How many carbs are in a hamburger?
A plain single-patty fast-food hamburger (78g) has about 24.6g of carbohydrate and 23.3g of net carbs. Nearly all of those carbs come from the bun, not the beef.
Carbs by portion
| Portion | Total carbs | Fiber | Net carbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 sandwich (78g) | 24.6g | 1.3g | 23.2g |
| 100 grams | 31.5g | 1.7g | 29.8g |
Net carbs
A plain hamburger sandwich has about 23.3g of net carbs, which is total carbs (24.6g) minus fiber (1.3g). The white bun is almost the entire carb source. Add ketchup, relish, or a larger bun and the number climbs. See the net carbs guide for when net carbs matter most.
Glycemic index of a hamburger
The glycemic index of a hamburger is about 66. The fat and protein from the beef patty slow digestion relative to the bun eaten alone, putting the whole sandwich below the GI of plain white bread. A larger bun or added ketchup raises the effective value.
For diabetes
At 24.6g of carbs, a plain single-patty hamburger is a meaningful meal load on its own. The fat and protein in the patty slow gastric emptying, which tends to blunt the post-meal spike compared with bread eaten alone. But the refined white bun digests quickly. Skipping or halving the bun cuts carbs by roughly 20g. Count the bun carbs separately when you add toppings, since each tablespoon of ketchup adds about 4g more. See the diabetes carb-counting guide.
Keto and low carb
A plain hamburger sandwich has about 23.3g of net carbs, which fills or exceeds a typical keto daily budget of 20 to 30g in one meal. The beef patty itself has almost no carbs. Eating the patty without the bun, wrapped in lettuce, drops the count to near zero and fits keto easily.
Good to know
The USDA entry covers a plain fast-food hamburger with a single regular patty and no condiments. Real orders rarely arrive that way. A sesame bun is slightly heavier than the reference weight, specialty brioche buns run 60 to 70g on their own, and each tablespoon of ketchup adds about 4g of carbs. Double-patty versions raise the protein and fat totals but do not change the bun carbs much.
Full nutrition (per 100g)
- Calories: 297.0 kcal
- Carbohydrate: 31.5g
- Fiber: 1.7g
- Sugars: 4.88g
- Protein: 16.52g
- Fat: 12.01g
Stop looking up carbs one food at a time
CarbZen reads the carbs off a photo of your whole plate in about 3 seconds, checked against USDA data. 7 days unlimited, then 30 scans a month, free.
Get the appFrequently asked questions
How many carbs are in a hamburger?
A plain single-patty fast-food hamburger (78g) has about 24.6g of carbohydrate, almost entirely from the bun.
How many net carbs are in a hamburger?
About 23.3g of net carbs, which is total carbs (24.6g) minus fiber (1.3g).
How many carbs are in a hamburger without the bun?
Under 1g. A plain beef patty is virtually zero carbs. Any condiments add a small amount.
Is a hamburger OK for diabetics?
The bun drives 24.6g of carbs, a significant single-food load. The fat and protein in the patty slow the glucose rise somewhat. Removing or halving the bun cuts carbs by about 20g and makes it easier to dose.
Is a hamburger keto?
Not with the bun. The bun accounts for nearly all of the 23.3g of net carbs, which can fill a full day's keto budget. A bunless burger patty has almost no carbs and fits keto well.