McDonald’s Adapts to National Penny Shortage With New Cash Rounding Policy

The Humble Penny Disappears, Leaving Fast Food and Change Jars in Transition

For generations, the penny has been a staple of American commerce, but now McDonald’s customers paying with cash may notice these copper coins are suddenly disappearing from their change. As the U.S. Treasury halts production of pennies, McDonald’s has begun implementing a new rounding system at select locations, bringing cash transactions into the nearest five-cent increment and signaling a fundamental shift in everyday transactions .

The change, which began appearing at franchises in October 2025, means customers paying with cash could see their order total adjusted up or down by a few cents depending on the final amount. This response to the national penny shortage has sparked both confusion and debate among customers unaccustomed to life without America’s smallest denomination coin .

“Following the discontinuation of pennies nationwide, some McDonald’s locations may not be able to provide exact change,” a McDonald’s USA spokesperson stated. “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” .

How McDonald’s New Rounding System Works

The mechanics of the rounding policy are straightforward, affecting only the final cents of a transaction total. When customers pay with cash and don’t have exact change, the system rounds to the nearest five cents using standard mathematical rounding principles .

The specific rounding works as follows:

If Total Ends In	Rounded Amount	Customer Impact
1 or 2 cents	0 cents	Saves 1-2 cents
3 or 4 cents	5 cents	Pays 2-1 cents more
6 or 7 cents	5 cents	Saves 1-2 cents
8 or 9 cents	10 cents	Pays 2-1 cents more
0 or 5 cents	No change	Exact amount

This careful balancing ensures that over multiple transactions, the rounding essentially evens out for customers, with sometimes paying slightly more and other times paying slightly less .

Limited Implementation and Cashless Exceptions

It’s important to note that this policy isn’t universal across all McDonald’s locations. The change is being implemented primarily in regions experiencing significant penny shortages, with individual franchise owners deciding whether to adopt the practice based on their coin inventory .

Additionally, the rounding only applies to cash payments where customers don’t have exact change. Those paying with credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, or through the McDonald’s app will see no difference in their charges, as these digital payments can still process exact amounts to the penny . For the majority of McDonald’s customers who now use cashless options, it will be business as usual.

Some locations may simply encourage customers to use exact change or opt for cashless payments instead of implementing rounding . This flexible approach acknowledges that the transition away from pennies will be gradual and uneven across different markets.

Behind the Decision: Why Pennies Are Disappearing

The move away from penny production began in February 2025 when President Donald Trump directed the Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies due to rising production costs . The coin costs approximately 3.69 cents to produce, creating a significant financial loss for the government with each new penny entering circulation .

In May 2025, the Treasury Department placed its final order for penny blanks, with production expected to cease completely when existing supplies run out early next year . While there are approximately 250 billion pennies currently in circulation, distribution has become uneven, creating “localized supply issues” according to the American Banking Association .

These supply chain problems mean that although pennies still exist in abundance nationally, they’re not necessarily available where and when businesses need them. Federal Reserve coin terminal facilities—where coins are distributed—have increasingly stopped penny transactions, creating regional shortages that affect retailers .

Customer Reactions: From Frustration to Acceptance

The new policy has generated mixed reactions, particularly on social media platforms like Reddit where the change was first noticed and shared .

“Not sure how this is legal because a penny owed is still a penny owed,” wrote one skeptical Reddit user, capturing the sentiment of those who view the rounding as potentially problematic .

Another commenter questioned the necessity, noting, “There are still 114 billion pennies in circulation. There is no shortage of pennies. We just need to use the pennies that are in our piggy banks”.

However, some international customers pointed out that similar systems have worked successfully elsewhere. “They do this in Canada,” one user noted, while another added, “Been like this in Australia for decades” .

International Precedent and What’s Next for McDonald’s

Indeed, the United States is not the first country to face this currency evolution. Canada successfully eliminated its penny in 2012, implementing a similar rounding system for cash transactions. Australia made a comparable transition back in 1992 when it removed its 1- and 2-cent coins from circulation . Both countries managed the transition with minimal disruption to daily commerce.

For McDonald’s, the current approach appears to be an interim solution while the company explores longer-term options. The fast-food giant has indicated it is “actively working on long-term solutions to keep things simple and fair for customers” and “working with the federal government to obtain guidance on this matter going forward” .

This collaborative approach suggests that more permanent adaptations might be forthcoming, whether through menu price adjustments, further encouragement of cashless payments, or industry-wide standards for handling the penny shortage.

The Bigger Picture: A Nation in Monetary Transition

McDonald’s implementation of cash rounding represents a microcosm of broader changes in American commerce. As physical currency evolves and production costs dictate which denominations remain practical, both businesses and consumers must adapt.

The rounding policy also highlights America’s gradual shift toward a cashless society. With the majority of McDonald’s transactions already occurring through digital payments, the inconvenience of penny rounding affects a shrinking portion of customers . For those who continue to prefer cash, however, the change represents another step away from traditional monetary habits.

As the penny slowly exits circulation, Americans may find themselves recalling the familiar copper coin with nostalgia while adapting to the practical realities of a penny-less marketplace. For now, McDonald’s customers paying with cash might want to glance at their receipt—they could either save or spend a few extra cents on their next order.

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