In-N-Out Price History: Menu Prices From 1948 to 2026
In-N-Out Price History: 1948–2026
In-N-Out’s menu has remained unusually compact, but its prices have changed substantially since the first Baldwin Park drive-through opened in 1948. A cheeseburger cost 25 cents in 1948, and the Double-Double joined the official menu in 1963 at 60 cents. In 2026, observed Double-Double prices generally sit around $5.20–$6.50 before tax, depending on the restaurant and market.
Research updated: August 1, 2026
Price convention: Nominal dollars; before tax unless noted
Evidence standard: Official company history, dated news reporting, menu-board photographs and receipts
In-N-Out does not publish a complete historical price database. This timeline distinguishes documented prices from approximate market ranges and does not pretend that one location represents the entire chain.
In-N-Out Price Timeline
| Year | Documented event or price | Evidence level |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Original cheeseburger advertised at $0.25; cold drinks at $0.10 | Historical menu reporting |
| 1963 | Double-Double introduced at $0.60 | Official In-N-Out history |
| 2017 | Surviving menu photos show substantially lower prices than 2024 | Dated customer menu images; location varies |
| 2024 | California Hamburger Combo $8.15, Cheeseburger Combo $8.65, Double-Double Combo $10.45 before tax | Published reporting |
| 2024 | Some higher-cost California locations exceeded those reference prices | Dated location reporting |
| 2025 | Individual patty-and-cheese prices were changed to close a Flying Dutchman price workaround | Reported from company memo and checked receipts |
| 2026 | Observed Double-Double prices commonly fall near $5.20–$6.50 | Multi-market observations; not national official price |
How Much Have Prices Increased?
The 1963 Double-Double price of $0.60 compared with an illustrative 2026 price of $6.00 represents a 900% nominal increase, or ten times the original dollar amount. That does not mean the burger became ten times as expensive in real purchasing-power terms. Inflation, wages, meat, dairy, produce, property, utilities and distribution costs all changed during those 63 years.
The simple calculation is:
($6.00 − $0.60) ÷ $0.60 × 100 = 900%
This page uses nominal menu prices because inflation-adjusted comparisons depend on the chosen index and month. A separate inflation analysis should specify the CPI series rather than mixing nominal and real dollars.
Major Periods in In-N-Out Pricing
1948–1962: The original menu
The first menu centered on hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries and drinks. These prices reflected the postwar economy and cannot be compared directly with modern wages or purchasing power.
1963: The Double-Double arrives
In-N-Out’s official history shows a menu advertising the new Double-Double at 60 cents. This is the strongest historical anchor for tracking the item over time.
1990s–2010s: Expansion and gradual increases
As In-N-Out expanded beyond California, prices continued to differ by market. Historical photographs are valuable, but a price without a restaurant, date and tax status should not be treated as a chainwide figure.
2020–2024: Faster restaurant inflation
Food, labor and operating costs increased rapidly after 2020. In April 2024, California’s fast-food minimum wage rose, and In-N-Out confirmed related menu increases of roughly $0.25–$0.50 depending on item and location. Published reference prices placed the Double-Double combo at $10.45 before tax.
2025–2026: Customization pricing and regional spread
In March 2025, In-N-Out changed individual patty-and-cheese pricing after customers used separate components to recreate a Flying Dutchman more cheaply. By 2026, menu observations showed meaningful differences among California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.
Why Old Prices Online Often Conflict
- Photos are reposted without their original year.
- A burger price is confused with a combo price.
- Before-tax menu prices are compared with after-tax receipts.
- One California tourist location is treated as a national average.
- Third-party sites copy outdated numbers from each other.
- Customizations such as extra patties, cheese or Animal Style fries change totals.
How We Build the Price Archive
Every historical record should include the item, price, location, observation date, tax treatment, source type and image rights. When exact evidence is unavailable, the page uses a range or describes the trend without inventing a number.
Readers can contribute a menu-board photo or redacted receipt. Personal and payment information should be removed before submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was a Double-Double in 1963?
In-N-Out’s official history shows the newly introduced Double-Double at $0.60.
How much did an In-N-Out cheeseburger cost in 1948?
Historical reporting on the original menu places it at $0.25.
Does In-N-Out have one national price?
No public universal price list is available. Prices vary by restaurant and market.
Are old menu photos reliable?
They are useful when the location, date and image origin can be verified. Unattributed reposts are weak evidence.
Sources
- Official In-N-Out history
- Food & Wine reporting on 2024 menu increases
- SFGATE reporting on the 2025 Flying Dutchman pricing change
In-N-OutPrices.com is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by In-N-Out Burgers. Historical prices can vary by location.
