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The Filet-O-Fish is 390 calories at around $5.69, and it gets exactly half a slice of cheese. It only exists because it beat a grilled pineapple burger in a sales contest in 1962.
The McDonald's fish sandwich is called the Filet-O-Fish. It is 390 calories with 15g of protein, at around $5.69. Wild-caught Alaska pollock, tartar sauce and half a slice of American cheese on a steamed bun.
Almost everything about the McDonald's fish sandwich is unusual. It was the first non-hamburger item McDonald's ever sold, it is the only bun on the menu that is steamed rather than toasted, and it is the only item that gets half a slice of cheese rather than a whole one. All three have explanations, and all three come back to a Cincinnati franchisee who was losing money every Friday in 1962. This page covers the McDonald's fish sandwich price, the nutrition, what fish is actually in it, why the cheese is halved, and the sales contest that put it on the menu. The full range is on our McDonald's burgers menu, and the whole board is on the McDonald's menu with prices.
Around $5.69 at our national midpoint and 390 calories. That makes the McDonald's fish sandwich lighter than most of the chicken sandwiches and considerably lighter than any double burger, though the price sits at the higher end for what you get.
390 calories, 15g protein, 19g fat of which 4g saturated, 39g carbohydrate, 5g sugar and 580mg sodium. The sodium figure is moderate by McDonald's standards — a Double Cheeseburger carries 1,110mg.
Every other cheese-bearing item on the menu gets at least one full slice. The McDonald's fish sandwich gets half. The Filet-O-Fish gets half, and it has done since the sandwich went national in 1965. The reason is flavour balance, and McDonald's has said so directly.
Lou Groen's first version was fried halibut and tartar sauce on a bun. Nothing else. Cheese only appeared after McDonald's headquarters made him switch to a cheaper fish, and he added a slice to compensate for the change in flavour.
In 1962 Lou Groen ran a McDonald's on West North Bend Road in Cincinnati, in a neighbourhood that was roughly 87 percent Catholic. On Fridays during Lent, when his customers were not eating meat, the restaurant was taking about seventy-five dollars a day.
Wild-caught Alaska pollock goes into the McDonald's fish sandwich today. It has not always been, and the changes were driven by cost and later by sustainability rather than by taste.
Every other bun on the menu is toasted. This one is steamed, which keeps it soft and slightly damp rather than crisp. It is a deliberate contrast to the fried, breaded fillet, and it is the main reason the sandwich has a texture unlike anything else McDonald's sells.
The McDonald's fish sandwich exists because of Lent and still sells on the same rhythm. McDonald's reported that a quarter of annual Filet-O-Fish sales came during the Lenten season, which is a remarkable concentration for a year-round menu item.
Prices are a national midpoint recorded from restaurant menu boards in August 2026 and vary by location. Sandwich calorie totals are McDonald's published US data; modified figures are calculated estimates. Contains fish, wheat, milk, egg and soy. The full range is on our McDonald's burgers menu, and the full board on the McDonald's menu with prices.
The Filet-O-Fish. It has carried that name since Lou Groen created it in 1962, and it was the first non-hamburger item McDonald's ever put on the menu.
390, with 15g of protein, 19g of fat and 39g of carbohydrate. Asking for no tartar sauce takes it to roughly 290 at no charge, since the sauce accounts for around 100 calories.
Around $5.69 at our national midpoint. Rural restaurants run closer to $4.79 and airport locations to $6.99. Franchisees set their own board.
Flavour balance. McDonald's has said a full slice would overshadow the pollock and unbalance it against the tartar sauce. The Double Filet-O-Fish gets a whole slice, which is what you would expect if the ratio is the point rather than cost. You can ask for extra cheese.
Wild-caught Alaska pollock. The original used halibut, then Atlantic cod after McDonald's headquarters asked for a cheaper fish. Pollock has been the standard for decades and is sourced from certified sustainable fisheries.
To keep it soft against the fried, breaded fillet. It is the only bun on the McDonald's menu that is steamed, and it is the main reason the sandwich has a texture unlike anything else on the board.
Ray Kroc's rival idea — a slice of grilled pineapple with cheese on a bun. The two were tested against each other on Good Friday 1962. The Filet-O-Fish sold 350; the Hula Burger sold 6. Kroc lost a side bet of a new suit and put the fish sandwich on the menu.
No, it is on the menu year round. But roughly a quarter of its annual sales happen during Lent, which is a striking concentration for a permanent item and reflects why it was created in the first place.
Not at most restaurants. It shares oil with other fried items, which matters both for fish allergies and for anyone assuming a dedicated fryer. Ask at your restaurant — practice varies. Full detail on our allergen menu.
Effectively, for anyone who eats fish. There is no vegetarian sandwich on the US menu, and the fries contain wheat and milk through the beef flavouring, so the Filet-O-Fish is the practical non-meat choice.
Prices shown are based on typical U.S. McDonald’s menu prices as of August 2026 and may vary by location. Check your local restaurant or McDonald’s app for the latest prices.