Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $0.96 cheaper per item (21% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 120 | 77 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 21% cheaper on average than Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($0.96 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Wendy's
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/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 Wendy's share 2 menu categories (8% 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 Wendy's $3.25 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 32% cheaper
- drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Wendy's $1.59 — Wendy's is 17% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 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). Wendy's ranks #23 of 338 (cheaper than 93% 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 Wendy's, 73% are under 500 calories. Wendy's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wendy's ($3.52 avg vs $4.48)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)