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McDonald’s US ranking

McDonald’s US, ranked by sodium

247 items, ranked by sodium against the daily limit for each age: 2,300mg from age 14, 1,800mg for ages 9 to 13 and 1,500mg for ages 4 to 8.

Source: McDonald’s published US nutrition information, checked September 2026Figures collected by BooneHow this ranking works
Highest4,180mgSpicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)
Lowest0mgApple Slices
Over a day2 of 247items above the 2,300mg adult limit
Who is eating
McDonald’s US Spicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)1stSpicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)4,180mg182% of limitMcDonald’s US Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)2ndChicken McNuggets (40 piece)3,400mg148% of limitMcDonald’s US Spicy Chicken McNuggets (20 piece)3rdSpicy Chicken McNuggets (20 piece)2,090mg91% of limit

Sodium per McDonald's US item

247 items, highest first. % of limit is against an adult’s 2,300mg daily limit.
1McDonald’s US Spicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)Spicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)Burgers, Chicken and SandwichesOver the daily limit10.4g salt equivalent, 1,950 calories4,180mg182% of limit2McDonald’s US Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)Chicken McNuggets (40 piece)Burgers, Chicken and SandwichesOver the daily limit8.5g salt equivalent, 1,650 calories3,400mg148% of limit3McDonald’s US Spicy Chicken McNuggets (20 piece)Spicy Chicken McNuggets (20 piece)Burgers, Chicken and Sandwiches5.2g salt equivalent, 980 calories2,090mg91% of limit4McDonald’s US Big Breakfast with HotcakesBig Breakfast with HotcakesBreakfast5.2g salt equivalent, 1,340 calories2,070mg90% of limit5McDonald’s US McCrispy Strips (larger)McCrispy Strips (larger)Burgers, Chicken and Sandwiches4.4g salt equivalent, 530 calories1,760mg77% of limit
6McDonald’s US Chicken McNuggets (20 piece)Chicken McNuggets (20 piece)Burgers, Chicken and Sandwiches4.2g salt equivalent, 830 calories1,700mg74% of limit7McDonald’s US Big BreakfastBig BreakfastBreakfast3.9g salt equivalent, 760 calories1,540mg67% of limit8McDonald’s US Steak, Egg & Cheese BagelSteak, Egg & Cheese BagelBreakfast3.8g salt equivalent, 680 calories1,510mg66% of limit9McDonald’s US Bacon Quarter Pounder with CheeseBacon Quarter Pounder with CheeseBurgers, Chicken and Sandwiches3.7g salt equivalent, 630 calories1,470mg64% of limit10McDonald’s US Double Quarter Pounder with CheeseDouble Quarter Pounder with CheeseBurgers, Chicken and Sandwiches3.4g salt equivalent, 740 calories1,360mg59% of limit
The daily sodium limit for the person selectedSalt equivalent is sodium multiplied by 2.5.

Item images are illustrations created by Boone, not photographs.

The whole McDonald's US menu at a glance

Each dot is one item, coloured by menu section. Breakfast sit highest for sodium on average; Soft Drinks and Cold Beverages sit lowest.

Burgers, Chicken and SandwichesBreakfastHappy Meals and KidsFries, Sides and SaucesMcCafé Coffee and TeaSweets, Treats and ShakesSoft Drinks and Cold Beverages
01,2502,5003,7505,000Burgers, Chicken and Sa…BreakfastHappy Meals and KidsFries, Sides and SaucesMcCafé Coffee and TeaSweets, Treats and Shak…Soft Drinks and Cold Be…2,300mg adult limitsodium (mg)

Lowest sodium in each McDonald's US menu section

The same part of the menu, compared.

McDonald’s US Chicken McNuggets (4 piece)Burgers, Chicken and SandwichesChicken McNuggets (4 piece)340mg, against Spicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece) at 4,180mgSaves 3,840mgMcDonald’s US Fruit & Maple OatmealBreakfastFruit & Maple Oatmeal150mg, against Big Breakfast with Hotcakes at 2,070mgSaves 1,920mgMcDonald’s US Apple SlicesHappy Meals and KidsApple Slices0mg, against Hamburger Happy Meal at 680mgSaves 680mgMcDonald’s US HoneyFries, Sides and SaucesHoney0mg, against Mighty Hot Sauce at 530mgSaves 530mgMcDonald’s US Hot Tea (Small)McCafé Coffee and TeaHot Tea (Small)5mg, against Caramel Latte (Large) at 490mgSaves 485mgMcDonald’s US Vanilla ConeSweets, Treats and ShakesVanilla Cone80mg, against Chocolate Shake (Large) at 390mgSaves 310mgMcDonald’s US DASANI WaterSoft Drinks and Cold BeveragesDASANI Water0mg, against Sprite (Large) at 170mgSaves 170mg

Quick answers

What has the most sodium at McDonald’s in the US?

The Spicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece), at 4,180mg. That is 182% of the 2,300mg adult daily limit.

What has the least sodium at McDonald’s in the US?

The Apple Slices, at 0mg.

How much sodium is too much?

The National Academies set the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction intake at 2,300mg a day from age 14, 1,800mg for ages 9 to 13 and 1,500mg for ages 4 to 8.

More McDonald’s US rankings
Highest calorie →Highest protein →Lowest calorie →Most ingredients →Most added sugar →
How this ranking works

Sodium is per item as served, from McDonald’s USA published nutrition information, per item as served, checked in September 2026. Daily limits are the National Academies Chronic Disease Risk Reduction intakes: 2,300mg from age 14, 1,800mg for ages 9 to 13 and 1,500mg for ages 4 to 8. Salt equivalent is sodium multiplied by 2.5. The small Diet Coke is excluded because its published sodium figure is inconsistent with the other sizes.

Read the full methodology →