Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant. Last updated October 2026.
If the Big Mac is McDonald’s most famous burger, the Big Arch is its biggest. After first appearing as a limited-time trial, it returned as a permanent fixture of the McDonald’s UK and Ireland menu on 5 January 2026 — the burger McDonald’s built for people who find a Big Mac not quite big enough. Here’s everything worth knowing: the price, the calories, exactly what’s inside, and whether it’s worth ordering over the classics.
What is the Big Arch?
The Big Arch is McDonald’s answer to years of customers asking for a heartier beef burger. When it was made permanent, McDonald’s UK’s marketing chief said customers had “voted with their feet” — they’d made it clear the burger had earned a permanent spot on the menu alongside the Big Mac.
The build is deliberately maximalist:
- Two 100% British and Irish beef patties
- White cheddar cheese slices
- Crispy onions and slivered onions — two kinds of onion
- Shredded lettuce and pickles
- Signature Big Arch sauce, a tangy, creamy house sauce
- A toasted poppy and sesame seed bun
There’s no middle bun slice (that’s the Big Mac’s thing) and no bacon as standard — just a tall, wide double-patty burger designed to be the most filling thing on the permanent menu.
How much does the Big Arch cost in the UK?
The Big Arch sits at the premium end of the McDonald’s menu — it’s the most expensive standard burger on the board. Typical UK prices:
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Big Arch (burger alone) | £8.79–£9.99 |
| Big Arch Medium Meal | £10.69–£11.99 |
| Big Arch Large Meal | £12.29–£13.29 |
Meals come with your choice of medium or large fries and a drink. As ever with McDonald’s, prices vary between restaurants — most UK restaurants are franchised, so the exact price is set locally — and delivery apps (Uber Eats, Just Eat, Deliveroo) usually charge more than the restaurant counter.
For context, a Big Mac meal costs noticeably less, and even the Big Tasty — itself a premium burger — comes in cheaper. The Big Arch is priced as the flagship. See our complete UK menu price guide for how it stacks up against everything else.
Big Arch calories and nutrition
This is not a light lunch. According to McDonald’s UK menu data, the Big Arch contains 1,057 kcal — more than half the recommended daily intake for an adult in a single burger, and roughly double a Big Mac.
| Burger | Calories (kcal) |
|---|---|
| Big Arch | 1,057 |
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 743 |
| Big Mac | 509 |
It’s the heaviest permanent burger McDonald’s sells in the UK. If you’re counting calories, the Big Arch is a “sometimes” burger.
Big Arch vs Big Mac: what’s the difference?
They’re both double-patty icons, but they’re built for different appetites:
| Big Arch | Big Mac | |
|---|---|---|
| Patties | Two beef patties | Two beef patties |
| Cheese | White cheddar slices | Cheese slice |
| Bun | Poppy & sesame, no middle slice | Sesame with middle slice |
| Onions | Crispy + slivered | Diced |
| Sauce | Big Arch sauce | Big Mac sauce |
| Calories | 1,057 kcal | 509 kcal |
| Typical burger price | £8.79–£9.99 | around £5.49–£6.59 |
The short version: the Big Mac is the balanced classic; the Big Arch is the maximalist — more beef-forward, richer, and nearly twice the calories. If you love the Big Mac but always feel you could eat more, the Big Arch is your burger.
Is the Big Arch worth it?
Honest answer: it depends what you’re paying for.
Get it if: you want the biggest, most filling burger McDonald’s UK sells as standard; you like the crispy-onion and white-cheddar combination; you’re curious — it’s genuinely different from the rest of the menu, not just a bigger Big Mac.
Skip it if: you’re watching calories (1,057 kcal is a lot); you’re watching money — at around £9 for the burger alone it’s serious money for fast food, and you could eat very well off the Saver Menu for less. It’s also a rich burger: two patties, double onions, creamy sauce. Some people will love that; others will find a Quarter Pounder with Cheese hits the spot for less money.
What about the Big Arch with Bacon?
Keep an eye out: a Big Arch with Bacon has appeared as a limited-time variant — the standard build plus bacon. It isn’t part of the permanent line-up, so if you see it on the menu board or in the app, it’s a while-stocks-last situation. Check the app for the current price before you order.
FAQ
Is the Big Arch a permanent menu item in the UK?
Yes. After a limited-time trial, the Big Arch became a permanent fixture of the McDonald’s UK and Ireland menu on 5 January 2026.
How much is the Big Arch in the UK?
Typically £8.79–£9.99 for the burger alone and £10.69–£11.99 for a medium meal. Prices vary by restaurant and are higher on delivery apps.
How many calories are in a Big Arch?
1,057 kcal — roughly double a Big Mac (509 kcal).
What’s the difference between the Big Arch and the Big Mac?
The Big Arch has white cheddar, crispy and slivered onions, Big Arch sauce and a poppy-and-sesame bun with no middle slice; the Big Mac has a cheese slice, diced onions, Big Mac sauce and its famous three-part bun. The Big Arch is also much bigger: 1,057 vs 509 kcal.
Is there a bacon version?
A Big Arch with Bacon has appeared as a limited-time option, but it isn’t permanent.
Can I get the Big Arch on delivery?
Yes — it’s available via McDelivery on Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo where McDonald’s delivers, though delivery prices are higher than in-restaurant.
The verdict
The Big Arch is McDonald’s UK finally giving its hungriest customers what they asked for: a permanent, no-compromise big burger. It’s the priciest and most calorific thing on the standard menu, but it’s also the most substantial — and unlike the endless limited-time specials, it isn’t going anywhere. If you’ve ever finished a Big Mac and thought “is that it?”, this is the burger for you.
This is an independent guide and we’re not affiliated with McDonald’s Corporation. Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant.
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