Is there a lot of sugar in a Milkshake? Milkshakes. They are thick, cold, creamy, and packed with sugar. Or are they? I mean who doesn’t love a milkshake – especially a thick and gooey strawberry one? But hang on exactly how much sugar is in a milkshake? Well, this is the question I am going to be answering in this post today.
In order to answer this question, I have compiled the sugar content data of the milkshakes at five of the big fast-food chains – McDonald’s, Burger King, Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, and Five Guys. I will answer questions like: “Is the sugar content of the milkshakes different across the different chains?” and “Is there much variation in the sugar content between the different sizes and flavors?”
All these important questions will be answered in this post. I will also answer some Frequently Asked Questions when it comes to the sugar content of Milkshakes.
So, let’s dig in, is there a lot of sugar in milkshakes?
How Much Sugar is in Milkshakes?
As a general rule, there is a lot of sugar in milkshakes. A large milkshake can contain as much as 160g of sugar. A small vanilla milkshake tends to be the lowest sugar milkshake option at fast food chains, followed by a small peanut butter shake.
Before we dig in, if you are into flavored milky drinks, you may also be inserted in the following posts I wrote (one of these milks blended with ice at home could provide some milkshake vibes but with less sugar):
- Is There A Lot Of Sugar In Chocolate Milk?
- How Much Sugar is in Strawberry Milk?
- Is Vanilla Almond Milk High In Sugar?
McDonald’s
How Much Sugar is in A McDonald’s Milkshake?
Below is the sugar content data for the three flavors of milkshakes in the three available sizes at McDonald’s.
As you can see, the best way to limit your sugar content when ordering a milkshake at McDonald’s is to order a small vanilla shake. Whilst still high in sugar at 51g of sugar, it does still have half the sugar content of a large chocolate or strawberry shake.
| Cup Size | McDonald’s Chocolate Milkshake Sugar Content | McDonald’s Vanilla Milkshake Sugar Content | McDonald’s Strawberry Milkshake Sugar Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 67g | 51g | 58g |
| Medium | 85g | 62g | 74g |
| Large | 106g | 85g | 107g |
Are McDonald’s Milkshakes High in Sugar?
All milkshakes are high in sugar, but McDonald’s Milkshakes are lower in sugar than the milkshakes at other popular fast-food chains.
How Many Spoonsful of Sugar Are in A McDonald’s Milkshake?
There are 13-27 teaspoons of sugar in a McDonald’s milkshake, depending on the size, and flavor ordered.
How Many Grams of Sugar Are in A Large McDonald’s Milkshake?
There are 85g of sugar in a large vanilla McDonald’s milkshake. 106g of sugar in a large McDonald’s chocolate milkshake, and 107g of sugar in a large McDonald’s Strawberry milkshake.
Burger King
How Many Grams of Sugar Are in A Burger King Milkshake?
Burger King has 5 flavors of milkshakes and just one cup size. Below I have collated the sugar content data for the 5 Burger King shake flavors. As you can see, again the lowest sugar flavor is the vanilla milkshake at Burger King at 79g of sugar.
| Burger King Milkshake Flavor | Sugar Content |
|---|---|
| Chocolate | 82.6g |
| Vanilla | 79g |
| Strawberry | 90.3g |
| Oreo Cookie | 84.8g |
| Chocolate Oreo Cookie | 91g |
How Much Sugar is in A Burger King Strawberry Milkshake?
There are 90.3g of sugar in a Burger King strawberry milkshake.
How Much Sugar is in A Burger King Chocolate Milkshake?
There are 82.6g of sugar in a Burger King chocolate milkshake.
Arby’s
How Much Sugar Is In An Arby’s Milkshake?
Below I have compiled the sugar content data for the 4 flavors and 2 sizes of shakes at Arby’s. Again, a regular vanilla shake at Arby’s is your lowest sugar option at 64g of sugar.
| Arbys’ Milkshake Cup Size | Sugar In Arby’s Chocolate Milkshake | Sugar In Arby’s Vanilla Milkshake | Sugar In Arby’s Jamocha Milkshake | Sugar In Arby’s Orange Cream Milkshake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 76g | 64g | 74g | 82g |
| Large | 118g | 95g | 116g | 109g |
How Much Sugar is in A Large Arby’s Shake?
There are 95g-118g of sugar in a large Arby’s shake depending on the flavor.
How Much Sugar is in An Arby’s Jamocha Shake?
There are 74g of sugar in a regular-size Arby’s Jamocha Shake and 116g of sugar in a large Arby’s Jamocha Shake.
Baskin-Robbins
How Much Sugar is in A Baskin Robbins Milkshake?
Below I have put together the sugar content data for the 9 shake flavors at Baskin-Robbins in the three sizes. As you can see the lowest sugar shake options at Baskin Robbins are the small vanilla and small peanut butter ‘n chocolate at 66g of sugar.
| Baskin Robbin’s Milkshake Flavor | Sugar In A Small Cup | Sugar In A Medium Cup | Sugar In A Large Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | 80g | 120g | 160g |
| Chocolate Chip | 68g | 102g | 135g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | 78g | 116g | 155g |
| Gold Medal Ribbon | 73g | 110g | 146g |
| Mint Chocolate Chip | 68g | 102g | 136g |
| Oreo Cookies N Cream | 71g | 106g | 142g |
| Peanut Butter N Chocolate | 66g | 99g | 132g |
| Vanilla | 66g | 99g | 132g |
| Very Berry Strawberry | 72g | 108g | 144g |
Five Guys
How Much Sugar Is In A Five Guys Milkshake?
The milkshakes work slightly differently at Five Guys. There is just one base milkshake flavor at Five Guys and that is vanilla.
There are 82g of sugar in a Five Guys vanilla milkshake base. If you add whipped cream that adds 1g of sugar bring the sugar content to 83g of sugar.
Below are the sugar contents for the different toppings you can then have added to your milkshake.
| Five Guys Milkshake Add-Ins | Sugar Content |
|---|---|
| Bacon | 0g |
| Banana | 44g |
| Chocolate | 22g |
| Oreo creme | 23g |
| Oreo cookie pieces | 10g |
| Peanut butter | 4g |
| Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups | 14g |
| Salted Caramel | 28g |
| Strawberry | 23g |
As you can see from the table unless you want to add bacon to your Milkshake (and who would want to do that?!) your lowest sugar option is peanut butter. The add-ins at Five Guys make a big difference – if you add just peanut butter, you are only adding 4g of sugar. However, if you add banana and salted caramel that’s 72g of extra sugar – almost as much as the vanilla base!
Sugar In Milkshakes F&Q
Do Milkshakes Have More Sugar Than Coke?
As a general rule, there is more sugar in a milkshake than in a can of Coke.
Is There a Lot of Sugar in a Milkshake? – The Final Bite
Is there a lot of sugar in a milkshake? How can I answer this question delicately – yes. Yes, milkshakes from fast-food chains will contain a lot of sugar. There is no way of “sugar-coating” this (see what I did there). If you love fast-food shakes and are watching your sugar, then I am sorry to inform you that these two things are not compatible. The one thing I was especially surprised at was to learn that McDonald’s shakes are not the highest in sugar when compared to other fast-food brands I look at (if you order vanilla and in the smallest size).
And Remember…
Ingredients and/or manufacturing processes may change. Always double-check ingredient lists and nutritional information before purchasing any food items.
WANT TO FIND MORE LOW SUGAR OPTIONS?
Do you want to learn about some other low-sugar options at your favorite coffee chains, fast food, or restaurant joints, or just while you are shopping for groceries? If you do, then check out some of my other articles below: