A lot of places aren’t too receptive to $100 bills. Some don’t even accept $50.
So if you’re craving a coffee and the only thing in your wallet is a $100, will Starbucks accept it? We looked into it and this is what we know..
Does Starbucks Take $100 Dollar Bills?
Starbucks will accept $100 notes if they are able to. And while one hundred dollar notes are certainly legal tender, there is no actual obligation for a retailer to accept one, especially if they do not have enough change to balance the transaction.
It’s also important to remember that large bill exchanges (for small items) take time and attention and deplete the store of change too rapidly.
This article takes a look at the one hundred dollar bill at Starbucks, why they are sometimes not accepted, and what you can do to prevent interruptions to your spending.

Does Starbucks Accept Cash?
Starbucks do accept cash for payment for food and drinks purchased instore, and they won’t turn down a cash payment. However, Starbucks has installed the technology for multiple digital payments simply because these are quicker and more popular.
Most street stores no longer keep huge amounts of cash instore for security and safely reasons. Therefore, while they do have change, they won’t have limitless quantities of it.
Larger bills may be secured instore in a different place to the general till, again for safety and security reasons. Asking for supervisors to continually access the safe is not efficient use of staff time.
All cash will be secured away as the day draws closer to closing time.
How Do You Pay At Starbucks?
Starbucks state that they aim for a seamless payment experience for each customer. This means that they offer a range of digital payment systems as well as cash:
- Credit cards
- Starbucks cards
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- PayPal
- Bakkt App
- Cash
How Do I Pay Starbucks When Ordering Online?
You can order and pay for your food and drinks via the Starbucks App (and earn Starbucks rewards), and you can also use the app to find stores and display menus.
The Starbucks app will allow you to pay with a Starbucks Card, credit/debit cards, or select mobile wallets or through a saved PayPal account. You can not use cash to pay for online orders.
Why Do Some Places Not Accept $100 Bills?
Large bills are more safely broken into smaller currency in a bank rather than in, say, a coffee shop or similar establishments, which sell multiple low priced items.
Issuing change takes time, and customers may reasonably want to count their change, which holds up queues and irritates those still waiting.
At chain stores, such as Starbucks, the only option they have for offering change may be in rolls of coin. Nobody wants these as they are heavy, bulky and inconvenient.
There are obvious security reasons for stores not keeping large amounts of change close by.
What’s The Best Thing To Do With My $100 Bills?
The best way to use your $100 bills is to buy something and receive change. This sounds pretty simple, and it is, but it’s important to remember to choose carefully what you buy in terms of its price.
Nobody is going to turn down a $100 bill for a large purchase. In fact, if your purchase is over $50, you’re likely going to be using a $100 bill anyway.
Then keep the smaller notes for smaller purchases. Don’t use your large bills for small items such as one coffee and a bagel because it adds pressure to staff (who are probably already stressed) and is unhelpful in the long run.
Conclusion..
Although the one hundred dollar bill is legal tender, they can cause inconvenience for service staff when a large amount of change has to be found, counted and distributed. Therefore, practice matching your purchases with the currency amounts you have in hand; it’s courteous, thoughtful, easy, and just better for everyone.