrups and invert sugar, dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives, emulsifying and buffering salts, firming agents and protein and dairy fractions. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese is high in saturated fat

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 20g of saturated fat, which is 100% of the 20g Daily Value. It is also high in sodium.

FDA Daily Values (2,000-calorie diet)

Calories2,000
Total fat78g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate275g
Added sugars50g
Fibre28g
Sodium2,300mg
Protein50g

Added sugar vs total sugar

Where the sugar comes from: McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

8g of the 10g counts as added sugar, or about 2.0 teaspoons. The other 2g is naturally occurring.

Added sugars come from

  • sugar, dextrose in the quarter pound bun
  • high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup in the ketchup

Naturally occurring sugars come from

  • lactose in the pasteurized process American cheese
  • sugars naturally present in the onions

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030: no more than 10g of added sugar per meal from age 11 and none for children aged 10 and under. FDA Daily Value: 50g a day. Sources are read from the published ingredient list for each component.

Ultra-processed food: what is really in it

Processing and additives: McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains corn syrups and invert sugar, dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives, emulsifying and buffering salts, firming agents and protein and dairy fractions. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.

Corn syrups and invert sugar

Sweeten and control texture more cheaply than sugar alone. Found in the ketchup.

Dextrose

A simple sugar used for browning, bulk and mild sweetness. Found in the quarter pound bun.

Maltodextrin

Bulks out a product and carries flavour, with little taste of its own. Found in the quarter pound bun.

Modified starches

Starches altered industrially to thicken, bind or hold texture through freezing and reheating. Found in the quarter pound bun.

Emulsifiers

Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the quarter pound bun, pasteurized process American cheese and pickle slices.

Thickeners and gums

Thicken sauces, fillings and drinks and stop them separating. Found in the quarter pound bun.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the quarter pound bun, ketchup, pickle slices and mustard.

Colours

Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the pasteurized process American cheese and pickle slices.

Preservatives

Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the pickle slices.

Emulsifying and buffering salts

Let processed cheese and cream melt smoothly, or hold the acidity of drinks steady. Found in the pasteurized process American cheese.

Firming agents

Keep processed vegetables and fruit pieces firm after packing. Found in the pickle slices.

Protein and dairy fractions

Isolated proteins and dairy by-products used to add bulk, structure or a creamy texture. Found in the quarter pound bun.

Boone classifies McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese 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, September 2026.

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains at least 53 distinct ingredients: 22 raw and 31 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 85, of which 46 are manufactured. Raw means something you could buy and cook with at home; manufactured means a substance that only exists as an output of industrial processing.

Ingredient count by order: McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

What you orderRawManufacturedTotal% manufactured
McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese on its own22315358%
McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese + medium fries25345958%
McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese + fries + a dip33407355%
McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola34427655%
McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry39468554%

The 31 manufactured ingredients

alum, ascorbic acid, calcium chloride, citric acid, color added, corn syrup, datem, dextrose, enzymes, extractives of turmeric, faba bean protein, folic acid, guar gum, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, modified food starch, mono and diglycerides, natural flavor, niacin, pea protein, polysorbate 80, potassium sorbate, potato protein, reduced iron, riboflavin, rice protein, sodium citrate, soy lecithin, spice extractive, thiamine mononitrate, wheat gluten.

The 22 raw ingredients

beef, black pepper, cream, cucumber, cultures, distilled vinegar, malted barley flour, milk, mustard seed, onion, paprika, salt, sesame seeds, soybean oil, sugar, sunflower and/or canola oil, tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, turmeric, vinegar, water, wheat flour, yeast.

What those ingredients are, by type

Other additives and processing aids12
Vitamins and fortification6
Fruit, vegetables and nuts5
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs4
Herbs and spices4
Grains and flours4
Sugars and syrups4
Acids and acidity regulators3
Flavourings and extracts3
Salt and minerals2
Oils and fats2
Starches2
Water1
Colours1

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 “leavening (baking soda)” counts baking soda once. Ice and water added at the counter are not counted. 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. Every figure here is a minimum. The build uses a Sweet ’n Sour sauce.

Ingredients

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components.

Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

Quarter pound 100% beef patty

100% Pure USDA Inspected Beef; No Fillers, No Extenders. Prepared With Grill Seasoning (salt, Black Pepper). Weight Before Cooking 4 Oz.

Quarter pound bun

Enriched Flour (wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Contains 2% Or Less: Sesame Seeds, Salt, Wheat Gluten, Dextrose, Guar Gum, Vinegar, Vegetable Proteins (pea, Potato, Rice), Sunflower And/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, May Contain One Or More Dough Conditioners (datem, Ascorbic Acid, Mono And Diglycerides, Enzymes), Modified Food Starch.

Pasteurized process American cheese

Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Soy Lecithin, Color Added.

Ketchup

Tomato Concentrate From Red Ripe Tomatoes, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Natural Flavors.

Pickle slices

Cucumbers, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Alum, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Polysorbate 80, Extractives Of Turmeric (color).

Onions

Onions.

Mustard

Distilled Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric, Paprika, Spice Extractive.

Ingredients taken from the McDonald’s USA product pages, retrieved September 2026, with obvious spelling errors corrected. Recipes change - always check in restaurant before ordering if you have an allergy.

Allergens at a glance

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains wheat, sesame, milk and soy.

Allergen information: McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese

AllergenStatus
MilkContains
EggsNot declared
FishNot declared
Crustacean shellfishNot declared
Tree nutsNot declared
PeanutsNot declared
WheatContains
SoybeansContains
SesameContains
Also declared under UK rules
Barley (cereal containing gluten)Present, UK rules
MustardPresent, UK rules

Contains = declared by McDonald’s USA. May contain = McDonald’s states the allergen may be present. McDonald’s prepares food in shared kitchens, so no item can be guaranteed allergen free. UK rules also require barley, oats, mustard, celery and sulphites to be declared; these are shown where the ingredient list names them. Retrieved September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 740 calories, which is 37% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value and 49% of the daily needs of a moderately active child aged 4 to 8.

How much added sugar is in a McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 8g of added sugar, about 2.0 teaspoons, which is 16% of the 50g FDA Daily Value.

Is McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese within US sugar guidance for children?+

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 recommend no added sugar for children aged 10 and under and no more than 10g per meal from age 11. With 8g of added sugar, McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese fits the per-meal limit for ages 11 and up but not the guidance for younger children.

How much saturated fat is in a McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese?+

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 20g of saturated fat. Boone calculates this as 100% of the 20g Daily Value and 118% of the 17g limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

How much sodium is in a McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese?+

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 1,360mg of sodium. Boone calculates that as 91% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 59% of the 2,300mg adult limit.

Is McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components and contains corn syrups and invert sugar, dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives, emulsifying and buffering salts, firming agents and protein and dairy fractions. 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 US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese?+

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 2g of fibre. Boone calculates that as 7% of the 28g Daily Value and 10% of the 21g target for a child aged 4 to 8. Fibre is a target to reach rather than a limit to stay under.

Is McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that its 1,360mg of sodium is 91% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8; its 8g of added sugar is above the Dietary Guidelines advice of no added sugar for children aged 10 and under; its 20g of saturated fat is 118% of their daily limit. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one item.

How much protein is in a McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese?+

McDonald's US Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 48g of protein, which Boone calculates as 96% of the 50g Daily Value.