Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Zaxby's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 101 items at Zaxby's.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Zaxby's averages $14.83 across 101 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $10.35 cheaper per item (70% difference). Hardee's / Carl's Jr. has lower average calories (670 vs 877 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Zaxby's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $14.83 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 120 | 101 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 877 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 900 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Zaxby's |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 70% cheaper on average than Zaxby's ($10.35 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Zaxby's
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Zaxby's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Zaxby's delivers 1.46¢/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 Zaxby's share 1 menu categories (5% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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 Zaxby's $3.59 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 38% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Zaxby's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Zaxby's fits 1 item
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Zaxby's fits 3 items (1020 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). Zaxby's ranks #311 of 338 (pricier than 92% 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 Zaxby's, 37% are under 500 calories. Zaxby's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $14.83)
- 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)