You walk into Five Guys. The smell of peanut oil is everywhere. You look at the board, and there it is—the classic dilemma. Do you go for the "Little" burger or just get the "Regular"? Most people assume the "Little" is for kids or light eaters. Honestly, they're mostly wrong.
The name is a bit of a psychological trap. In the world of Five Guys, "Little" doesn't mean small in the way a slider is small. It’s a full-sized burger by almost any other fast-food standard. The "Regular" is actually a double. If you aren't prepared for the sheer volume of a Five Guys regular burger, you might end up in a food coma before you even touch your fries.
The Beef Breakdown: It’s All About the Patties
The fundamental difference between a five guys little burger vs regular is one thing: the number of beef patties.
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A "Little" burger comes with one patty.
A "Regular" burger comes with two patties.
Each patty at Five Guys weighs approximately 3.3 to 3.7 ounces before it hits the grill. When you order the regular, you’re getting nearly half a pound of fresh, never-frozen beef. That’s a lot of meat. For context, a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder uses a 4-ounce patty. So, even the "Little" burger at Five Guys is basically a Quarter Pounder once you account for the bun and the mountains of free toppings they cram inside.
The regular burger is a beast. Because Five Guys doesn't use timers—they cook by sight and smash the patties—the double patty version creates this stacked, juicy architecture that can be hard to actually fit in your mouth. If you’re someone who likes a high "topping-to-meat" ratio, the Little is actually the superior choice. With one patty, the grilled mushrooms, jalapeños, and A1 sauce have room to breathe.
Calorie Counting and the Nutrition Reality
Let’s talk numbers. They aren't pretty, but they’re real.
A standard Five Guys Hamburger (the regular double) starts at about 840 calories.
The Little Hamburger (single patty) starts at roughly 540 calories.
That 300-calorie gap is significant. And remember, those are the "base" numbers. That’s just bread and meat. Once you start adding the "All The Way" toppings—mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, and mustard—you’re easily tacking on another 100 to 150 calories.
If you go for the Bacon Cheeseburger, you’re looking at 1,060 calories for the regular. The Little Bacon Cheeseburger sits around 690 calories. For most people, the Little version is actually a much more "normal" meal size.
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Is the Price Jump Worth the Second Patty?
Five Guys prices have been a hot topic lately. Depending on where you live—Manhattan vs. the Midwest—you’re probably seeing a price difference of about $2.00 to $2.50 between the Little and the Regular.
- Little Hamburger: Generally falls between $8.50 and $9.50.
- Regular Hamburger: Usually costs between $10.50 and $12.00.
Is $2.00 worth doubling the meat? Economically, yes. You are getting twice the protein for a roughly 20% increase in price. However, value is only "value" if you actually eat it. Five Guys burgers are notoriously messy. The grease from two patties can often compromise the structural integrity of the bun, leading to what I call the "Five Guys Mush."
The Little burger holds its shape better. It's a cleaner eat. If you're eating in your car or on a first date, for the love of everything, get the Little.
The Topping Strategy
Here is a secret: the toppings are the same regardless of size.
You can get "Extra" of almost any topping for free. If you order a Little burger but load it with extra grilled onions, extra mushrooms, and extra peppers, it will end up weighing more than a "Regular" burger with just ketchup.
- The "All The Way" Standard: This is the default. It's safe. It's classic.
- The Veggie Buffer: If you get the Little, use the extra space for more toppings. The crunch of fresh onions and the saltiness of pickles pop way more when they aren't buried under two thick layers of beef.
- The Bunless Option: If you're going keto or just hate soggy bread, both sizes can be ordered in a bowl or a lettuce wrap. A Bunless Little Hamburger is only about 220 calories. That’s a massive difference compared to the bun version.
Which One Should You Actually Order?
I’ve spent way too much time thinking about this. After years of testing the limits of my own gallbladder, here is the verdict.
Order the Regular if you are genuinely starving and haven't eaten all day. It is a massive amount of food. If you are also ordering a "Little" fry—which, let's be honest, is actually a large fry—you are looking at a meal that can easily exceed 2,000 calories. That is a full day's worth of energy in one brown paper bag.
Order the Little if you actually want to taste the toppings. It’s the "sensible" choice that still feels like an indulgence. It fits in one hand. It doesn't require a nap immediately afterward.
Most people order the regular because they think the "Little" won't be enough. Then they see the single-patty burger at the next table and realize it’s the size of a standard Whopper. Don't let the name fool you.
When you're at the counter next, try the Little Cheeseburger "All The Way" with hot sauce. It's the sweet spot of the entire menu. You'll save a few bucks, skip the food coma, and still have enough room to finish those Cajun fries hiding at the bottom of the bag.
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Your Next Step
Check your local Five Guys menu on their app before you go. Prices vary wildly by zip code in 2026, and seeing the calorie counts next to the "Little" vs. "Regular" options in real-time can help you decide if you actually need that second patty today.