McDonald's has been under fire for hiking prices lately, and for one group of customers, the chain's burgers and fries are getting particularly expensive. The fast food giant boasts its own 'McDelivery' service - available no matter how many items are in the order. But one customer's small order, and subsequent added delivery fee, has left Reddit users fuming. On Reddit, the McDonald's diner noticed a strange charge attached to their delivery order. Separate from the standard delivery and service fees, there was an added 'small order fee' tagged on for $3.50.
Customer Complains About Unexpected Delivery Fee
'Literally used my employee discount, and it's still cheaper through DoorDash because of this stupid... fee,' they wrote. 'I've never seen this before in my life.' Some customers noted that at $3.50, the Reddit user could've added another menu item to essentially 'save' money on the fast food. 'Probably because the subtotal was less than $15,' one Reddit user said. 'A lot of places, if not most, do this sort of fee for delivery. I usually just find something small that'll cover it, so I at least won't be paying for NOTHING.'
Small Fees Prompt Some to Skip Fast Food Altogether
'I always get BOGO double cheeseburgers and I found out yesterday they are charging 50 cents to add mayonnaise to a burger now,' another noted. 'Needless to say, that turned me away and I ate at home. So much for trying to expand value. Seems to just be at my closest location though, other ones it doesn't charge.' Customers who purchase food on the McDonald's app have access to deals and discounts, even for delivery orders. These 'small order' charges are nothing new for the McDonald's app. The company first introduced this fee in November 2022, with customers needing to reach a $12 threshold to ditch it.
While DoorDash does not have a dedicated 'small order fee,' it does charge customers fees for their McDonald's delivery service. In New York, there's an additional $1.99 delivery fee, a $3 service fee and a $1.99 'NYC Regulatory Response Fee' on a $5.29 McChicken order on DoorDash. With taxes, as well as fees, that $5.29 McDonald's sandwich becomes $12.74. 'At DoorDash, our approach to fees is guided by foundational principles including fairness and transparency,' a spokesperson said. 'There are no hidden fees , junk fees or surprises at checkout. We're upfront on pricing. You will always see what you will pay, including fees, before you ever checkout.'
Other food delivery services, like Postmates and Uber Eats boast a similar delivery fee policy. The Daily Mail previously reported on an investigation found that UK customers buying everyday items on Uber Eats were typically paying at least 20 percent more. Small delivery fee aside, McDonald's is trying to win back customers with new additions to their menu. In 2026, McDonald's debuted its 'biggest ever burger' in the US, the Big Arch , complete with three slices of white processed cheese, crispy and fresh onions, pickles, lettuce and a brand-new tangy 'Big Arch' sauce in a sesame and poppy-seed bun. The small delivery order fee wouldn't be the first time McDonald's was accused of sneakily raising prices.
McDonald's came under fire in 2024 when a now-viral social media post showing Big Mac combos costing $18 or more became the poster child for post-pandemic price hikes for fast food. The chain introduced a $5 meal deal that summer and worked with US franchisees to lower combo-meal prices. The 'value menu' remains a welcome addition to McDonald's menus nationwide. 'McDonald's is not going to get beat on value and affordability,' Kempczinski said during an investor call at the time. McDonald's remains one of the world's largest franchises, but it is now longer the biggest after being dethroned by Chinese cafe chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea .