Earning and redeeming points
MyMcDonald’s Rewards: Points, Tiers & Free Food
Earn 100 points per eligible $1 spent, then compare the rewards available in your app. The U.S. reward menu below was checked on October 21, 2026.
Join MyMcDonald’s Rewards and identify your account before paying for an eligible order at a participating restaurant. App orders identify the account automatically; restaurant orders can use the code or scan shown in the app. The points menu and the rewards unlocked for your account are the final check before redemption.
Current McDonald’s Rewards tiers
The published U.S. menu now shows six point levels, including a $3 order discount. Older four-tier charts can differ. The spend column is arithmetic at the base earning rate, before bonus campaigns; it is not the cash price of the reward.
| Points | Published reward choices | Eligible spend at 100 points/$1 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 | Hash Browns, Apple Pie, small Premium Roast Coffee, or Vanilla Cone | $15 |
| 2,000 | McChicken, Cheeseburger, or Sausage Biscuit | $20 |
| 3,500 | Medium Fries, Sausage Burrito, 6-piece McNuggets, large Iced Coffee, or Sausage McGriddles | $35 |
| 4,000 | $3 off an order of $3 or more, subject to app terms | $40 |
| 5,000 | Large Fries, Sausage McMuffin with Egg, Filet-O-Fish, large Frappé, or Hotcakes | $50 |
| 7,000 | Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Happy Meal, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, McFlurry, 10-piece McNuggets, or Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles | $70 |
Choices depend on the participating restaurant, menu hours, and the reward displayed in the app. A listed breakfast item does not establish all-day breakfast availability. Check the selected reward’s terms for restrictions or charges before confirming it.
Understand the points calculation
At the base rate, $8 of eligible spending earns 800 points, while $12.50 earns 1,250 points. Taxes, fees, and gift-card loads do not earn points. When a discount or reward reduces the amount paid, eligible points are based on the dollars actually spent.
For planning, subtract your available balance from the target tier and divide the remaining points by 100. For example, if you have 2,600 points and want a 3,500-point reward, the gap is 900 points, equivalent to $9 of eligible base-rate spending. A bonus campaign could change that result.
The spend needed to earn points is different from a reward’s value. Spending $70 over eligible purchases to earn 7,000 base points does not mean the selected free item has a $70 menu price.
How to redeem a reward
- Open the Rewards section and check the available balance.
- Choose a reward you can use for the restaurant and meal period you want.
- Read its terms before exchanging points.
- Add it to the app order or use the restaurant code before completing the order.
- Check that the reward is applied in the order summary.
The program currently allows one reward per order. Do not assume a reward will combine with another offer. Keep your receipt until the transaction and points balance look right.
How to compare the value of two rewards
A useful comparison is the local price of the item you would otherwise buy, divided by its point cost. Keep the portion and restaurant the same. A reward for an item you do not want provides little practical saving, even when its numerical ratio looks attractive.
The 4,000-point $3 discount gives a clear benchmark: $0.75 of discount per 1,000 points, subject to its conditions. As an illustration, a hypothetical $5.25 item redeemed for 3,500 points would represent $1.50 per 1,000 points. That example explains the calculation; $5.25 is not a price listing for a particular McDonald’s item.
Compare what remains to pay after redemption, too. If reaching an offer threshold adds food you did not plan to buy, the larger discount might still leave you with a higher total. Our delivery guide explains the same whole-cart comparison for delivery fees.
Point expiry, delivery, and missing points
Points expire on the first day of the month after the sixth month from when they were earned. Check the balance and expiry information in the app before saving for a later tier. Points are not transferable between accounts or redeemable for cash.
Eligible McDelivery orders made in the McDonald’s app can earn and redeem rewards. Orders placed directly through a third-party delivery operator do not redeem McDonald’s rewards. Choose the channel deliberately rather than assuming all delivery orders use the same loyalty account.
If you forgot to identify your account, the program terms allow a manual request within seven days of purchase using a valid receipt. Keep the restaurant number, date, time, order number, and total available. Use the app’s missing-points or customer-support flow; this website cannot adjust a Rewards balance.
Rewards questions
Are point tiers the same as menu prices?
No. Points are the redemption requirement. The eligible-spend examples explain how points accumulate, while the local menu gives the item’s cash price.
Should I always save for the highest tier?
Compare the item you would actually buy, its local price, your balance, and expiry. A lower tier can be useful sooner, while waiting only helps if the later reward suits your order.
Why does an older Rewards chart show different levels?
Reward options can change. Use the dated table here as a comparison, then confirm the options displayed in your own app before exchanging points.