Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Wingstop (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 35 items at Wingstop.

Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Wingstop averages $8.73 across 35 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $4.25 cheaper per item (49% difference). Wingstop has lower average calories (380 vs 670 per item).

Quick Comparison

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Wingstop: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.	Wingstop	Winner
Avg Price	$4.48	$8.73	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Menu Items	120	35	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Avg Calories	670	380	Wingstop
US Locations	3,800	2,200	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Secret Menu	0	1	Wingstop

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 49% cheaper on average than Wingstop ($4.25 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Sour Cream $0.25

Upgrade to Medium Combo $0.59

Cookie $0.89

Chocolate Chip Cookie $0.89

Upgrade to Large Combo $0.99

Wingstop

Fresh Baked Rolls $0.49

Dips (Creamy Ranch, Chunky Bleu Cheese or Honey Mustard) $0.69

Side of Flavor (Atomic, Mango Habanero, Cajun, Hot, Louisiana Rub, Mild, BBQ, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, Hawaiian or Teriyaki) $0.79

Veggie Sticks (Carrots, Celery or Mix & Match) $0.89

Fountain Soft Drink $1.69

Lowest Calorie Options

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Side Salad 120 cal

Cookie 200 cal

Chocolate Chip Cookie 200 cal

Small Hamburger 250 cal

Apple Turnover 270 cal

Wingstop

Hot Cheddar Cheese Sauce 130 cal

Original Hot 142 cal

Mango Habanero 159 cal

Hickory Smoked BBQ 171 cal

Lemon Pepper 180 cal

Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Wingstop

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Wingstop delivers 1.15¢/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 Wingstop share 2 menu categories (12% 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 Wingstop $3.49 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 37% cheaper
drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Wingstop $1.69 — Wingstop is 11% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Wingstop fits 0 items
$15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Wingstop fits 0 items
$20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Wingstop fits 3 items (240 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). Wingstop ranks #223 of 338 (pricier than 66% 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 Wingstop, 76% are under 500 calories. Wingstop offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $8.73)
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)

Full Menus

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. Menu Wingstop Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide