How many refills can I get at McDonald's?

You can get zero or potentially one refill at some locations, as McDonald's is phasing out free refills and self-serve drink stations, making it up to individual franchise owners, with many now pouring drinks behind the counter and some denying refills, a change driven by cost, theft, and cleaning issues. By 2032, all U.S. locations will have removed these self-serve machines.

Does McDonald's have unlimited refills?

McDonald's is transitioning away from self-serve beverage stations and some locations may start to charge for refills that were once free. The fast food giant will slowly remove self-serve beverage stations – fountain drink dispensers – and be completely rid of the stations by 2032.

Can you really get a free refill on large fries at McDonald's?

The next time you sit down at the fast food chain and polish off your fries too quickly, ask for a refill. All you need is to flag down an employee and ask them to fill up your fry container.

Why did McDonald's get rid of $1 drinks?

Some McDonald's Are Doing Away With $1 Drinks

Despite McDonald's parent company advising restaurants to keep drinks of every size on the dollar menu, owners were finding that it hurt profitability, the Journal reports.

Are refills free at McDonald's reddit?

McDonalds No Longer Offering Free Refills.

Don't Eat At McDonald's Again Until You Watch This

When did free refills start?

Free refills started way back in 19th-century American coffeehouses as a sign of generosity, becoming popular in diners with soda fountains, but the modern fast-food norm was popularized by Taco Bell in 1988 as a value strategy, leading to widespread adoption in the U.S. and Canada, though it's now being phased out by some chains like McDonald's. 

Is it true that McDonald's is giving away free fries?

An ongoing special at McDonald's gets you a free medium order of fries with any purchase of $1 or more in the McDonald's app every Friday through Dec. 26, 2025. The fast-food chain is sweetening the deal this week to get one additional free medium order with a $1 minimum purchase in the app through Sunday, July 13.

What are the $2 drinks at McDonald's?

The Savor Every Sip Deal – Every day at McDonald's a small McCafé drink is just $2 dollars. Choose from Strawberry Banana Smoothies, Iced Mochas, Caramel Frappes, Iced Macchiatos and more! Try contactless mobile ordering and curbside pick-up on the McDonald's app today.

Why is McDonald's suddenly so expensive?

McDonald's raised prices primarily due to significant increases in operating costs, including inflation, higher labor expenses (like minimum wage hikes), and increased food and packaging costs, forcing franchisees (who set local prices) to pass these higher expenses onto consumers to maintain profitability, with recent efforts including new value deals to address customer pushback. 

Do McDonald's water down their Coke?

But over time, the ice melts, and you end up with a diluted drink. McDonald's understands how this process diminishes your drinking experience, so they adjust their syrup-to-water ratio to account for the ice. So when it comes straight out of the fountain, the Coke is more concentrated than your standard soda.

Can McDonald's deny refills?

Individual McDonald's restaurants can decide whether or not to charge for beverage refills, a McDonald's representative told the publication Insider.

How to get free stuff at McDonald's?

You can get free McDonald's items mainly through the MyMcDonald's Rewards app, earning points for free food, claiming new user deals (like a free Big Mac with a $1+ purchase), receiving birthday rewards, and redeeming Monopoly game codes found on packaging or via free online entries. Regularly checking the app's "Deals" section for offers like BOGO (Buy One Get One) or free fries also yields rewards. 

How to bring back McDonald's Fries?

To reheat McDonald's fries, the best methods for crispiness are the air fryer, oven, or skillet, all involving a hot, dry or lightly oiled environment to restore crispness without sogginess, ideally with a quick cook time (3-5 mins) at high heat (around 350-400°F) and a light spritz of oil. Avoid the microwave if you want them crispy, as it tends to make them soft. 

Do McDonald's have free coffee for seniors?

McDonald's doesn't have a corporate-wide free senior coffee policy, but many independently-owned locations offer discounted drinks (often small coffees for around $0.80 - $1.00) for seniors (typically 55+ or 60+), with some rare instances of being free; it's best to call your local restaurant or check in person to confirm their specific senior discount, as offers vary by franchisee.
 

Is it true McDonald's refills fries?

McDonald's doesn't have a standard official policy for free french fry refills; it's usually up to the individual restaurant owner's discretion, though some locations might offer them if you politely ask, while others strictly enforce "no refills" due to recent changes phasing out self-serve drink stations and limiting freebies.
 

How can restaurants afford free refills?

Due to the extremely low cost of fountain soft drinks (especially the beverage itself, not including the cost of the cup, lid and straw), often offering a profit margin of 80-82%, establishments tend to offer free refills as a sales gimmick.

Is a Big Mac meal really $18?

In a recent letter, Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA, said $18 for a Big Mac combo was the “exception” and not the norm across all 13,700 restaurants in the country. The thing is: It doesn't really matter that virtually no one is paying anything close to $18 for a Big Mac combo.

Is McDonald's paying $15 an hour?

McDonalds Crew Member

Competitive starting pay, $15 an hour. Free family medical care for all employees (1-800Med) including free or low cost prescriptions. Flexible Scheduling for all your needs.

What if you invested $1000 in McDonald's 10 years ago?

Investing $1,000 in McDonald's (MCD) stock around early 2016 (10 years prior to early 2026) would have grown significantly, potentially more than tripling your investment to roughly $3,000-$3,200+, including stock appreciation and consistent dividend payments (reinvested or not), outperforming the S&P 500 and providing steady income over the decade, showcasing strong long-term growth for the stable fast-food giant. 

How do you get the 50 cent burgers at McDonald's?

18, fans can enjoy a Double Cheeseburger for just 50 cents at participating restaurants nationwide exclusively through the McDonald's App. You can download the McDonald's app on the Apple App Store and the Android Google Play Store.

What is a CosMc at McDonald's?

The name CosMc originated as a McDonaldland character, appearing in McDonald's advertisements from 1986 to 1992. CosMc is an extraterrestrial who "craves McDonald's food." The character occasionally came to steal food for his planet, CosMcland.

What is the McDonald's $6.95 meal deal?

There surely cannot be a better deal on Planet Earth right now than the $6.95 McSmart Meal at McDonald's with a small fries, small drink, cheeseburger and choice of a sundae or chicken and cheese. This is genuinely cheaper than some fruits and vegetables on their own at the supermarket…

Who gets free McDonald's for life?

And billionaires? Apparently, they get free Big Macs. That's right—Bill Gates, worth well over $100 billion, has a McDonald's "gold card" granting him free meals for life anywhere in the world.

Does Bill Gates sell fries to McDonald's?

Gates's farmland produces potatoes for McDonald's fries

In her book, Das writes that Gates has an agricultural team that handles his farm investments. His land produces carrots, corn — and some of the potatoes McDonald's uses for its famous fries.

Is it healthier to bake or fry potatoes?

Baking, boiling, or mashing potatoes avoids the adverse health effects of deep frying. The study also found that swapping potatoes for whole grains lowered diabetes risk even more.