Fast Food Portion Size Comparison: US vs UK vs Canada vs Australia
Fast Food Portion Size Comparison
Fast food portion sizes can vary significantly depending on where you are in the world. This detailed comparison looks at how portion sizes and prices for common fast food items—fries, burgers, and drinks—differ among the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. We’ll also include a handy comparison table for quick reference.
Comparison Table
| Item | US Size | UK Size | Canada Size | Australia Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Fries | 71g, $2.50 | 95g, £1.59 | 85g, CAD $2.19 | 75g, AUD $2.80 |
| Medium Fries | 114g, $3.50 | 138g, £2.09 | 120g, CAD $3.19 | 115g, AUD $3.70 |
| Large Fries | 154g, $4.50 | 185g, £2.59 | 160g, CAD $3.79 | 160g, AUD $4.20 |
| Extra Large Fries | 198g, $5.50 | Not standard | 200g, CAD $4.29 | 220g, AUD $5.00 |
| Small Burger | 113g, $3.00 | 113g, £2.29 | 130g, CAD $3.49 | 120g, AUD $3.50 |
| Medium Burger | 150g, $4.00 | 150g, £3.29 | 175g, CAD $4.49 | 180g, AUD $4.20 |
| Large Burger | 200g, $5.00 | 200g, £4.29 | 225g, CAD $5.49 | 220g, AUD $5.00 |
| Extra Large Burger | 250g, $6.00 | Not standard | 300g, CAD $6.49 | 300g, AUD $6.00 |
| Small Drink | 355ml, $1.99 | 330ml, £1.49 | 355ml, CAD $1.89 | 375ml, AUD $2.00 |
| Medium Drink | 473ml, $2.49 | 500ml, £1.99 | 500ml, CAD $2.29 | 500ml, AUD $2.50 |
| Large Drink | 591ml, $2.99 | 650ml, £2.49 | 650ml, CAD $2.79 | 600ml, AUD $3.00 |
| Extra Large Drink | 710ml, $3.49 | Not standard | 800ml, CAD $3.29 | 750ml, AUD $3.50 |
Frying Up the Differences: Portion Sizes
US vs UK: A Fries Face-Off
In the US, the portion sizes for fries are often larger compared to the UK. For instance, a small serving in the US is about 71 grams, while the UK’s small fries are approximately 95 grams. The medium fries in the US weigh 114 grams, and the UK’s medium portion is slightly larger at 138 grams. The US also offers an extra-large fries option weighing 198 grams, which is not standard in the UK.
US vs Canada: Frying Up Similarities
When comparing the US and Canada, the fries portion sizes are quite similar. In the US, large fries weigh 154 grams, while in Canada, large fries are 160 grams. Canada also offers an extra-large size that’s a bit larger at 200 grams compared to the US’s 198 grams. The pricing is also quite similar, with small fries costing around $2.50 in the US and $2.19 in Canada.
US vs Australia: Down Under Differences
Australian fries tend to be smaller compared to their US counterparts. For instance, a large serving of fries in Australia is 160 grams, which is comparable to the US’s large size, but the extra-large portion in Australia is 220 grams, making it larger than the US’s 198 grams. Prices for fries in Australia are generally higher, reflecting the larger portions.
Burgers: A Global Comparison
US vs UK: Burger Sizes and Prices
In the US, the portion sizes for burgers are larger than those in the UK. A small burger in the US weighs 113 grams, which is the same as the small burger in the UK. However, medium burgers in the US weigh 150 grams compared to the UK’s 150 grams, and large burgers are 200 grams in the US, while in the UK, the large burgers are also 200 grams. The US offers an extra-large burger option at 250 grams, which is not available in the UK.
US vs Canada: Bigger is Better?
Canadian burgers generally have larger portion sizes compared to the US. The extra-large burger in Canada weighs 300 grams, which is significantly larger than the US’s 250 grams. The medium and large burgers in Canada are also larger, with the medium burger at 175 grams and the large burger at 225 grams, compared to the US’s 150 grams for medium and 200 grams for large.
US vs Australia: The Aussie Burger Scene
Australian burger sizes are quite comparable to those in the US. A large burger in Australia weighs 220 grams, which is similar to the US’s large burger size. The extra-large option in Australia is 300 grams, matching the Canadian extra-large size. The pricing for burgers in Australia is also similar to the US, with a large burger priced around $5.00 AUD, compared to $5.00 USD in the US.
Drinks: Sip by Sip Comparison
US vs UK: Drink Sizes and Pricing
The US offers a wider range of drink sizes compared to the UK. A small drink in the US is 355 milliliters, while in the UK it is 330 milliliters. The US also has a large drink size of 591 milliliters, which is slightly smaller than the UK’s 650 milliliters. The extra-large drink option in the US is 710 milliliters, which is not available in the UK.
US vs Canada: A Refreshing Comparison
In Canada, the drink sizes are quite similar to those in the US. A small drink in Canada is 355 milliliters, just like in the US, and a large drink in Canada is 650 milliliters, which matches the UK’s large size but is larger than the US’s large size. The extra-large drink in Canada is 800 milliliters, significantly larger than the US’s 710 milliliters.
US vs Australia: Down Under Drink Sizes
Australian drink sizes are generally smaller than those in the US. A small drink in Australia is 375 milliliters, compared to the US’s 355 milliliters. The large drink size in Australia is 600 milliliters, slightly larger than the US’s large size but smaller than Canada’s extra-large size. The extra-large drink in Australia is 750 milliliters, which is slightly larger than the US’s extra-large size.
Pricing Analysis: Comparing Costs
US vs UK: Price Differences
In the US, fast food prices are generally higher than in the UK. For example, a small fries costs $2.50 in the US, while the same portion in the UK costs £1.59, which converts to approximately $2.00 USD. Similarly, a large burger in the US is $5.00, while in the UK it is £4.29, or about $5.60 USD. Drinks are also more expensive in the US, with a large drink costing $2.99 compared to the UK’s £2.49, roughly $3.20 USD.
US vs Canada: A Close Comparison
Fast food pricing in Canada is fairly comparable to the US, though it can be slightly higher. For instance, a small fries in Canada costs CAD $2.19, which is roughly $1.60 USD. A large burger in Canada is CAD $5.49, about $4.00 USD, and a large drink is CAD $2.79, around $2.05 USD. Prices in Canada are generally close to US prices, though slight differences exist.
US vs Australia: The Aussie Price Tag
Fast food prices in Australia are generally higher than in the US. For example, a small fries in Australia costs AUD $2.80, which is about $1.90 USD. A large burger in Australia is AUD $5.00, roughly $3.40 USD, and a large drink costs AUD $3.00, around $2.05 USD. Overall, Australians pay a bit more for fast food compared to the US.
Summary
Portion Sizes and Prices: Key Takeaways
- Fries: US portions are typically larger compared to the UK, but Australia offers a larger extra-large portion. Canada’s fries sizes are similar to those in the US, with slightly larger extra-large options.
- Burgers: US burgers are larger than those in the UK, but Canadian burgers often exceed US sizes, especially in the extra-large category. Australian burgers are comparable to US sizes.
- Drinks: US drinks are larger than those in the UK, but Australian sizes are generally smaller than US sizes. Canada offers larger
