Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Sonic Drive-In (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 92 items at Sonic Drive-In.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Sonic Drive-In averages $3.28 across 92 items. Sonic Drive-In is $1.20 cheaper per item (27% difference). Sonic Drive-In has lower average calories (578 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Sonic Drive-In | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $3.28 | Sonic Drive-In |
| Menu Items | 120 | 92 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 578 | Sonic Drive-In |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 3,519 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 7 | Sonic Drive-In |
Sonic Drive-In is 27% cheaper on average than Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($1.20 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Sonic Drive-In
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Sonic Drive-In
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Sonic Drive-In
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Sonic Drive-In delivers 0.86¢/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 Sonic Drive-In share 2 menu categories (11% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, 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:
- sides: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $2.21 vs Sonic Drive-In $1.73 — Sonic Drive-In is 22% cheaper
- drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Sonic Drive-In $2.22 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 14% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (320 cal)
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (1790 cal)
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (2090 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). Sonic Drive-In ranks #15 of 338 (cheaper than 96% 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 Sonic Drive-In, 46% are under 500 calories. Sonic Drive-In offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Sonic Drive-In ($3.28 avg vs $4.48)
- 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)