Dairy Queen vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr..

Quick answer: As of May 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 across 120 items. Dairy Queen is $0.39 cheaper per item (9% difference). Dairy Queen has lower average calories (556 vs 670 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr.: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$4.48	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	120	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Avg Calories	556	670	Dairy Queen
US Locations	4,500	3,800	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	7	0	Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 9% cheaper on average than Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($0.39 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Dairy Queen

Add Extra Stuff $0.69

Add a Boost (Protein) $0.99

Add a Boost (Fresh Banana) $0.99

Buffalo Chicken $1.89

Chicken Bacon BBQ $1.89

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Sour Cream $0.25

Upgrade to Medium Combo $0.59

Cookie $0.89

Chocolate Chip Cookie $0.89

Upgrade to Large Combo $0.99

Lowest Calorie Options

Dairy Queen

Chicken Wrap 280 cal

Fries 280 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger 390 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger – Combo 390 cal

Chicken Bacon Ranch – Combo 390 cal

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Side Salad 120 cal

Cookie 200 cal

Chocolate Chip Cookie 200 cal

Small Hamburger 250 cal

Apple Turnover 270 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.07¢/cal on average, while Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Hardee's / Carl's Jr. share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (905 cal), Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal)
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #42 of 338 on price (cheaper than 88% of tracked chains). Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ranks #65 of 338 (cheaper than 81% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 43% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Hardee's / Carl's Jr., 24% are under 500 calories. Dairy Queen offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $4.48)
More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Hardee's / Carl's Jr. Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide