Dunkin’s viral oversized drink buckets are no longer just a New England curiosity. The chain has taken its 48-ounce Iced Beverage Buckets nationwide for Memorial Day weekend, turning a regional social-media hit into one of its most talked-about limited summer drops.
The buckets are available from May 22, 2026, at participating Dunkin’ locations across the United States for a limited time. Each bucket costs $12.99 and can be filled with either Dunkin’s iced coffee or one of its Refreshers.
The catch is what makes the launch feel more like a drop than a regular menu item: each participating store is expected to receive only 25 buckets. Once they are gone, customers may not get another chance at that location.
Rewards members get extra perks around the launch
Dunkin Rewards members are also getting limited-time offers around the bucket rollout. From May 20 through May 24, members can earn 3X points on Refreshers as part of Dunkin’s Drink of the Week monthly bonus feature.
From May 25 through May 31, customers visiting after 1 p.m. can earn 50 base points, while Boosted Status members can earn 100 boosted points. Boosted Status is tied to Dunkin’s higher-engagement loyalty tier, which gives some frequent customers double points.
For Dunkin, the bucket launch does more than sell a large iced drink. It creates urgency, gives fans a reason to visit stores early, and extends the conversation around its summer menu at a time when iced coffee and Refreshers are likely to be in high demand.
For customers, the message is simple: the buckets are national now, but they are not unlimited. With just 25 per participating store, Dunkin’s biggest summer drink may also be one of its fastest to sell out.
Dunkin turns a viral New England test into a national summer launch
The bucket first drew attention after Dunkin tested it in parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire earlier this year. Its size, beach-day energy and novelty factor quickly made it a TikTok-friendly item, with customers treating the bucket as both a drink and a collectible.
That online reaction appears to have helped push the idea from a regional test to a nationwide Memorial Day weekend release. Dunkin has positioned the bucket as a warm-weather item made for beach trips, road journeys, backyard gatherings and long holiday weekends.
The official Dunkin newsroom announcement says the buckets can be purchased with Dunkin’s signature iced coffee or Refreshers, making the rollout part drink promotion and part summer merchandise moment.
Key detail: the bucket is not an everyday nationwide menu item. It is a limited-time offer at participating locations, and the small store-level supply means availability could disappear quickly.
Cherry Lime Rickey Refresher joins the bucket push
Dunkin is also using the bucket launch to highlight its summer drink lineup. One of the main new options is the Cherry Lime Rickey Refresher, which combines black cherry and limeade flavors for a sweet-tart seasonal drink.
The chain is also promoting limeade combinations across its Refresher menu, including Raspberry Limeade, Coconut Limeade, Matcha Limeade and Strawberry Dragonfruit Limeade. Customers can choose iced coffee instead, but the Refresher lineup gives Dunkin more colorful, social-media-ready options for the oversized pails.
The timing is important. Memorial Day weekend usually marks the unofficial start of summer in the U.S., and Dunkin is leaning into that seasonal shift with a product built around cold drinks, travel and outdoor plans.
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