Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant. Last updated September 2026.
Ask a hundred people what the best thing on the McDonald’s menu is and a surprising number will say the fries. The sides menu doesn’t get the attention the burgers do, but it’s where some of the smartest ordering happens — from the famous fries in three sizes to salads, fruit bags and the rotating cast of dippers. Whether you want the full indulgent experience or something lighter on the side, here’s every option laid out.
This is an independent guide and we are not affiliated with McDonald’s Corporation. Prices below are typical UK figures; expect some variation between restaurants, with central London branches usually charging the most.
Fries: small, medium, large
The main event. McDonald’s UK fries come in three sizes, and the price steps between them are worth knowing:
- Small Fries — around £1.69, roughly 237 kcal. The modest option — fine as a light accompaniment, though many find it disappears alarmingly fast.
- Medium Fries — around £2.19, roughly 337 kcal. The default that comes with most Extra Value Meals, and the size most people actually want.
- Large Fries — around £2.69, roughly 444 kcal. A serious portion for serious fry enthusiasts — or for sharing, though sharing fries is a known source of table arguments.
Fries are vegan in the UK — they’re cooked in a dedicated fryer with no animal products involved — which makes them one of the safest and cheapest plant-based sides on the high street.
The full sides price list
| Side | Approx. price | Approx. calories |
|---|---|---|
| Small Fries | £1.69 | 237 kcal |
| Medium Fries | £2.19 | 337 kcal |
| Large Fries | £2.69 | 444 kcal |
| Side Salad | £1.19 | 18 kcal |
| Carrot Bag | £0.99 | 30 kcal |
| Pineapple Stick | £0.99 | — |
| Cheese Melt Dippers | £3.19 | — |
Lighter options
Not every visit needs to be a blowout. The lighter end of the sides menu is genuinely useful:
- Side Salad — around £1.19, roughly 18 kcal. A simple bag of mixed leaves — one of the cheapest items on the entire menu, and a sensible way to add something green to your tray.
- Carrot Bag — around £0.99, roughly 30 kcal. Batons of carrot in a grab bag — popular with parents ordering for kids.
- Pineapple Stick — around £0.99. A sweet, refreshing alternative to fries that works surprisingly well alongside savoury food.
Fruit bags — apple slices, grape bags and melon or cucumber bags — also appear, usually around the £1 mark, and are a staple of the Happy Meal lineup for children.
Dippers as sides
The dippers range doubles as the indulgent end of the sides menu:
- Cheese Melt Dippers — around £3.19. Breaded cheese dippers with a molten centre — the richest side on the board by some distance.https://mcdonaldsmenuuk.com/mcdonalds-sauces-dips-uk-2026/
- Mozzarella Dippers — around £2.99 when available. Stretchy, golden and dangerous in the best way; they tend to appear as limited editions.
- Veggie Dippers — around £5.09. The vegan-certified option, so plant-based eaters aren’t left out of the dippers fun.
Dippers come and go more than the core sides, so if you see a variety you like, don’t assume it’ll be there next month.
Which sides are vegetarian or vegan?
- Vegan: Fries (all sizes), Side Salad, Carrot Bag, Pineapple Stick, fruit bags, Veggie Dippers.
- Vegetarian (not vegan): Mozzarella Dippers, Cheese Melt Dippers.
The fries being vegan is the headline here — it’s one of the reasons McDonald’s remains an easy option for mixed groups with different dietary needs. The Veggie Dippers carry formal vegan certification for those who want the extra assurance.
Meal versus separate: doing the maths
A quick word on value. An Extra Value Meal bundles a main with medium fries and a drink, and it’s usually — but not always — cheaper than buying the three items separately. If you want large fries rather than medium, compare the meal upgrade price against buying a large fries on its own; sometimes the separate large fries plus a burger is within pennies of the large meal. The menu board maths takes ten seconds and occasionally saves you a pound or two.
Limited editions to watch for
The sides menu is at its most exciting when something new appears. Over the past couple of years McDonald’s UK has run seasoned fries shakers — paprika, and other spice blends — alongside one-off dippers like cheesy garlic bread sticks and festive cheese melts. These limited runs rarely get much advance warning; they simply appear on the menu board and the app one morning. If you’re the kind of person who likes trying new things, it’s worth glancing at the sides section of the app every few weeks. The trade-off with limited editions is that prices and availability are even less predictable than usual, so treat any figures you see online as rough guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are McDonald’s fries in the UK in 2026?
Small fries are around £1.69, medium around £2.19 and large around £2.69. Prices vary by restaurant.
How many calories are in McDonald’s medium fries?
Roughly 337 kcal. Small fries are about 237 kcal and large fries about 444 kcal.
Are McDonald’s fries vegan in the UK?
Yes. UK McDonald’s fries are cooked in vegetable oil in dedicated fryers and contain no animal products.
What is the cheapest side at McDonald’s UK?
The Carrot Bag and Pineapple Stick (around £0.99 each) and the Side Salad (around £1.19) are the cheapest sides on the menu.
Do McDonald’s still do mozzarella dippers?
Mozzarella Dippers appear as limited editions rather than permanent items. Cheese Melt Dippers are the more regularly available cheesy option.
Can I swap fries for a salad in a meal?
Meal customisation options vary by restaurant and ordering channel. The app sometimes allows swaps that the in-store kiosks don’t, so it’s worth checking both.
Final thoughts
The sides menu is small but mighty. Fries remain the undisputed champion — and genuinely good value at every size — while the salads, fruit and carrot bags keep things balanced for lighter days or younger diners. Our advice: know your fry size, check the dippers board for limited editions, and never underestimate the ten-pence joy of a side salad making you feel slightly virtuous about the large fries next to it.