What is the best selling Cheerios? A Flavor-by-Flavor Breakdown

December 20, 2025 •

3 min read

Reportedly selling over 129 million boxes annually in the U.S., Honey Nut Cheerios has long been confirmed as the best selling Cheerios variety. This sweet, fan-favorite cereal with its unmistakable red and orange box has consistently outperformed the classic Original Cheerios flavor since 2009.

Quick Summary

Honey Nut Cheerios is the top-selling variety, having surpassed the original flavor years ago due to its broad appeal. The Cheerios brand offers a wide range of flavors, catering to various tastes and dietary preferences with different ingredients and sweetness levels.

Key Points

Honey Nut Cheerios Is the Top Seller: Honey Nut Cheerios has been the best-selling variety since 2009, surpassing the classic Original flavor.
Sweetness Wins the Market: The sweeter taste of Honey Nut Cheerios, achieved with honey and almond flavor, is the primary reason for its immense popularity over the plain Original.
Variety Caters to All Tastes: General Mills offers many other Cheerios flavors, including Multi-Grain, Apple Cinnamon, and Chocolate, to appeal to a broad range of consumers.
Consider Your Nutritional Needs: While Honey Nut is a top seller, varieties like the Original and Multi-Grain contain less sugar and are often preferred for their heart-healthy benefits and higher fiber content.
Brand Strength and Innovation: The Cheerios brand maintains its leading market position through strong brand recognition, effective marketing, and continuous innovation in its product line.
Long-standing Market Leader: The Cheerios brand has successfully navigated market shifts for decades, with Honey Nut's rise showcasing an adaptation to changing consumer preferences.

A Look at the Top Contender: Honey Nut Cheerios

When asking the question, "What is the best selling Cheerios?", the answer has been consistently Honey Nut Cheerios for over a decade. Introduced in 1979, this flavor quickly gained popularity for its sweeter profile, which is achieved by a coating of real honey and almond flavor. The success of Honey Nut Cheerios highlights a significant shift in consumer preferences towards flavored, sweetened cereals. Its widespread appeal has made it not only a best-seller within the Cheerios family but also one of the top-selling cereals across the entire U.S. market, competing with other giants like Frosted Flakes and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

The Original vs. the Challenger

For many years, Original Cheerios, the staple of the General Mills lineup since 1941, was the undisputed champion. It was cherished for its simple, whole-grain oat taste and heart-healthy benefits. However, in 2009, Honey Nut Cheerios officially overtook the Original in sales, marking a major milestone for the brand. While the Original still holds a loyal following, particularly among consumers seeking less sugar, the undeniable market leader is its honey-sweetened counterpart.

More Cheerios Varieties to Consider

Beyond the top two, the Cheerios brand has expanded its portfolio significantly to appeal to a wider audience with diverse tastes. This expansion includes options that focus on different flavor profiles, nutritional benefits, and dietary needs. The variety ensures that there is a Cheerios flavor for nearly everyone.

Multi-Grain Cheerios: Offers a blend of five different whole grains, providing a slightly heartier, more complex flavor than the original. It's often promoted for its fiber content and comes in flavors like Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon.
Apple Cinnamon Cheerios: A classic fruit-and-spice combination that has remained a popular choice for decades.
Chocolate Cheerios: This flavor caters to those with a sweeter tooth, combining the wholesome oat base with a rich, chocolatey taste.
Very Berry Cheerios: A newer, fruity addition to the lineup, featuring real fruit pieces for a vibrant flavor.

Nutritional Comparison of Popular Cheerios Flavors

To help you decide which Cheerios is best for your needs, here is a comparison of some key nutritional aspects. Note that values can vary based on serving size and specific product versions.


Feature	Original Cheerios	Honey Nut Cheerios	Multi-Grain Cheerios
Sugar per Serving	Low	High	Medium
Primary Ingredient	Whole Grain Oats	Whole Grain Oats	Multiple Whole Grains
Flavor Profile	Plain, Toasted Oat	Sweet, Honey, Almond	Mildly Sweet, Hearty
Fiber per Serving	Higher	Lower	Higher
Sweetness	Minimal	High	Noticeable, but less than Honey Nut

Exploring the Cheerios Effect and Brand Longevity

Interestingly, the term "Cheerios effect" is a real phenomenon in physics, describing how floating objects tend to attract one another. This playful fact highlights the cultural ubiquity of the brand. Cheerios' long-standing success is a testament to its strong brand loyalty, effective marketing, and ability to innovate while maintaining the core appeal of a wholesome, simple oat cereal. Whether it's through heart-healthy messaging for the original flavor or leveraging modern trends with new flavor launches, the brand has remained a powerhouse. For more information on the history and evolution of the brand, visit the official General Mills website(https://www.generalmills.com/food-we-make/brands/cheerios).

Conclusion: Honey Nut Remains King

In the ever-evolving breakfast landscape, where countless options vie for consumer attention, Honey Nut Cheerios has proven its staying power by consistently being the best selling Cheerios. Its sweet, distinctive flavor has resonated with a massive audience, securing its spot as the top dog in the brand's extensive lineup. While the Original flavor remains an iconic and healthy choice, and newer varieties offer exciting options, the clear market leader is Honey Nut. Ultimately, the best choice depends on individual taste and nutritional preferences, but from a sales perspective, Honey Nut is the undeniable champion.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most popular flavor of Cheerios is Honey Nut Cheerios, which has been the best-selling variety since it overtook Original Cheerios in 2009.

Original Cheerios is generally considered the healthier option due to its lower sugar content. Honey Nut Cheerios is sweeter, containing more added sugar per serving.

Original Cheerios are made from whole-grain oats, providing a simple flavor. Multi-Grain Cheerios combine five different whole grains, resulting in a more complex, hearty, and slightly sweeter taste.

Many Cheerios flavors are made with whole-grain oats and promoted for their potential heart-healthy benefits as part of a balanced diet. However, nutritional content varies, especially with added sugars in different flavors.

Most Cheerios flavors are certified gluten-free. General Mills uses a process to sort out any stray wheat, rye, or barley grains during production to ensure a gluten-free product.

Honey Nut Cheerios was first introduced into the U.S. cereal market by General Mills in 1979.

Yes, Cheerios comes in many other varieties, including Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate, Very Berry, and Multi-Grain, among others.