Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Raising Cane's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 28 items at Raising Cane's.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Raising Cane's averages $43.52 across 28 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $39.05 cheaper per item (90% difference). Hardee's / Carl's Jr. has lower average calories (670 vs 916 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Raising Cane's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $43.52 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 120 | 28 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 916 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 800 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Raising Cane's |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 90% cheaper on average than Raising Cane's ($39.05 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Raising Cane's
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Raising Cane's
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Raising Cane's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Raising Cane's delivers 0.74¢/cal. Raising Cane's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. and Raising Cane's share 1 menu categories (8% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: 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:
- drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Raising Cane's $4.13 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 54% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Raising Cane's fits 1 item (960 cal)
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Raising Cane's fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Raising Cane's fits 3 items (2360 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). Raising Cane's ranks #334 of 338 (pricier than 99% 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 Raising Cane's, 32% are under 500 calories. Raising Cane's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $43.52)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (3,800 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Raising Cane's (0.74¢/cal)