October 12, 2026

Calories in a Hamburger and Bun: Full Breakdown

Calories in a hamburger and bun: a double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles

Calories in a hamburger and bun depend mostly on the patty. A plain hamburger made with a 1/4 lb (4 oz raw) 80/20 beef patty on a standard white bun has about 350 calories. A 1/3 lb burger is about 430 calories, and a 1/2 lb burger is about 580 calories, before cheese or sauces. The patty supplies most of the calories; the bun adds about 120.

Quick answer

Hamburger with bun (80/20 beef, plain): 1/4 lb about 350 calories and 26 g protein; 1/3 lb about 430 calories and 33 g protein; 1/2 lb about 580 calories and 48 g protein. A slice of American cheese adds about 80 calories.

Table of Contents

Calories in a Hamburger and Bun, by Patty Size

Raw patty (80/20)	Cooked patty	Patty calories	With bun	Protein	Fat
1/4 lb (4 oz)	about 3 oz	230	350	26 g	17 g
1/3 lb (5.3 oz)	about 4 oz	310	430	33 g	22 g
1/2 lb (8 oz)	about 6 oz	460	580	48 g	32 g

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central: 80/20 ground beef patty, broiled (171797) and plain hamburger roll, 44 g (172796). A patty loses roughly a quarter of its raw weight as it cooks.

Half a 1/4 lb burger with its half of the bun is about 175 calories, and half a 1/3 lb burger is about 215.

How the Beef Blend Changes the Patty

The lean-to-fat ratio on the package makes the biggest difference. Per 3 oz cooked patty, which is what a 1/4 lb raw patty becomes:

Ground beef	Calories	Protein	Fat	Saturated fat
70/30	240	22 g	16 g	6 g
80/20	230	22 g	15 g	6 g
85/15	210	22 g	13 g	5 g
90/10	180	22 g	10 g	4 g
95/5	150	22 g	6 g	3 g

Broiled patties, USDA FoodData Central (168651, 171797, 174032, 174031, 171791).

Fattier blends lose more fat into the pan, which is why 70/30 and 80/20 end up closer in calories once cooked than they look raw. Protein stays about the same across all blends.

Hamburger Bun Calories

A standard plain white hamburger bun (44 g) has about 120 calories, 22 g of carbs, 4 g of protein and 220 mg of sodium. A larger whole wheat bun (56 g) has about 150 calories with 3 g of fiber. Brioche and pretzel buns are usually bigger and richer, often 200 calories or more; check the package, since sizes vary widely.

Calories in a Hamburger and Bun With Common Toppings

Topping	Amount	Calories	Sodium
American cheese	1 slice (21 g)	80	350 mg
Mayonnaise	1 tbsp	95	90 mg
Ketchup	1 tbsp	15	150 mg
Mustard	1 tsp	about 3	about 55 mg
Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles	a few slices	under 10	varies

USDA FoodData Central (170853, 171009, 168556).

So a 1/4 lb cheeseburger with ketchup and mustard comes to about 450 calories, and adding a tablespoon of mayonnaise brings it to roughly 545.

Homemade vs. Restaurant Hamburger Calories

At home you know the patty weight and the beef blend, so the table above is accurate. Restaurant burgers are harder to estimate: patties are often weighed raw at 1/3 lb or more, buns are larger and brushed with butter, and sauces are generous. Chain restaurants with 20 or more locations must post calories on their menus under FDA rules, so check the menu board or the chain’s nutrition page rather than guessing.

Sodium and Protein in a Hamburger With Bun

Unseasoned beef is low in sodium, about 65 mg per 3 oz cooked patty. Most of the salt comes from the bun (about 220 mg), cheese (about 350 mg a slice), ketchup and pickles, plus any salt you add when shaping the patties. A plain 1/4 lb burger provides about 26 g of protein, which is a solid amount for one meal.

How to Cut Hamburger Calories

Use 90/10 beef: a 1/4 lb burger drops to about 300 calories with the bun.
Choose a smaller bun or a lettuce wrap, which saves about 120 calories.
Swap mayonnaise for mustard and load up on vegetables.
Cook on a grill or rack so rendered fat drips away from the patty.

Whatever blend you use, cook ground beef patties to an internal temperature of 160°F, as recommended in the FoodSafety.gov temperature chart. For storing raw or cooked patties, see how long ground beef keeps.

Calories in a Hamburger and Bun: FAQ

How many calories are in a plain hamburger with bun?

About 350 calories for a 1/4 lb 80/20 beef patty on a plain white bun, with no cheese or sauce.

How many calories are in a 1/3 pound hamburger with bun?

About 430 calories with 80/20 beef, or about 370 with 90/10 beef.

How many calories are in a 1/2 pound burger with bun?

About 580 calories with 80/20 beef and a plain bun, and about 680 with a slice of cheese and ketchup.

How many calories are in a double hamburger with bun?

Two 1/4 lb (4 oz raw) 80/20 patties on one plain bun come to about 580 calories. That is the same amount of beef as a 1/2 lb burger, so the numbers match; each slice of cheese and each sauce adds to it.

Are nutrition labels on ground beef raw or cooked?

The label on the package describes the raw meat. Cooked numbers per ounce are higher because water is lost; our raw vs. cooked meat chart explains the difference.