If you’ve ever let a National Cheeseburger Day slip by without scoring a deal, you know the regret. McDonald’s is marking September 18 this year with a 50-cent Double Cheeseburger deal—but there’s a catch. The offer lives exclusively inside the McDonald’s app, and only one burger per customer is allowed. Here’s everything you need to know to actually get your hands on one.

4 related posts

Event Date: September 18 ·
Item Offered: Double Cheeseburger ·
Price: 50 cents ·
Redemption Method: McDonald’s app ·
Limit per Customer: Once

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Canada-specific availability not confirmed
  • Whether franchisees can opt out of the deal
  • Exact redemption count for this year’s event
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Download the McDonald’s app before Sept. 18
  • Place order through the app on event day
  • Pick up at your local McDonald’s or use Drive-Thru

The table below summarizes the core deal parameters for quick reference.

Detail Information
Date September 18
Burger Type Double Cheeseburger
Price 50 cents
Method McDonald’s app
Availability US primarily
Limit One per customer

How do you get 50-cent cheeseburgers at McDonald’s?

Via McDonald’s app

The promotion is locked to the McDonald’s app—you won’t find it on the website or at the counter. The company has made this clear: ordering through the app is the only way to claim the 50-cent Double Cheeseburger (ABC News). The deal drops alongside the broader “Season of Savings” campaign, announced on September 12, 2024 (McDonald’s Corporate).

Redemption steps

  1. Download or open the McDonald’s app on your phone
  2. Create an account or log in if you already have one
  3. Locate the National Cheeseburger Day offer on September 18
  4. Add the Double Cheeseburger to your cart at the discounted price
  5. Complete your order and choose pickup or Drive-Thru

Make sure you’re logged in and ready to order on September 18. The deal is first-come, first-served—one per customer, and the window closes when the day ends.

The catch

If you don’t already have the app installed, you might miss the window. App download and account creation take a few minutes—factor that in before September 18 if you’re planning to order.

What day is McDonald’s selling 50-cent cheeseburgers?

National Cheeseburger Day date

National Cheeseburger Day falls on September 18 every year (Time Out). McDonald’s anchors its annual 50-cent Double Cheeseburger promotion to this date, making September 18 the target day for the deal.

Offer duration

The offer is valid for one day only—September 18. It is not a multi-day event, and there is no indication from McDonald’s that the deal extends beyond that single 24-hour window.

The promotion ties into McDonald’s broader fall “Season of Savings,” which includes the popular $5 Meal Deal extended into December in most markets (McDonald’s Corporate). Other scheduled deals include McCrispy Day on November 9 and $1 McNuggets from November 4 through December 2.

Is there a limit on the 50-cent cheeseburgers at McDonald’s?

Per customer limit

Yes—McDonald’s allows one 50-cent Double Cheeseburger per person. The limit is firm and confirmed across multiple reports (The Independent). You cannot stack multiple orders to get two burgers at 50 cents each.

App restrictions

Because the deal is app-exclusive, the one-per-person limit is enforced digitally through the ordering system. The restriction makes it impossible to redeem the deal twice through a single account. Local franchisees can set some market-specific variations, but the core limit applies nationwide (McDonald’s Corporate).

What this means: if you want to grab a second burger for a family member, that person will need their own account and their own order—each still limited to one burger at the promotional price.

Why this matters

The app-only rule is not new for McDonald’s. The Golden Arches has been running National Cheeseburger Day deals exclusively through the app for several years, mirroring past patterns to drive app adoption (McDonald’s Corporate).

When is 50-cent Cheeseburger Day at McDonald’s?

Annual timing

The deal runs annually on September 18—National Cheeseburger Day. The 2024 event follows the same calendar as previous years, with McDonald’s officially confirming the promotion via their corporate site on September 12, 2024 (McDonald’s Corporate).

2024 confirmation

The 2024 promotion is confirmed: $0.50 Double Cheeseburger, app-only, one per customer, on September 18. The deal is part of the “Season of Savings” announced in early September. McDonald’s has not announced whether a similar promotion will return in 2025, but the annual cadence suggests the company may repeat this offer.

What other National Cheeseburger Day deals are available?

McDonald’s is not the only chain running a National Cheeseburger Day promotion. Several competitors are offering their own deals on September 18.

  • Burger King: Free cheeseburger with $1 purchase via BK app (Time Out)
  • Wendy’s: $0.01 Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger with any purchase, valid Thursday through Monday (The Independent)
  • Dairy Queen: Free Double Original Cheeseburger Stackburger with $1 order, through September 19 for rewards members (Time Out)
  • Jack in the Box: Free Jr. Cheeseburger with $1 purchase on September 18 (The Independent)
  • Sonic: Buy one Double Sonic Smasher, get one free on September 18 (Time Out)
  • White Castle: BOGO Cheese Sliders with code SAYCHEESE, limit one per person (The Independent)
  • Smashburger: Any single Smashburger for $4.99 with no purchase limit (Time Out)
  • Portillo’s: 50% off one regular cheeseburger for Perks members through September 19 (ABC News)
The upshot

If you’re comparing deals, Wendy’s multi-day offer and Dairy Queen’s extended window give you more flexibility than McDonald’s single-day, one-per-person flash sale. But if you want a Double Cheeseburger specifically, McDonald’s 50-cent price undercuts everyone else.

National Cheeseburger Day deals are primarily US-focused, according to multiple reports (The Independent). International availability varies by market and is not confirmed for this promotion.

How to redeem the McDonald’s 50-cent cheeseburger

The redemption process is straightforward but requires preparation. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Open the McDonald’s app on your smartphone
  2. Sign in or create a new account
  3. Wait until September 18 when the deal appears in the app
  4. Add the Double Cheeseburger to your cart—the price should automatically adjust to $0.50
  5. Confirm your order, noting the one-per-customer limit
  6. Select pickup in-store or at the Drive-Thru

The app is available on both iOS and Android. If you run into technical issues, McDonald’s customer support can help, but the company advises placing your order early in the day to avoid any potential system strain.

Understanding the deal structure and limits

The 50-cent Double Cheeseburger is a loss-leader promotion—McDonald’s trades margin for foot traffic and app engagement. Over 1 million customers redeemed free fries on National French Fry Day, and Free Fries Fridays have accumulated over 20 million redemptions (McDonald’s Corporate). The Cheeseburger Day deal follows the same playbook.

The one-per-person limit serves two purposes: it controls costs for the chain and encourages customers who want more to place separate orders or add other items to their cart. Either way, McDonald’s wins.

Bottom line: Customers who download the McDonald’s app before September 18 can claim a 50-cent Double Cheeseburger; those who skip the app entirely pay full price on National Cheeseburger Day.

Confirmed vs. Unconfirmed

Confirmed

  • September 18 date from corporate site
  • App-only redemption confirmed
  • Double Cheeseburger is the discounted item
  • One per customer limit from The Independent
  • 50-cent price from McDonald’s Corporate
  • Announced Sept. 12, 2024

Unclear

  • Canada availability
  • Exact franchisee participation rate
  • Whether deal repeats in 2025
  • Delivery order eligibility

What people are saying

“Double the fun with $0.50 Double Cheeseburgers on National Cheeseburger Day (Sept. 18).”

— McDonald’s USA (Corporate)

“The Golden Arches is serving up Double Cheeseburgers for just 50 cents, but only if you order through the McDonald’s app.”

— Time Out Editors

“Only one burger is allowed per person.”

— The Independent

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McDonald’s 50-cent Double Cheeseburger ties into the annual National Cheeseburger Day 2025 guide, where fast-food chains roll out unbeatable burger promotions on September 18.

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 50-cent deal work in Canada?

Canada availability is not confirmed. National Cheeseburger Day deals are primarily US-focused, and McDonald’s has not announced Canadian participation for this specific promotion.

Is it a single cheeseburger or double?

The promotion applies to the Double Cheeseburger specifically—a two-patty, two-slice-of-cheese build. Single cheeseburgers are not included in this offer.

Can you stack with other app offers?

The one-per-person limit applies to the 50-cent Double Cheeseburger specifically. You can typically add other items to your cart, and other active app offers may apply to those items.

What if I don’t have the app?

You will need to download the McDonald’s app and create an account to redeem the deal. There is no in-store or website option. Plan ahead if you’re planning to participate.

Is the deal available all day?

Yes—the deal is valid for the full day on September 18, from opening to close of your local McDonald’s. However, supplies and availability may depend on local demand.

Does it apply to delivery orders?

Delivery eligibility is not explicitly confirmed. The app-only rule applies to ordering, but delivery may depend on your location and the participating franchisee.

What other burgers are discounted?

This promotion is specific to the Double Cheeseburger. Other McDonald’s deals running around the same time include the $5 Meal Deal and Free Fries Fridays, but those are separate promotions.

For Americans looking to score a 50-cent Double Cheeseburger on National Cheeseburger Day, the path is clear: get the app, place your order on September 18, and pick it up before the day ends. For anyone hoping to avoid the app or grab more than one burger, McDonald’s has already made those options unavailable.