Papa John's vs Pizza Hut (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 79 items at Papa John's vs 104 items at Pizza Hut.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Papa John's averages $11.72 per item across 79 menu items, while Pizza Hut averages $11.05 across 104 items. Pizza Hut is $0.67 cheaper per item (6% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 526 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Papa John's | Pizza Hut | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $11.72 | $11.05 | Pizza Hut |
| Menu Items | 79 | 104 | Pizza Hut |
| Avg Calories | 369 | 526 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,200 | 6,326 | Pizza Hut |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Pizza Hut is 6% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($0.67 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Pizza Hut
Deep Comparison: Papa John's vs Pizza Hut
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal on average, while Pizza Hut delivers 2.34¢/cal. Pizza Hut gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Papa John's and Pizza Hut share 6 menu categories (40% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: pizza, sides, drinks, desserts, sauces, extras. Moderate overlap — they compete on some categories but specialize differently.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- sauces: Papa John's avg $0.50 vs Pizza Hut $1.01 — Papa John's is 51% cheaper
- sides: Papa John's avg $6.31 vs Pizza Hut $3.16 — Pizza Hut is 50% cheaper
- pizza: Papa John's avg $13.50 vs Pizza Hut $15.32 — Papa John's is 12% cheaper
- drinks: Papa John's avg $1.80 vs Pizza Hut $1.97 — Papa John's is 9% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Papa John's fits 0 items, Pizza Hut fits 1 item
- $15 budget: Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal), Pizza Hut fits 1 item (310 cal)
- $20 budget: Papa John's fits 3 items, Pizza Hut fits 3 items (200 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 on price (pricier than 83% of tracked chains). Pizza Hut ranks #331 of 414 (pricier than 80% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Papa John's, 93% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Pizza Hut, 39% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Pizza Hut ($11.05 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Pizza Hut (104 items)
- More locations: Pizza Hut (6,326 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Pizza Hut (2.34¢/cal)