Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $7.24 cheaper per item (62% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $11.72 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 120 | 79 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 3,200 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Papa John's |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 62% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($7.24 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/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 Papa John's share 3 menu categories (23% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, desserts, drinks. Moderate overlap — they compete on some categories but specialize differently.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- desserts: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $0.89 vs Papa John's $6.00 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 85% cheaper
- sides: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $2.21 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 65% cheaper
- drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Papa John's $1.80 — Papa John's is 6% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
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). Papa John's ranks #279 of 338 (pricier than 82% 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 Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $11.72)
- 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)