The original Dollar Menu — where everything actually cost a dollar — hasn’t existed for years. What McDonald’s offers in 2026 is a layered value system that’s frankly more complicated than it needs to be, and that confusion costs people money every single visit. Some items are under $3. Some are part of a $5 bundle. Some require the app. And some “deals” aren’t actually deals at all when you do the math.
This page cuts through all of it. Below you’ll find every budget-friendly item currently available on the McDonald’s $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu and the new McValue platform, with real prices, calorie counts, and the specific ordering tricks that actually save you money — including the brand-new Under $3 Menu launching April 21, 2026.
What Happened to the Original McDonald’s Dollar Menu?
McDonald’s launched the original Dollar Menu back in 2002. For almost a decade, you could walk in and get a McDouble, small fries, a soft drink, or a sundae for a flat $1 each. It was simple. It was cheap. And it was genuinely one dollar.
That menu was retired and replaced with the “Dollar Menu & More” around 2013–2014, which introduced higher price tiers. Then in 2018, McDonald’s rebranded it again as the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu, grouping value items into three price tiers. As of January 2025, the chain introduced McValue — a broader platform that wraps the dollar-style pricing into a system of meal deals, app offers, and the Buy One Add One for $1 promotion.
Now, in April 2026, McDonald’s has expanded McValue yet again with an Under $3 Menu (at least 10 items priced below $3 all day) and a $4 Breakfast Meal Deal. The old $1/$2/$3 tier labels are mostly gone from official marketing, but the spirit — and many of the same items — lives on. People still search for “McDonald’s Dollar Menu,” so here’s exactly what’s available at those price points today.
McDonald’s Under $3 Menu — Every Item (Starting April 21, 2026)
McDonald’s officially announced this expansion on April 2, 2026. Starting April 21 at participating locations nationwide, there will be at least 10 items priced under $3 available throughout the day. This is the closest thing to the old Dollar Menu that McDonald’s has offered in years. Here’s what’s confirmed:
Breakfast Items Under $3
Item | Price | Calories | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Sausage McMuffin® HOT DEAL | $1.50* | 400 Cal | *Limited-time reduced price (normally ~$2.49) |
Sausage Biscuit | ~$2.49 | 460 Cal | Warm, flaky biscuit with savory sausage patty |
Sausage Burrito | ~$2.69 | 310 Cal | Scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, peppers, onions in a flour tortilla |
Hash Browns | ~$2.69 | 140 Cal | Crispy, golden, perfectly seasoned — pair with any sandwich |
Medium McCafé® Premium Roast Coffee | ~$2.09 | 0 Cal | Hot brewed coffee, 12 oz medium |
Lunch & Dinner Items Under $3
Item | Price | Calories | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
McDouble® HOT DEAL | $2.50* | 400 Cal | *Limited-time reduced price (normally ~$2.89) |
McChicken® | ~$3.10 | 400 Cal | Classic chicken patty, mayo, shredded lettuce on a toasted bun |
4-Piece Chicken McNuggets® | ~$2.89 | 170 Cal | White meat nuggets — a solid snack or kid-sized portion |
Small World Famous Fries® | ~$2.49 | 230 Cal | Classic McDonald’s fries — small size |
Medium Soft Drink | ~$1.89 | Varies | Coca-Cola®, Sprite®, Dr Pepper®, and others |
🔥 Temporary Price Drops (Starting April 21)
McDonald’s is also temporarily slashing prices on two items as part of the launch:
Sausage McMuffin — $1.50 (down from ~$2.49)
McDouble — $2.50 (down from ~$2.89)
These reduced prices are available for a limited time at participating locations. McDonald’s says additional items will receive temporary price cuts throughout the year.
Dollar Menu Breakfast Items — Full Price Breakdown
Breakfast is where the Dollar Menu delivers the most value. Several items fall naturally under $3, and the new $4 Breakfast Meal Deal bundles a sandwich, a side, and a coffee for less than many people spend on a single drive-thru latte. Here’s everything available during breakfast hours (opening until 10:30 AM weekdays / 11:00 AM weekends).
Breakfast Item | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
Sausage McMuffin® $1.50 LTD | $1.50* | 400 Cal |
Sausage Biscuit | $2.49 | 460 Cal |
Sausage Burrito | $2.69 | 310 Cal |
Hash Browns | $2.69 | 140 Cal |
Egg McMuffin® | $4.29 | 310 Cal |
Sausage McMuffin® with Egg | $4.69 | 480 Cal |
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | $5.89 | 460 Cal |
Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles® | $5.19 | 430 Cal |
Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles® | $5.19 | 550 Cal |
Fruit & Maple Oatmeal | $3.89 | 320 Cal |
Hotcakes | $5.69 | 580 Cal |
Big Breakfast® | $5.69 | 750 Cal |
Big Breakfast® with Hotcakes | $8.29 | 1,340 Cal |
☕ $4 Breakfast Meal Deal (Starting April 21, 2026)
Choose a Sausage McMuffin or Sausage Biscuit, plus Hash Browns, plus a Small Premium Roast Coffee — all for $4 flat.
Ordering these three items separately would cost roughly $6.68–$7.27 depending on location. That’s a savings of $2.68–$3.27 per breakfast.
💡 Breakfast Insider Tip That Saves You $2+ Every Morning
The Sausage McMuffin (no egg) and the Sausage McMuffin with Egg are two different menu items with a $2+ price gap. The plain Sausage McMuffin at its temporary $1.50 price is a complete sandwich with sausage and cheese on a toasted English muffin — it just skips the egg. If you’re not particular about having egg, that’s 400 calories of filling breakfast for a buck fifty. Pair it with a Hash Browns ($2.69) and you’ve eaten a real breakfast for $4.19 total without even needing the meal deal.
Dollar Menu Lunch & Dinner Items — Complete List
After breakfast ends at 10:30 AM, the value menu shifts to burgers, chicken, fries, and drinks. The items below are the ones consistently priced under $4 that make up what most people think of as the “Dollar Menu” — even though nothing literally costs a dollar anymore.
Item | Price | Calories | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Hamburger | $2.19 | 250 Cal | Cheapest burger on the menu — kids, light eaters |
Cheeseburger | $2.69 | 300 Cal | Classic — just $0.50 more for a slice of cheese |
McDouble® $2.50 LTD | $2.50* | 400 Cal | Two beef patties, one cheese — best bang for buck |
Daily Double | $2.99 | 390 Cal | McDouble with lettuce, tomato, and mayo instead of ketchup/mustard |
McChicken® | $3.10 | 400 Cal | Best protein-per-dollar ratio on the entire menu |
Double Cheeseburger | $3.65 | 450 Cal | Two patties, TWO cheese slices, sesame seed bun |
4-Piece McNuggets® | $2.89 | 170 Cal | Snack, side, or paired with fries for a cheap meal |
Ranch Snack Wrap (Crispy) BACK | ~$3.49 | 360 Cal | Permanent return — crispy chicken, cheddar Jack, ranch, flour tortilla |
Ranch Snack Wrap (Grilled) | ~$3.49 | 290 Cal | Same wrap but with grilled chicken — 70 fewer calories |
Small Fries | $2.49 | 230 Cal | Classic side — pairs with everything |
Apple Slices | $1.49 | 15 Cal | Lightest option — good for kids or as a side |
Small Soft Drink | $1.50 | Varies | Any fountain drink — Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper, etc. |
Medium Soft Drink | $1.89 | Varies | Only $0.39 more than small for significantly more drink |
Baked Apple Pie | $1.89 | 230 Cal | Classic dessert — warm, flaky, sweet |
Chocolate Chip Cookie | $1.79 | 170 Cal | Cheapest item on the menu (excluding sauces) |
Vanilla Cone | $1.29–$2.79 | 200 Cal | Price varies wildly by location — ask before ordering |
💡 McDouble vs. Double Cheeseburger — The $1 Question
These two sandwiches confuse people constantly because they look nearly identical. Here’s the real difference: a McDouble has two beef patties and one slice of American cheese. A Double Cheeseburger has two beef patties and two slices of American cheese, plus it comes on a sesame seed bun instead of a plain bun. That’s it — one extra slice of cheese and a different bun. The price gap is roughly $0.76–$1.15 depending on location. If cheese isn’t a dealbreaker, the McDouble gives you 90% of the same sandwich for significantly less money.
$5 and $6 Meal Deals — Full Meals Under $7
These bundled deals are the centerpiece of the McValue platform and the best way to get a complete meal (sandwich + nuggets + fries + drink) without spending double digits. They’ve been running since mid-2024 and McDonald’s keeps extending them because they’re driving significant foot traffic, especially among lower-income customers.
McChicken Meal Deal
McChicken + 4-pc McNuggets + Small Fries + Small Drink
McDouble Meal Deal
McDouble + 4-pc McNuggets + Small Fries + Small Drink
How much would these items cost individually? Let’s do the math:
Item | Individual Price |
|---|---|
McChicken | $3.10 |
4-Piece McNuggets | $2.89 |
Small Fries | $2.49 |
Small Soft Drink | $1.50 |
Total (individual) | $9.98 |
$5 Meal Deal price | $5.00 |
You save | $4.98 |
Buy One, Add One for $1 — How It Actually Works
This deal is available all day (breakfast through dinner) and it’s one of the best ways to feed two people cheaply — but only if you understand the rules. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
How It Works
- Pick one eligible item at regular price from the BOAO menu
- Add a second eligible item for just $1 — the catch is the add-on must be of equal or lesser value than your first item
- You can use this at the counter, drive-thru, or in the app
Eligible BOAO Breakfast Items
Item | Regular Price | As $1 Add-On |
|---|---|---|
Sausage Biscuit | $2.49 | $1.00 |
Sausage McMuffin® | $2.49 | $1.00 |
Sausage Burrito | $2.69 | $1.00 |
Hash Browns | $2.69 | $1.00 |
Eligible BOAO Lunch/Dinner Items
Item | Regular Price | As $1 Add-On |
|---|---|---|
Double Cheeseburger | $3.65 | $1.00 |
McChicken® | $3.10 | $1.00 |
6-Piece Chicken McNuggets® | $4.39 | $1.00 |
Small World Famous Fries® | $2.49 | $1.00 |
🧠 Best BOAO Combos (Do the Math Before Ordering)
- Buy 6-pc McNuggets ($4.39) + Add McChicken for $1 = $5.39 total for a full protein spread. Ordering separately would cost $7.49.
- Buy Double Cheeseburger ($3.65) + Add Small Fries for $1 = $4.65 for a burger and fries. Ordering separately: $6.14.
- Buy Sausage Burrito ($2.69) + Add Hash Browns for $1 = $3.69 for a hot breakfast. Separately: $5.38.
- Buy Sausage Biscuit ($2.49) + Add Sausage McMuffin for $1 = $3.49 for TWO breakfast sandwiches. Split with someone or save one for later.
7 Dollar Menu Hacks That Actually Work in 2026
These aren’t gimmicky “secret menu” tricks that embarrass you at the counter. These are legitimate ordering strategies based on how McDonald’s pricing actually works. Every one of them uses standard menu items and deals that any location should honor.
Hack #1: Build Your Own Meal for Under $6 (Skip the Combos)
Instead of ordering a $10+ Extra Value Meal, piece together individual items from the value menu: McDouble ($2.50) + Small Fries ($2.49) + Small Drink ($1.50) = $6.49. That’s a full burger meal for roughly 35% less than the Big Mac Meal. The McDouble has two beef patties — you’re not sacrificing much protein.
Hack #2: The “Poor Man’s Big Mac”
Order a McDouble, ask for no ketchup, no mustard, add lettuce and Big Mac sauce. Most locations charge $0.20–$0.40 for Big Mac sauce. Total: roughly $2.70–$3.29. A real Big Mac costs $5.39–$6.72. You’re getting 80% of the same flavor profile for half the price. The only things you’re missing are the middle bun slice and the sesame seed topping.
Hack #3: The $5 Meal Deal Is Better Than Any Combo
This isn’t a hack so much as a fact most people overlook. The $5 McChicken Meal Deal gives you a sandwich, 4-piece nuggets, fries, and a drink for $5. A McCrispy Meal costs $10.29. If you’re eating to fill up rather than eating for the brand name, the $5 deal wins every time.
Hack #4: 20-Piece McNuggets for Two People
A 20-piece McNuggets costs $7.00. That’s $3.50 per person for 10 nuggets each — compared to $5.79 per person if you each ordered a 10-piece separately. Add two small fries ($4.98) and you’ve fed two people for $11.98 total. With two 10-piece McNugget Meals, you’d pay $20.18.
Hack #5: Stack BOAO With the App Deals
The Buy One Add One for $1 deal works alongside app-exclusive deals. So if the app has a “$1 Large Fries” offer running, you can use that on a separate order AND use BOAO on another. You’re not limited to one deal per visit — you’re limited to one deal per order. Multiple orders, multiple deals.
Hack #6: Free Medium Fries Every Friday
McDonald’s has been running “Free Medium Fries with a $1 purchase every Friday” as an app-exclusive deal. All you need is to make any $1+ purchase through the app. A $1.50 small drink gets you a free medium fries ($3.29 value). That’s $4.79 worth of food for $1.50.
Hack #7: The $4 Breakfast That Beats Every Coffee Shop
Starting April 21, the $4 Breakfast Meal Deal gives you a Sausage McMuffin or Sausage Biscuit + Hash Browns + Small Coffee. A Starbucks grande latte alone costs $6–$7 in most cities. McDonald’s gives you an entire breakfast with caffeine for $4. If you eat breakfast out regularly, switching to this deal saves you roughly $60–$90 per month.
App-Only Deals You Can’t Get at the Counter
McDonald’s has shifted a significant portion of its best deals to the app exclusively. If you’re walking in and ordering at the counter or drive-thru without checking the app first, you’re likely overpaying. Here’s what’s typically available for app users:
App Deal | What You Get | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
Free McCrispy™ for New Users | Free McCrispy chicken sandwich with any $1+ purchase | Download app, create account, opt into Rewards |
Free Snack Wrap for New Users | Free Ranch or Spicy Snack Wrap with any $1+ purchase | New app users, valid through end of month |
Free Medium Fries Fridays | Free medium fries with any $1+ app purchase every Friday | Must opt into MyMcDonald’s Rewards |
MyMcDonald’s Rewards Points | Earn 100 points per $1 spent — redeem for free items | Automatic when opted into Rewards |
Rotating Offers | 20% off $10+, BOGO sandwiches, $1 Large Fries, etc. | Check “Deals” tab in app — changes weekly |
Where to Download the McDonald’s App
📱 Download for iPhone (App Store)
📱 Download for Android (Google Play)
Dollar Menu vs. McValue vs. Combo Meals — Which Saves You More?
There are now three distinct ways to save at McDonald’s, and they work differently. Here’s a side-by-side comparison so you can see which approach actually saves the most money for different types of orders.
Approach | Best For | Example Order | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Under $3 Menu (à la carte) | Solo snacking, light meals | McDouble ($2.50) + Small Fries ($2.49) | $4.99 |
$5 Meal Deal | Full solo meal on a budget | McChicken + 4-pc Nuggets + Small Fries + Small Drink | $5.00 |
Buy One Add One for $1 | Feeding 2 people cheaply | Double Cheeseburger ($3.65) + McChicken ($1) + 2x Small Fries | $9.63 |
Extra Value Meal (Combo) | Larger portions, premium items | Big Mac Meal (medium) | $9.33–$10.33 |
Official McDonald’s Resources
Resource | Link |
|---|---|
McValue Menu (Official) | |
McDonald’s Deals & Offers | |
Full Menu | |
Restaurant Locator | |
Nutrition Calculator | |
McValue 2.0 Announcement | |
McDonald’s App (iOS) | |
McDonald’s App (Android) |
Frequently Asked Questions — McDonald’s Dollar Menu 2026
Does McDonald’s still have a Dollar Menu in 2026?
What is the cheapest thing on the McDonald’s menu in 2026?
What’s the difference between the Dollar Menu and McValue?
What comes in the McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal?
Can I customize Dollar Menu items?
Why do Dollar Menu prices change between locations?
How does Buy One Add One for $1 work?
Is the McDonald’s app worth downloading for deals?
What’s the best budget breakfast at McDonald’s?
When does the new Under $3 McValue Menu start?
Prices shown are national averages as of April 2026 and may vary by location. Tax not included. McDonald’s restaurants are independently owned and operated. Limited-time deals, promotional prices, and app offers are available at participating locations only. Items marked with * indicate limited-time promotional pricing. For the most accurate pricing at your local restaurant, check the McDonald’s app or official McValue menu page.