Big Mac vs Whopper nutrition
| Per burger | Big Mac | Whopper | Whopper vs Big Mac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 580 kcal | 710 kcal | +130 kcal |
| Protein | 25 g | 34 g | +9 g |
| Carbs | 45 g | 57 g | +12 g |
| Fat | 34 g | 42 g | +8 g |
| Saturated fat | 11 g | 12 g | +1 g |
| Fiber | 3 g | 4 g | +1 g |
| Sugars | 7 g | 14 g | +7 g |
| Sodium | 1,060 mg | 1,250 mg | +190 mg |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 4.3 g | 4.8 g | +0.5 g |
Protein per 100 kcal is calculated by NutriPixel. US recipes; both burgers differ in other countries.
What's the difference?
McDonald's lists the Big Mac as a Big Mac bun with two beef patties, Big Mac sauce, American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickle slices and onions. Burger King lists the Whopper as a flame-grilled beef patty on a sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, ketchup and mayonnaise.
- The Big Mac is lower in calories, carbs, fat, sugars and sodium. Its 1,060 mg of sodium is 46% of the Daily Value, against 54% for the Whopper.
- The Whopper has more protein: 34 g against 25 g, or 4.8 g per 100 kcal against 4.3 g.
- The Whopper has twice the sugars (14 g against 7 g).
- Want a Whopper with fewer calories than a Big Mac? A Whopper Jr. is 340 kcal, with 15 g of protein.
As a meal, with medium fries and a medium Coke
| Item | Big Mac meal | Whopper meal |
|---|---|---|
| Burger | 580 kcal | 710 kcal |
| Medium fries | 320 kcal | 370 kcal |
| Medium Coca-Cola | 270 kcal | 270 kcal |
| Total* | 1,170 kcal | 1,350 kcal |
* Added up by NutriPixel from each chain's published values for each item.
Swap the Coke for a zero-sugar drink and both meals drop by 270 kcal.
Making either meal steadier
- Whichever you pick, the drink is where most of the meal's sugar is: a medium Coca-Cola has 70 g of sugar at both chains, against 7 g in a Big Mac and 14 g in a Whopper. A zero-sugar drink removes it.
- Neither burger has much fiber (3 g and 4 g, against a 28 g Daily Value), and the lighter sides don't add much either: McDonald's Apple Slices list 0 g and Burger King's Mott's Applesauce 1 g. Fiber slows how fast a meal raises blood sugar,1 so a salad or vegetables with the burger, eaten first, helps. In a small study of adults with type 2 diabetes, eating vegetables and protein before carbs led to a lower blood-sugar rise.2
- Take a short walk afterwards. In trials, breaking up sitting with short, light walks lowered blood sugar after meals compared with staying seated.3
General information, not medical advice. If you manage diabetes or another condition, follow your care team's guidance.
Logging either one in NutriPixel
Photograph your meal or type it, like Big Mac and medium fries
, and NutriPixel's AI estimates the calories and macros for each item. It doesn't use the chains' menu data, so compare its estimate with the numbers here. See the full Big Mac and Whopper pages for every size.
Sources
Checked 19–25 October 2026. Restaurants change recipes and nutrition, so check the chain for the latest.
- McDonald's USA: Big Mac, nutrition information
- McDonald's USA: World Famous Fries (small, medium and large), nutrition information
- McDonald's USA: Apple Slices, nutrition information
- McDonald's USA: Coca-Cola (medium), nutrition information
- Burger King US: Nutrition Explorer
- US FDA: Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts labels
Research behind the tips
- Jenkins DJ et al. Dietary fibres, fibre analogues, and glucose tolerance: importance of viscosity. BMJ 1978;1:1392–4
- Shukla AP et al. Food order has a significant impact on postprandial glucose and insulin levels. Diabetes Care 2015;38:e98–9
- Buffey AJ et al. The acute effects of interrupting prolonged sitting time with standing and light-intensity walking. Sports Med 2022;52:1765–87
McDonald's, Big Mac, World Famous Fries, Domino's, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Burger King and Whopper are trademarks of their respective owners. NutriPixel is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.