Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Pizza Hut (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 104 items at Pizza Hut.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Pizza Hut averages $11.05 across 104 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $6.57 cheaper per item (59% difference). Pizza Hut has lower average calories (526 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Pizza Hut | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $11.05 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 120 | 104 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 526 | Pizza Hut |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 6,326 | Pizza Hut |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Pizza Hut |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 59% cheaper on average than Pizza Hut ($6.57 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Pizza Hut
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Pizza Hut
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Pizza Hut delivers 2.34¢/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 Pizza Hut share 3 menu categories (15% 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: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $0.89 vs Pizza Hut $5.92 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 85% cheaper
- sides: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $2.21 vs Pizza Hut $3.16 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 30% cheaper
- drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Pizza Hut $1.97 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 3% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Pizza Hut fits 1 item
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Pizza Hut fits 1 item (310 cal)
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Pizza Hut fits 3 items (200 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). Pizza Hut ranks #270 of 338 (pricier than 80% 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 Pizza Hut, 39% are under 500 calories. Pizza Hut offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $11.05)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Pizza Hut (6,326 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)