McDonald’s Medium Soft Drink Price 2026: Sizes & Calories

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See the Current Medium Drink Value, Calories and Best Flavor Choice First

The McDonald’s Soft Drink medium price is currently tied to the participating Under-$3 McValue menu. The official McValue product page specifically names a Medium Coca-Cola, while the Deals page uses the broader wording “Medium soft drink.”

That means a Medium Coca-Cola can cost any qualifying local amount below $3. Another flavor may be allowed at your restaurant, but substitution is not guaranteed.

Official Under-$3 status Prices vary locally McDelivery excluded

Complete Quick Answer

✓ Current U.S. menu checked
Current price status Under $3 At participating restaurants; not one fixed national amount.
Officially named item Medium Coca-Cola The official McValue menu specifically lists this flavor.
Available core drinks Five choices Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Hi-C Orange and Dr Pepper.
Medium calories 0–280 Cal verified Among Diet Coke, Sprite, Coca-Cola and Hi-C shown here.
Available sizes XS • Small • Medium • Large Core fountain sizes can vary by market.
Best lowest-calorie choice Diet Coke — 0 Cal Zero-calorie option in the standard fountain lineup.
Best caffeine-free soda Sprite — 250 Cal Officially described as caffeine-free.
Important limit McDelivery excluded Delivery prices and additional fees may be higher.

What to do now: select the exact restaurant in the McDonald’s app, choose pickup, open McValue or Drinks, select Medium Coca-Cola and check whether other flavors can be substituted at the same qualifying price.

Which Medium Drink Should You Choose?

Lowest calories

Choose Diet Coke

Best when you want a core fountain soft drink with zero calories.

Medium calories: 0.

Caffeine-free soda

Choose Sprite

Best when you want a carbonated lemon-lime drink without caffeine.

Medium calories: 250.

Safest McValue choice

Choose Coca-Cola

Best when your main priority is using the official Under-$3 item exactly as listed.

Medium calories: 270.

Sweet orange choice

Choose Hi-C Orange

Best when you prefer a sweet orange drink instead of cola or lemon-lime soda.

Medium calories: 280.

Distinct cola-style flavor

Choose Dr Pepper

Best when you prefer its distinctive flavor blend. Check the current Medium calorie panel before ordering.

New specialty option

Choose a Crafted Soda Separately

Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream and Dirty Dr Pepper include extra flavor or cold foam and are not the same as the standard Under-$3 soft drink.

Is a McDonald’s Medium Soft Drink Really Under $3?

Yes, with conditions. The current McValue menu officially lists a Medium Coca-Cola in the Under-$3 lunch and dinner menu at participating restaurants.

Price statement
Status
What it means
Action required
Medium Coca-Cola under $3
Officially verified
The current McValue product page specifically names Medium Coca-Cola.
Select a participating restaurant and pickup.
Medium soft drink under $3
Official Deals wording
The Deals page uses a broader category description.
Check whether your restaurant permits another flavor.
$1.69 or another exact amount
Local/reference only
There is no single guaranteed nationwide transaction price.
Use the current local menu total.
Delivery price
Not included in McValue offer
McDelivery prices can be higher and fees may apply.
Compare completed pickup and delivery carts.

Under $3 is a ceiling, not one exact price. A participating restaurant could show $1.xx or $2.xx. Do not label one amount as the official national price.

Current Core McDonald’s Soft Drink Choices

Coca-Cola

Classic cola and the specifically named Medium McValue item.

Diet Coke

Zero-calorie fountain option available in the core soft-drink lineup.

Sprite

Caffeine-free lemon-lime soda available in standard fountain sizes.

Hi-C Orange Lavaburst

Sweet orange drink with the highest verified Medium calorie total in this comparison.

Dr Pepper

Distinctive fountain soft drink available in Extra Small, Small, Medium and Large.

Local substitutions

A restaurant may allow another standard flavor in place of Coca-Cola, but the official McValue page does not guarantee every flavor.

Medium Soft Drink Calories

Medium drink
Calories
Caffeine note
Best for
Verification status
Diet Coke
0 Cal
Check current product details when limiting caffeine
Lowest calories
Officially verified
Sprite
250 Cal
Officially caffeine-free
Caffeine-free carbonated choice
Officially verified
Coca-Cola
270 Cal
Check current product details when limiting caffeine
Exact officially named McValue drink
Officially verified
Hi-C Orange Lavaburst
280 Cal
Review live product information
Sweet orange flavor
Officially verified
Dr Pepper
Check current panel
Contains caffeine
Distinctive flavor blend
Medium count not reproduced without current panel confirmation

Calories for fountain beverages are calculated using standard fill levels plus ice. A self-service refill without the standard ice level can contain a different number of calories.

Verified core range: 0–280 calories among the four Medium options with current exact figures reproduced above. This range does not include specialty crafted sodas, Refreshers, Sweet Tea, Lemonade or frozen drinks.

What Soft Drink Sizes Are Available?

Size
Current core-menu status
McValue status
Best use
Extra Small
Listed for core fountain drinks
Not the current advertised Under-$3 item
Smallest available portion where offered
Small
Listed for core fountain drinks
Included in current $5 Meal Deal examples
Smaller standalone drink or value meal
Medium
Listed for core fountain drinks
Medium Coca-Cola under $3
Standalone McValue order or regular combo meal
Large
Listed for core fountain drinks
Not the current advertised Under-$3 item
Largest standard core fountain serving

No nationwide ounce claim: McDonald’s warns that beverage sizes may vary by market. The article therefore compares named sizes rather than claiming one universal cup capacity.

Is a Medium Soft Drink Included in McDonald’s Meals?

Regular combo meals

Often yes

Current Quarter Pounder and Spicy McCrispy meal descriptions include Medium Fries and a choice of Medium soft drink.

$5 Meal Deals

Usually Small

The current McChicken and McDouble Meal Deals include 4-piece McNuggets, Small Fries and a Small Coca-Cola.

Standalone McValue drink

Medium Coca-Cola

The Under-$3 menu lists the Medium drink separately during lunch and dinner.

Do not assume every meal includes a Medium drink. Happy Meals, breakfast Meal Deals, lunch Meal Deals and regular combo meals use different beverage sizes and choices.

What Changed on the 2026 Drinks Menu?

McDonald’s launched six permanent specialty drinks nationwide on May 6, 2026. They sit in a separate specialty-drink category and do not replace the five standard fountain soft drinks.

Crafted soda

Sprite Berry Blast

Sprite with blue raspberry flavor and chilled cold foam. Medium has 290 calories.

Crafted soda

Orange Dream

Hi-C Orange Lavaburst with vanilla flavor and cold foam. Medium has 320 calories.

Crafted soda

Dirty Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper with vanilla flavor and cold foam. It is separate from standard Dr Pepper.

Refresher

Strawberry Watermelon

Lemonade-based Refresher with strawberry and watermelon flavors.

Refresher

Mango Pineapple

Tropical Refresher with lemonade and strawberry popping boba.

Refresher

Blackberry Passion Fruit

Lemonade-based Refresher with blackberry, passion fruit and dragon fruit pieces.

Do not confuse specialty drinks with the Under-$3 item. Added flavors, fruit, boba or cold foam change the product, calories and local price.

How to Check the Exact Medium Soft Drink Price

Open the McDonald’s app or restaurant locator

Search using your ZIP code, city, address or device location.

Select the exact restaurant

Confirm the full address because nearby restaurants may show different prices or participation.

Choose pickup

The Under-$3 offer excludes McDelivery, so start with pickup.

Open McValue or Drinks

Look for Medium Coca-Cola or the restaurant’s Medium soft-drink listing.

Test the flavor selection

Check whether Diet Coke, Sprite, Hi-C or Dr Pepper can replace Coca-Cola without changing eligibility.

Check the final bag

Confirm price, flavor, restaurant, tax, order method and any deal before payment.

Comparing restaurants? Use the same Medium Coca-Cola, pickup method and date. Do not compare one store’s pickup price with another store’s delivery price.

Pickup vs McDelivery Price

Order method
Price treatment
Under-$3 eligibility
What to compare
Pickup in McDonald’s app
Local restaurant price + tax
May qualify
Selected store, flavor and checkout total
Drive-thru or counter
Restaurant menu price + tax
Participation-dependent
Ask whether current McValue pricing applies
McDelivery
Potentially higher drink price + fees + tax + tip
Excluded
Completed delivery cart versus pickup cart
Third-party delivery
Platform price + fees + tax + tip
Not guaranteed
Platform-specific total and promotion rules

Do not publish one fixed delivery markup or percentage. The difference changes by restaurant, platform, distance, fees, order size and promotion.

Fountain Drink Nutrition Details That Matter

✓ Calories include standard iceThe official nutrition calculation uses a standard fill level plus ice.
✓ Self-service refills can differLess ice or a different fill changes the amount of beverage consumed.
✓ Market sizes can varyNamed sizes do not guarantee one universal cup capacity.
✓ Formulas can changeSuppliers, serving practices and product formulations can affect nutrition.
✓ Drink calories affect meal totalsA meal shown with Medium Coca-Cola differs from the same meal with Diet Coke.
✓ Specialty drinks are separateCold foam, syrup, lemonade, fruit or boba adds calories and can introduce allergens.

Price, Flavor and App Problems

Problem
Likely reason
What to do now
Price is not below $3
Restaurant is not participating, wrong item, wrong order channel or offer changed
Confirm Medium Coca-Cola, pickup and the selected restaurant
Only Coca-Cola qualifies
The official McValue item specifically names Coca-Cola
Use Coca-Cola or accept the local price for another flavor
Sprite substitution changes price
Flavor substitution is controlled locally
Compare the bag before payment
Drink missing from McValue
Wrong daypart, local nonparticipation or temporary menu issue
Check lunch/dinner hours or another nearby store
Delivery total is much higher
McDelivery exclusion, higher menu price, fees, tax or tip
Compare a completed pickup cart
Calories differ
Different size, ice level, specialty version or updated formulation
Open the exact current product nutrition panel
Dr Pepper calories are unclear
Current Medium panel was not reproduced in this guide without direct confirmation
Use Nutrition & Ingredients in the app
Wrong restaurant selected
The app retained a previous location
Review the full address before checkout
McDonald’s Dollar Menu and McValue Compare the full Under-$3 menu, breakfast deals and lunch Meal Deals. McDonald’s Menu Calories Compare soft-drink calories with burgers, chicken, breakfast and desserts. McDonald’s Iced Coffee Prices Compare fountain soda with iced coffee sizes, flavors and calories. Complete McDonald’s Menu Prices Return to the current U.S. menu, deal, calorie and ordering hub.

Official Actions After Reading the Guide

Check the current McValue menu Confirm the Under-$3 item, participation language and delivery exclusion. Open the official Drinks menu Confirm core soft drinks, specialty beverages, tea and frozen options. Verify Medium Coca-Cola Confirm the 270-calorie official product information. Select a local restaurant Check address, hours, services, menu availability and participation. Use the official nutrition calculator Check the exact drink, size and current nutrition information. Open Mobile Order help Find restaurant-selection and Nutrition & Ingredients steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Medium McDonald’s soft drink in 2026?

The current McValue offer lists a Medium Coca-Cola under $3 at participating restaurants. The exact local amount can be any qualifying price below $3.

Is every Medium soft drink under $3?

Not guaranteed. The official McValue page specifically names Medium Coca-Cola, while the Deals page says Medium soft drink. Check whether your restaurant allows another flavor at the same price.

How many calories are in a Medium Coca-Cola?

A Medium McDonald’s Coca-Cola has 270 calories.

How many calories are in a Medium Sprite?

A Medium Sprite has 250 calories and is officially described as caffeine-free.

How many calories are in a Medium Diet Coke?

Diet Coke has zero calories and is available in Extra Small, Small, Medium and Large sizes.

How many calories are in a Medium Hi-C Orange?

A Medium Hi-C Orange Lavaburst has 280 calories.

Which McDonald’s Medium drink has the fewest calories?

Diet Coke is the lowest-calorie core option shown here at zero calories.

Which McDonald’s soft drink is caffeine-free?

Sprite is officially described as caffeine-free. Check current product information for other drinks when caffeine matters.

What soft drink sizes does McDonald’s offer?

Core fountain drinks are generally listed in Extra Small, Small, Medium and Large, but McDonald’s says beverage sizes may vary by market.

Is the Medium soft drink available during breakfast?

The advertised Under-$3 Medium drink appears in the lunch and dinner McValue menu. Breakfast has different Under-$3 products and a $4 breakfast Meal Deal.

Does a regular McDonald’s meal include a Medium drink?

Many regular combo meals include Medium Fries and a choice of Medium soft drink. Current $5 Meal Deals use a Small Coca-Cola instead.

Why is the McDelivery drink more expensive?

The Under-$3 McValue offer excludes McDelivery. Delivery menu prices may be higher, and delivery, service, tax and tip charges can apply.

Are the new crafted sodas included under $3?

Not automatically. Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream and Dirty Dr Pepper are separate specialty drinks with extra flavor or cold foam.

How do I check my exact local Medium drink price?

Select the exact restaurant in the McDonald’s app, choose pickup, open McValue or Drinks, select Medium Coca-Cola and confirm the final bag total.

Medium Drink Cost and Calorie Calculator

Calculate your local drink total

Enter the live price shown by your selected restaurant. The calculation runs only in your browser.

How This Guide Was Verified

Official price status

The current McValue page and Deals page were checked separately because one names Medium Coca-Cola and the other uses the broader Medium soft-drink wording.

Calories

Exact Medium figures were reproduced only where a current official product page or official zero-calorie description was available.

Current menu

The core Drinks category and the separate 2026 specialty-drink lineup were checked so standard soda and crafted soda were not mixed together.

Image policy

The supplied image filename referred to Sweet Tea Small, so it was not used for a Medium Soft Drink article. A CSS comparison graphic was used instead to prevent misleading visual content.

Update policy

The visible checked date should change only after McValue participation wording, drink lineup, calories and delivery exclusions are reverified.

MacMenus.us is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by McDonald’s Corporation. McDonald’s, McValue, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Hi-C Orange Lavaburst and Dr Pepper names are trademarks of their respective owners. Under-$3 pricing applies only at participating restaurants and excludes McDelivery. Prices, participation, flavors, calories, cup sizes, ingredients, caffeine, taxes, meal contents, promotions, delivery fees and availability can change. Confirm the selected restaurant’s current menu before ordering.