Burger King vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 65 items at Burger King vs 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr..
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Burger King averages $3.33 per item across 65 menu items, while Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 across 120 items. Burger King is $1.14 cheaper per item (26% difference). Burger King has lower average calories (491 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Burger King | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $3.33 | $4.48 | Burger King |
| Menu Items | 65 | 120 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 491 | 670 | Burger King |
| US Locations | 6,809 | 3,800 | Burger King |
| Secret Menu | 10 | 0 | Burger King |
Burger King is 26% cheaper on average than Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($1.14 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Burger King
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Lowest Calorie Options
Burger King
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Deep Comparison: Burger King vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Burger King delivers 0.72¢/cal on average, while Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal. Burger King gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Burger King and Hardee's / Carl's Jr. share 3 menu categories (17% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, desserts, drinks. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- desserts: Burger King avg $1.86 vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr. $0.89 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 52% cheaper
- drinks: Burger King avg $1.36 vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr. $1.91 — Burger King is 29% cheaper
- sides: Burger King avg $1.83 vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr. $2.21 — Burger King is 17% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Burger King fits 0 items, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item
- $15 budget: Burger King fits 3 items (1228 cal), Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal)
- $20 budget: Burger King fits 3 items (2850 cal), Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Burger King ranks #17 of 338 on price (cheaper than 95% of tracked chains). Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ranks #65 of 338 (cheaper than 81% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Burger King, 65% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Hardee's / Carl's Jr., 24% are under 500 calories. Burger King offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Burger King ($3.33 avg vs $4.48)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Burger King (6,809 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Burger King (0.72¢/cal)