From May 1, a new cash payment procedure comes into effect in Lithuania, according to which the final amount of the shopping cart will be rounded to the nearest 0, 5 or 10 euro cents.
This change is a step towards more convenient payments, aiming to reduce the use of 1 euro cent and 2 euro cent coins. This will make it easier to pay in cash and reduce the amount of small coins that are often lost or accumulated in drawers. It is also important to emphasize that 1 cent and 2 cent coins will not be abolished, they will continue to be accepted for payments. As a result of rounding, their number in circulation will naturally decrease over time.
According to a representative survey of Lithuanian residents conducted by Shopper Quality from February 2025 to March 1, 2, 41,4 percent of the population find these coins inconvenient due to the complexity of counting and their small size.
The results of the survey also show that the majority of the population, as many as 82,5 percent, is already aware of the upcoming rounding of cash payments, and of those who are aware of the rounding, 82,8 percent say they understand how the rounding will work.
How will the new billing procedure work?
Rounding is applied only when paying in cash. When paying by card or other means of payment - electronic payment methods, gift vouchers, money accumulated on loyalty cards or social cards, the amount to be paid will not change. The prices of goods and services remain the same - only the final amount of the shopping cart is rounded.
During checkout, amounts will be rounded as follows: if the final amount ends in 1 cent or 2 cents, it will be rounded down to 0 cents, if it ends in 3 or 4 cents, it will be rounded up to 5 cents. If the final amount ends in 6 or 7 cents, it will be rounded down to 5 cents, and if it ends in 8 or 9 cents, it will be rounded up to 10 cents. For example: an amount of 10,21 euros will be rounded to 10,20 euros, and 10,24 euros to 10,25 euros.
If the final shopping cart amount is less than 5 cents, rounding will not be applied.
Rounding of payment amounts will be applied in all places where cash is accepted, except in cases where exceptions are provided for in legal acts. This system is successfully operating in other European countries, therefore it is expected that it will facilitate payments in Lithuania as well.
The new procedure should make everyday payments easier, make them faster, and reduce the amount of small coins lost.
