The Quarter Pounder was the 1973 McDonald's sandwich named for a quarter-pound beef patty before cooking.
McDonald's introduced the Quarter Pounder in 1973 as a larger hamburger aimed at customers who wanted more beef than the standard hamburger. The name communicated the patty's uncooked weight, which is approximately four ounces. Cooking reduces the patty's final weight, so the name does not describe the cooked portion.
The sandwich became a major part of McDonald's product branding and is sold under localized names in some countries. In Japan, for example, the product has used the name Quarter Pounder, while other markets have adapted menu terminology to local conventions.
The Quarter Pounder is often confused with the Big Mac because both are flagship beef sandwiches. Their branding histories differ: the Big Mac originated with franchisee Jim Delligatti in 1967, while the Quarter Pounder was introduced nationally in 1973.