McDonald’s announced it will be rounding change to the nearest five cents due to a penny shortage
11:44 ET, 03 Nov 2025Updated 13:53 ET, 03 Nov 2025
McDonald’s is modifying its change approach to address an ongoing penny shortage(Image: Natalia Kuzina via Getty Images)
McDonald’s is modifying how it will return change to customers to address an ongoing penny shortage, leaving some patrons frustrated.
A memo from the fast food giant gained traction on Reddit, informing patrons that change would be rounded to the nearest five cents. This follows President Donald Trump’s directive to the U.S. Treasury to cease penny production earlier this year after taking office.
McDonald’s confirmed to the Irish Star that at locations facing penny shortages, the restaurant will round up to the nearest 5 cents when customers don’t have exact change. For card transactions, order totals will stay the normal total.
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Menu costs will stay identical, but the complete order amount will be rounded based on the change. The Reddit notice detailed how the rounding system would function:
- If the order price ends in 1 or 2 cents, it will be rounded down to 0 cents.
- If the order price ends in 3 or 4 cents, it will be rounded up to 5 cents.
- If the order price ends in 5 or 0 cents, exact change will be given.
- If the order price ends in 6 or 7 cents, it will be rounded down to 5 cents.
- If the order price ends in 8 or 9 cents, it will be rounded up to 10 cents.
A memo from McDonald’s went viral on Reddit
McDonald’s said in a statement to the Irish Star: “Following the discontinuation of pennies nationwide, some McDonald’s locations may not be able to provide exact change. We have a team actively working on long-term solutions to keep things simple and fair for customers. This is an issue affecting all retailers across the country, and we will continue to work with the federal government to obtain guidance on this matter going forward.”
The company confirmed it would not impact card payments or other cashless options, which represent the majority of transactions here in the U.S. Restaurants may ask customers to use exact change or cashless payment options like credit/debit or the App, where they can unlock a variety of national and local deals.
McDonald’s added that in countries where similar currency changes have taken place, local businesses have followed similar rounding practices.
McDonald’s customers react
McDonald’s supporters showed varying responses to the announcement. One Reddit commenter stated: “I guess it’s okay and not a big deal but knowing how these companies work, I can see them pricing everything so they can pocket an extra two cents from every sale.”
Another commented: “Just change the d— prices. You say the prices stay unchanged but then charge more or less at the end of the transaction.”
Others noted that different countries already operate this way, suggesting it’s time to eliminate the penny.
One individual posted: “We should go this anyway, retire the penny. In fact, also retire the nickel.
“H—, the last time the US retired it’s lowest coin was the half-cent and back then it was worth more than what a dime is worth today. Why are we even using pennies and nickels?”
Trump ordered the Treasury to halt penny production in FebruaryPenny shortage
The U.S. Mint placed its final order for penny blanks in May, and once those are depleted, it will cease production of the coin entirely. The Treasury indicated that ending penny production is expected to generate savings of $56 million in material expenses.
Trump directed the agency to halt penny manufacturing shortly after assuming office this year.
“For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!” Trump posted on Truth Social at the time. “I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.”
Companies are employing various strategies to address the penny scarcity. Sheetz, a convenience store chain, launched a campaign providing complimentary soda to patrons who brought in pennies, according to ABC News.
Although numerous experts concur the penny serves no purpose, some argue the sudden cessation without federal oversight will create challenges for retailers.
“We have been advocating abolition of the penny for 30 years. But this is not the way we wanted it to go,” said Jeff Lenard with the National Association of Convenience Stores.