A fast-food hamburger has 257 to 506 calories and a cheeseburger 344 to 628, depending on the size of the patty, according to USDA data. A double cheeseburger runs 810 to 987. A quarter-pound cheeseburger made at home with ketchup comes to about 420 calories, and bacon and mayo push it near 600.
With Dietfit, one photo of your burger is enough: Deep Scan splits the bun, patty, cheese and sauce and gives each its own calories.
Key takeaways
Patty size and the number of patties set most of the calories.
A slice of cheese adds about 70 calories, two strips of bacon about 75 and a tablespoon of mayo about 95.
At the big chains, a single burger has about 360 to 580 calories and a double more than 600.
A veggie or turkey burger is not automatically lighter than a small beef burger.
Swapping the bun for lettuce saves about 140 to 150 calories.
How many calories are in a burger?
A single-patty burger on a bun has about 257 to 628 calories. Patty size matters most, then cheese. These are USDA averages for fast-food burgers with standard toppings.
Burger | Weight | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
Slider | 2.5 oz (70 g) | 202 | 12 g |
Hamburger, small patty | 3.2 oz (90 g) | 257 | 14 g |
Hamburger, medium patty | 5.1 oz (145 g) | 418 | 25 g |
Hamburger, large patty | 6.2 oz (175 g) | 506 | 32 g |
Cheeseburger, small patty | 4.1 oz (115 g) | 344 | 19 g |
Cheeseburger, medium patty | 5.8 oz (165 g) | 488 | 29 g |
Cheeseburger, large patty | 7.4 oz (210 g) | 628 | 39 g |
Double cheeseburger, 2 medium patties | 9.5 oz (270 g) | 810 | 53 g |
Double cheeseburger, 2 large patties | 11.6 oz (330 g) | 987 | 67 g |
Turkey or chicken burger | 5.1 oz (145 g) | 339 | 29 g |
Veggie burger | 5.6 oz (160 g) | 358 | 21 g |
A veggie burger on a bun has more calories than a small beef burger, though less saturated fat. A turkey or chicken burger saves about 80 calories against a beef hamburger of the same weight.
Fast food burger calories
Chain burgers land in the same range as the USDA averages. Here are a few of the most ordered ones, from the chains' own nutrition pages:
Burger | Calories |
|---|---|
In-N-Out Hamburger, Protein Style (lettuce instead of bun) | 210 |
In-N-Out Hamburger | 360 |
In-N-Out Cheeseburger | 430 |
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 520 |
McDonald's Big Mac | 580 |
In-N-Out Double-Double | 610 |
The sauce makes a real difference. At In-N-Out, mustard and ketchup instead of the spread take 60 calories off any burger, and a lettuce wrap takes off 150.
Homemade burger calories, part by part
A homemade burger is easier to count because you know every part. Here is what each one adds, from USDA data:
Part | Calories |
|---|---|
Hamburger bun, 1.8 oz (52 g) | 139 |
Quarter-pound patty, 85% lean, cooked (2.7 oz, 77 g) | 193 |
American cheese, 1 slice (0.7 oz, 21 g) | 71 |
Bacon, 2 medium slices | 75 |
Mayonnaise, 1 tbsp | 94 |
Ketchup, 1 tbsp | 19 |
Bun, quarter-pound patty, cheese and ketchup add up to about 420 calories. Add bacon and mayo and you are near 600.
The beef you buy matters too. A 3 oz cooked patty has about 230 calories from 80% lean beef and 164 from 93% lean, a 66-calorie difference with almost the same protein.
Are burgers OK for weight loss?
Yes. A single cheeseburger has 344 to 628 calories, which fits in a calorie deficit like any other meal. The problems start with doubles, extra sauce and the fries and soda that come with them.
Saturated fat climbs fast. A medium fast-food cheeseburger has about 11 g, 57% of the 20 g Daily Value. A double with two large patties has about 27 g, more than a full day's worth, plus 1,350 mg of sodium.
To keep a burger lighter:
Order a single patty. Going from a double to a single saves 300 to 360 calories.
Skip the mayo or special sauce, or swap it for mustard and ketchup.
Try a lettuce wrap instead of the bun, or eat the burger open-faced.
Use 90% to 93% lean beef at home.
Pile on lettuce, tomato and onion for volume.
FAQ
How many calories are in a burger with a bun?
A single-patty hamburger on a bun has about 257 to 506 calories, and a cheeseburger 344 to 628. The bun alone has about 139.
Is 500 calories for a burger a lot?
It is a typical number. A medium cheeseburger has about 488 calories, a quarter of a 2,000-calorie day. Fries and a soda can double the meal.
What burger has 1,000 calories?
A double cheeseburger with two large patties has about 987 calories. Bacon or extra sauce takes it over 1,000.
How much protein is in a burger?
A single-patty burger has about 14 to 39 g of protein, depending on size. A double has 53 to 67 g.
How many calories are in a homemade burger?
About 420 for a quarter-pound cheeseburger with ketchup on a regular bun, and near 600 with bacon and mayo.
References
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/2709733/nutrients, FoodData Central, "Ketchup", FDC ID 2709733
https://www.in-n-out.com/menu/nutrition-info, In-N-Out Burger, "Nutrition Info"
https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/big-mac.html, McDonald's, "Big Mac"
https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/quarter-pounder-with-cheese.html, McDonald's, "Quarter Pounder with Cheese"
https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/daily-value-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels"
By Khanh Phan