# I wonder why Mcdonald's breakfast hours always ended at 11am? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 10, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246 "2014-08-10T16:58:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![7e42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/51bf81/32.png) [@7e42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7e42)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/21 "2014-08-10T23:58:27Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > They had to pick a time to switch over. They’re going to get a lot more people coming in at 11:00 looking for lunch than they get looking for breakfast. They may even have done some market research and tracked when they stopped selling so many Egg McWhatevers and started selling hamburgers. I believe that’s only because lunch starts at 11am. I think if it was pushed back to 12pm people would be programmed to come in MCD for lunch at 12pm instead of 11am ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/22 "2014-08-11T00:06:07Z")
But nobody wants to do that except you. See my previous about McDs market research. Personally I’d be happier if they did away with breakfast completely and offered the full menu from 6am on. ---
**Author:** ![7e42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/51bf81/32.png) [@7e42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7e42)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/23 "2014-08-11T00:16:52Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > But nobody wants to do that except you. See my previous about McDs market research. Personally I’d be happier if they did away with breakfast completely and offered the full menu from 6am on. Their breakfast food is the best they have to offer which is why I wish it was extended It’s cheaper and delicious ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/24 "2014-08-11T00:27:30Z")
I’m with the OP. Before 12 should be breakfast. I’m sure McDonalds has figured out the best profitability math, but I don’t know too many people that would eat a Big Mac and fries at 11am. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/25 "2014-08-11T00:43:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The Egg McMuffin was created by a [franchisee.](http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/amazing_stories/food/the_birth_of_the_egg_mcmuffin.html) That summary leaves out some interesting details, at least the way I have heard the story. McDonalds talked to my mother’s cousin in 1970 or so about an invention he had a patent on, for cooking hamburgers quicker. They chose not to license it, and then shortly thereafter started selling Egg McMuffins cooked with substantially the same device. He successfully sued them for patent infringement. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/26 "2014-08-11T01:11:29Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > There’s only one way to handle this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eREiQhBDIk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eREiQhBDIk) I think just about everyone thought of that clip. I know I do. My lunch at work is at 10:30(school teacher here) and I have gone out for hamburger and large fries and been turned away for being too early. I hate that. Anyone ever try the waffle taco at Taco Bell? Nightmare fuel, that is. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/27 "2014-08-11T01:11:35Z")
Where I live large high schools and businesses have staggered lunch times, some starting as early at 10:30 AM (which I think is very early). My first job had a lunch period from 11:00 to 11:42 PM (7/10 of an hour!) and every fast-food place and other restaurants served lunch starting at 10:30 or 11. Maybe you could look at it the other way - there should be more profit at lunch than at breakfast (and more profit at dinner than at lunch in a full restaurant), so move the menu to lunch as soon as possible. Doesn’t Burger King now serve hamburgers for breakfast (mostly because they don’t have a grill). ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/28 "2014-08-11T01:16:12Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > This is really the only answer we need. > > If McDonald’s thought that serving breakfast until 4.00 in the afternoon would make them more money, they would serve breakfast until 4.00 in the afternoon. > > Edit: > > Does anyone know if this is the sort of thing that is mandated by the company, or could individual franchise owners choose to change their breakfast hours to suit local conditions? I’ve got an outlet here that serves hotcakes 24hrs. They’ve got a sign up 'only at this \ (can’t remember the last word) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/29 "2014-08-11T01:54:22Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Where I live large high schools and businesses have staggered lunch times, some starting as early at 10:30 AM (which I think is very early). My first job had a lunch period from 11:00 to 11:42 PM (7/10 of an hour!) and every fast-food place and other restaurants served lunch starting at 10:30 or 11. > > Maybe you could look at it the other way - there should be more profit at lunch than at breakfast (and more profit at dinner than at lunch in a full restaurant), so move the menu to lunch as soon as possible. Doesn’t Burger King now serve hamburgers for breakfast (mostly because they don’t have a grill). I was going to say, for me lunch starts at about 10:30 at the earliest. 11 a.m. seems really late for what I would call breakfast. That’s the more usual beginning of what I’d call “lunch time.” For me, breakfast is like 5 a.m. - 10 a.m. Lunch from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. And the time between 10 and 11 is ambiguous. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/30 "2014-08-11T02:04:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And the time between 10 and 11 is ambiguous. Second breakfast. Or pre-lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/31 "2014-08-11T02:21:16Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I’ve got an outlet here that serves hotcakes 24hrs. They’ve got a sign up 'only at this \ (can’t remember the last word) I just did a Google search hoping to find a list of outlets that have extended hours for breakfast. I didn’t find that, but I found articles indicating that they’re considering extending breakfast hours chain-wide. One reason is that younger people want breakfast later in the day. (Presumably they sleep in past 10:30am.) Personally, I like to go for lunch at 11:30 or even 11am; it’s amazing how much less busy restaurants are if you get to them before noon. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/32 "2014-08-11T04:24:35Z")
Subway is doing their new breakfast thing all day long now. “For a limited time only.” No doubt McDonalds will be watching that like a hawk… ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/33 "2014-08-11T05:26:53Z")
Jack in the Box serves their full menu 24/7. It’s rather nice. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/34 "2014-08-11T05:27:27Z")
> [@7e42](#): > > No, all my jobs lunch start at 12pm which is why I never understood why Mcdonald’s breakfast ended at 11am My last lunch (half) hour was at 10:50 AM. The McDonald’s by me opens at 5 AM, so they’ve had 5 1/2 hours of breakfast before they make the switch. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/35 "2014-08-11T05:45:43Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I’m with the OP. Before 12 should be breakfast. I’m sure McDonalds has figured out the best profitability math, but I don’t know too many people that would eat a Big Mac and fries at 11am. But they want to be in “full gear” for the noon lunch-hour rush. If they wait until 12 to switch over menus, they won’t be fully prepared for the onslaught. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/36 "2014-08-11T05:49:19Z")
According to a franchise owner, they lack the grill space, toaster space and general space to make McMuffins and burgers at the same time. And they don’t want to use the microwave for that sort of thing. [McDonald’s Franchisee Explains Why You Can’t Get Egg McMuffins All Day – Consumerist](http://consumerist.com/2013/01/11/mcdonalds-franchisee-explains-why-you-cant-get-egg-mcmuffins-all-day/) It’s sort of tragic, given that the Egg McMuffin is a lot tastier than their burgers. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/37 "2014-08-11T13:45:37Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I’m with the OP. Before 12 should be breakfast. I’m sure McDonalds has figured out the best profitability math, but I don’t know too many people that would eat a Big Mac and fries at 11am. You do now. 🙂 If I’ve been up since 5:00 AM, by 11:00 I’m totally FINE with a Big Mac and fries. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/38 "2014-08-11T15:22:08Z")
I love to go the McD’s at 11:00 and watch people fight over the few remaining breakfast items. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/39 "2014-08-11T15:29:07Z")
Some people eat breakfast at 5:00 am and that is still sleep time for most of the Country. If you eat breakfast at 5:00 am, chances are your lunchtime is going to be about 11 am. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246/40 "2014-08-11T15:56:18Z")
Has anyone here ever worked at McDonalds? I bet customers argue with them every day over the breakfast/lunch switchover. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-why-mcdonalds-breakfast-hours-always-ended-at-11am/695246.md?page=3)