Denny's vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 171 items at Denny's vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Denny's averages $6.39 per item across 171 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $2.87 cheaper per item (45% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 544 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Denny's | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.39 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 171 | 77 | Denny's |
| Avg Calories | 544 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 1,350 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 45% cheaper on average than Denny's ($2.87 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Denny's vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Denny's delivers 1.49¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Denny's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Denny's and Wendy's share 1 menu categories (3% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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:
- sides: Denny's avg $3.44 vs Wendy's $3.25 — Wendy's is 6% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Denny's fits 1 item (270 cal), Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Denny's fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Denny's fits 3 items (961 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Denny's ranks #168 of 414 on price (cheaper than 60% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Denny's, 56% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wendy's, 73% are under 500 calories. Wendy's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wendy's ($3.52 avg vs $6.39)
- More variety: Denny's (171 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Denny's (1.49¢/cal)