Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Little Caesars (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 29 items at Little Caesars.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Little Caesars averages $5.45 across 29 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $0.97 cheaper per item (18% difference). Little Caesars has lower average calories (340 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Little Caesars | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $5.45 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 120 | 29 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 340 | Little Caesars |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 3,800 | Tie |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Little Caesars |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 18% cheaper on average than Little Caesars ($0.97 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Little Caesars
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Little Caesars
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Little Caesars
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Little Caesars delivers 2.32¢/cal. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. and Little Caesars share 1 menu categories (7% 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: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $2.21 vs Little Caesars $3.77 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 41% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Little Caesars fits 1 item (303 cal)
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Little Caesars fits 3 items (327 cal)
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Little Caesars fits 3 items (705 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ranks #65 of 338 on price (cheaper than 81% of tracked chains). Little Caesars ranks #108 of 338 (cheaper than 68% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Hardee's / Carl's Jr., 24% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Little Caesars, 85% are under 500 calories. Little Caesars offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $5.45)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (3,800 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)