Restaurants & Food

The Largest Fast-Food Chains in the World by Sales

Which fast-food chains take the most money? McDonald’s, by a distance: its restaurants sold $139.4 billion in 2025, more than the next four chains put together. Quick-service restaurants (QSR) are ranked here by annual system sales: everything customers spent at a brand’s restaurants worldwide, franchised or company-run. Seventeen of the Top 20 are American; the only chains from outside North America are two Chinese drinks brands, Mixue and Luckin.

Video history of how Ray Kroc built McDonald’s into a fast-food empire

Pictured: a video history of McDonald’s and Ray Kroc. McDonald’s is #1, with $139.4 billion in 2025 system sales.

Rank Chain Sales (US$ billions) What the figure is Home country Food Locations Parent company
1McDonald’s139.4System sales, 2025United StatesBurgers45,356McDonald’s Corporation
2Starbucks37.2Company revenue, year to Sept 2025 (system sales not published)United StatesCoffee40,990Starbucks Corporation
3KFC36.4System sales, 2025United StatesChicken33,897Yum! Brands
4Burger King29.4System sales, 2025United StatesBurgers19,900Restaurant Brands International
5Chick-fil-A24.8System sales, 2025 (Franchise Times estimate)United StatesChicken3,320Chick-fil-A, Inc. (private)
6Domino’s20.1Global retail sales, 2025United StatesPizza22,142Domino’s Pizza, Inc.
7Taco Bell18.4System sales, 2025United StatesMexican9,030Yum! Brands
8Subway16.0System sales, 2025 (Franchise Times estimate)United StatesSandwiches35,773Roark Capital (private)
9Dunkin’14.5System sales, 2025United StatesCoffee & donuts14,241Inspire Brands (private)
10Wendy’s14.0System sales, 2025United StatesBurgers7,397The Wendy’s Company
11Pizza Hut12.8System sales, 2025United StatesPizza19,974Yum! Brands
12Chipotle Mexican Grill11.9Company revenue, 2025 (it runs nearly all its restaurants)United StatesMexican4,042Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
13Mixue Ice Cream & Tea8.3Store sales, 2024 (RMB 58.3 billion; 2025 not published)ChinaTea & ice cream46,479 (end of 2024)Mixue Group
14Tim Hortons8.2System sales, 2025CanadaCoffee & donuts6,232Restaurant Brands International
15Luckin Coffee8.1Store sales (GMV), 2025 (RMB 56.6 billion)ChinaCoffee31,048Luckin Coffee Inc.
16Popeyes7.8System sales, 2025United StatesChicken5,413Restaurant Brands International
17Dairy Queen6.6System sales, 2025United StatesIce cream & burgers7,910Berkshire Hathaway
18Panda Express6.5US sales, 2025 (QSR magazine estimate)United StatesChinese-American2,607Panda Restaurant Group (private)
19Panera Bread5.7System sales, 2025 (Franchise Times estimate)United StatesBakery-café2,225Panera Brands (private)
20Wingstop5.3System sales, 2025United StatesChicken wings3,056Wingstop Inc.

What counts. Quick-service and fast-casual restaurant brands, the “limited-service” chains where you order at a counter, drive-through or app, including coffee and tea chains. Each brand is ranked on its own, not its parent company, and convenience-store chains such as 7-Eleven are left out. The figure. Annual system sales: what customers spent at all of a brand’s restaurants worldwide, franchised and company-run, for 2025. Most figures come from Franchise Times’s 2026 Top 400, which matches the companies’ own filings wherever they publish one; three are Franchise Times estimates for private chains.[1] Five chains need a different figure, marked in the table: Starbucks publishes only its own revenue, a floor for its sales;[3] Chipotle runs nearly all its restaurants, so its revenue is close to its sales;[12] Luckin’s GMV and Mixue’s terminal retail sales are what their stores sold, but Mixue has not published a 2025 figure, so its 2024 one is shown;[13][14] and Panda Express has only a US estimate.[4] Yuan figures are converted at RMB 7.0063 per US dollar.[13] Just outside the Top 20: Sonic ($5.24 billion), Raising Cane’s (about $5.1 billion in 2024, its latest published figure) and Papa John’s ($4.9 billion).[1][16] For the chains with the most locations instead, see The Largest Restaurant Chains in the World by Number of Locations.

The Top 10

#1

McDonald’s — $139.4 billion

Nothing else in fast food comes close. Customers spent $139.4 billion at McDonald’s restaurants around the world in 2025, up 7% on 2024 (5% at constant exchange rates), almost four times as much as at KFC. McDonald’s itself took in only $26.9 billion of that as revenue, because nearly all of its restaurants are run by franchisees who pay it rent and royalties.[2] It ended the year with 45,356 restaurants.[1] The video tells how milkshake-machine salesman Ray Kroc turned the McDonald brothers’ California burger stand into a franchise empire.[15]

#2

Starbucks — at least $37.2 billion

Starbucks is the one big chain here that doesn’t publish its system sales. Its own revenue was $37.2 billion in the year to September 28, 2025, up 3%, and that alone puts it second. The real figure is higher: almost half of its 40,990 stores are licensed (19,476, in airports, grocery stores and overseas markets), and Starbucks books only what licensees pay it, not what their customers spend.[3] QSR magazine estimates its US sales alone at about $30.25 billion.[4]

#3

KFC — $36.4 billion

KFC’s system sales rose to $36.4 billion in 2025 from $34.5 billion. That total includes its restaurants in mainland China, which are run by Yum China, KFC’s biggest franchisee and the exclusive licensee of Yum’s brands there.[5] Colonel Harland Sanders founded the chain in Corbin, Kentucky.[5][15] KFC is the largest of Yum! Brands’ three chains on this list, which together sold $67.6 billion.[5]

#4

Burger King — $29.4 billion

Burger King sold $29.4 billion worldwide in 2025 across 19,900 restaurants.[1] Only $11.6 billion of that came from the US and Canada, where sales grew just 0.9%.[6] Its owner, Restaurant Brands International, also runs Tim Hortons and Popeyes, both further down this list.[6]

#5

Chick-fil-A — about $24.8 billion

Chick-fil-A does it with a fraction of the restaurants: 3,320, against Burger King’s 19,900. Franchise Times estimates its 2025 sales at $24.8 billion,[1] and its franchise disclosure document puts US sales at about $23.9 billion, up 5.2%, with a typical freestanding restaurant taking just under $9.2 million a year.[7] That’s with every restaurant closed on Sundays. Founder Truett Cathy is credited with creating the fast-food chicken sandwich.[15]

#6

Domino’s — $20.1 billion

The world’s biggest pizza chain sold $20.1 billion in 2025, up 5.4% at constant exchange rates; in the last three months of the year, its stores outside the US sold more than those inside it.[8] It added 776 stores in a year and has more than 22,100 in over 90 markets. Domino’s has been selling pizza since 1960 and took its name in 1965.[9]

#7

Taco Bell — $18.4 billion

Taco Bell grew faster than any other big chain in the Yum! Brands family in 2025: system sales rose to $18.4 billion from $17.2 billion,[5] across 9,030 restaurants.[1] It makes far more per restaurant than Pizza Hut, its stablemate at #11, which has more than twice as many locations.[1][5] Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California, in 1962.[15]

#8

Subway — about $16.0 billion

Subway has more locations than any chain above it except McDonald’s, 35,773, but sells less per shop. Franchise Times estimates its 2025 sales at $16.0 billion.[1] It is still shrinking at home: Subway closed a net 729 US restaurants in 2025, leaving 18,773, while opening new ones abroad.[10] The video tells how a $1,000 loan in 1965 started the chain.[15]

#9

Dunkin’ — $14.5 billion

Dunkin’ sold $14.5 billion in 2025 across 14,241 locations.[1] It dropped “Donuts” from its name in 2019 to sell itself as a coffee chain first, which the Wall Street Journal explains in the video.[15] Its owner since 2020 is the private Inspire Brands, which also runs Arby’s, Sonic and Buffalo Wild Wings.

#10

Wendy’s — $14.0 billion

Wendy’s is the only chain in the Top 10 whose sales fell in 2025: global system sales were $13.96 billion, against $14.49 billion in 2024, a drop of 3.5% at constant exchange rates. Its international sales grew 8.1% to $2.06 billion, so the fall came from the US.[11] Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 and named it after his daughter.[11][15]

Fast Food Restaurant Chains Restaurant Sales Companies Brands

Sources

  1. Franchise Times, “Top 400” 2026 edition (largest US-based franchise systems by 2025 global systemwide sales and locations; McDonald’s $139.4 billion, KFC $36.43 billion, Burger King $29.37 billion, Chick-fil-A $24.78 billion*, Domino’s $20.13 billion, Taco Bell $18.36 billion, Subway $15.98 billion*, Dunkin’ $14.47 billion, Wendy’s $13.96 billion, Pizza Hut $12.79 billion, Tim Hortons $8.25 billion, Popeyes $7.79 billion, Dairy Queen $6.58 billion, Panera Bread $5.74 billion*, Wingstop $5.30 billion, Sonic Drive-In $5.24 billion, Papa John’s $4.90 billion; * = Franchise Times estimate) — https://www.franchisetimes.com/top-400.
  2. McDonald’s Corporation, Form 10-K for 2025 (systemwide sales up 7%, 5% in constant currencies, to $139.4 billion; consolidated revenues $26.9 billion) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63908/000006390826000035/mcd-20251231.htm.
  3. Starbucks Corporation, Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (total net revenues $37,184.4 million, up 3%; 40,990 stores at September 28, 2025, of which 19,476 licensed) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/829224/000082922425000114/sbux-20250928.htm.
  4. QSR magazine, “QSR 50 2026” (2025 US systemwide sales: Starbucks about $30.25 billion, estimated; Panda Express $6,472 million, estimated, 2,607 units) — https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/qsr-50-2026-top-50-fast-food-chains-ranked-by-sales/ and https://www.qsrmagazine.com/reports/qsr-50-2026-top-global-fast-food-chains-ranked-by-sales/.
  5. Yum! Brands, Inc., Form 10-K for 2025 (system sales: total $68,295 million; KFC $36,434 million vs $34,452 million; Taco Bell $18,361 million vs $17,193 million; Pizza Hut $12,794 million; Yum China as licensee in mainland China; KFC’s founding in Corbin, Kentucky) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1041061/000104106126000084/yum-20251231.htm.
  6. Restaurant Brands International, Form 10-K for 2025 (system-wide sales $46,762 million; Burger King US and Canada $11,578 million, up 0.9%; Tim Hortons Canada & US $7,573 million; Popeyes US & Canada $6,076 million; International segment $20,199 million) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1618756/000161875626000017/qsr-20251231.htm.
  7. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Chick-fil-A grew US sales to nearly $24B last year” (2026 franchise disclosure document: 2025 US sales about $23.9 billion, up 5.2%; freestanding restaurants averaged just under $9.2 million) — https://www.ajc.com/business/2026/04/chick-fil-a-grew-us-sales-to-nearly-24b-last-year/.
  8. Domino’s Pizza, Inc., “Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Financial Results”, February 23, 2026 (global retail sales $20,126.8 million, up 5.4% excluding currency; 776 net new stores) — https://ir.dominos.com/node/24181.
  9. Domino’s Pizza, Inc., Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (more than 22,100 locations in over 90 markets at December 28, 2025; selling food since 1960, “Domino’s Pizza” from 1965) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1286681/000119312526062321/dpz-20251228.htm.
  10. FOX 4 News, “Subway closes 729 US locations in 2025, marking steepest decline in years” — https://www.fox4news.com/news/subway-closes-locations-2025.
  11. The Wendy’s Company, Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (global systemwide sales $13.96 billion vs $14.49 billion, down 3.5% at constant currency; international $2.06 billion, up 8.1%; first restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, 1969) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/30697/000003069726000009/wen-20251228.htm.
  12. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., Form 10-K for 2025 (total revenue $11,925.6 million; 4,042 company-owned restaurants at December 31, 2025) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1058090/000105809026000009/cmg-20251231.htm.
  13. Luckin Coffee Inc., annual report on Form 20-F for 2025 (GMV RMB56.6 billion; total net revenues RMB49,288.1 million; 31,048 stores; translations at RMB7.0063 to US$1.00, the H.10 rate for December 31, 2025, also used on this page) — https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1767582/000110465926035712/lk-20251231x20f.htm.
  14. Mixue Group: China Daily Hong Kong on its Hong Kong listing (2024 store sales, or terminal retail sales, about RMB58.3 billion, up 21.7%; 46,479 stores at December 31, 2024) — https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/604663; EqualOcean on its 2025 results (revenue RMB33.56 billion; 59,823 stores at the end of 2025) — https://equalocean.com/news/2026032621813-mixue-group-reports-cny-33-56-billion-revenue-2025-accelerating-global.
  15. Company history from the YouTube videos embedded above: “How McDonald’s Took Over America” (Outliers); “How Starbucks turned fast coffee into a $36 billion business” (Yahoo Finance); “How Colonel Sanders Created a Chicken Empire” (Modern Business); “The Complete History of Burger King” (Arrow Connec); “Chick-fil-A founder created the fast food chicken sandwich” (CNN); “How Domino’s Went from a Failing Pizza Chain to the Biggest in the World” (Nation’s Restaurant News); “The Surprising History of Taco Bell” (Weird History Food); “SUBWAY: The Incredible History Of The Subway Sandwich” (FactsMedia); “Why Dunkin’ Donuts Is Now Just Dunkin’” (The Wall Street Journal); “Dave Thomas - Wendy’s Founder” (Biography).
  16. CNBC, “How Raising Cane’s overtook KFC to become the No. 3 chicken chain in the U.S.” (2024 system sales $5.1 billion) — https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/how-raising-canes-overtook-kfc-to-become-the-no-3-chicken-chain-in-the-u-s/6320193/.