Hardee's vs Carl's Jr.
Sister chains — compared. Prices and nutrition updated for 2026.
Hardee's — Thickburgers, Biscuits & Made-From-Scratch Breakfast Since 1960
- Menu items
- 38
- Stores
- 1,800
- Avg item price
- $4.37
- Avg calories
- 513
- Value score (calories per dollar)
- 117.3
- Cheapest item
- Chocolate Chip Cookie — $1.49
Carl's Jr. — Eat Like You Mean It
- Menu items
- 25
- Stores
- 1,100
- Avg item price
- $4.22
- Avg calories
- 479
- Value score (calories per dollar)
- 113.4
- Cheapest item
- Chocolate Chip Cookie — $1.49
Who Wins: Hardee's vs Carl's Jr.?
Lower average price
Carl's Jr.avg — $4.22
Lower average calories
Carl's Jr.avg — $478.80
Best value
Hardee's117.3
More menu items
Hardee's38 items
Cheapest item
Tie
The verdict
Hardee's wins on value with a 117.3 calorie-per-dollar score vs 113.4. Carl's Jr. has the lower average menu price ($4.22 vs $4.37 per item). Carl's Jr. has the lower average calories (479 vs 513). And the cheapest bite is Chocolate Chip Cookie at Hardee's ($1.49) vs Chocolate Chip Cookie at $1.49. Check the value menu deals on both menus before ordering.
Signature Items Compared
| Hardee's | Carl's Jr. |
|---|---|
Original Thickburger Half-pound Angus beef patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and mayo on a bakery-style bun $6.29 | Western Bacon Cheeseburger Charbroiled beef patty with crispy onion rings, sweet BBQ sauce, and melted American cheese on a sesame seed bun — the most iconic Carl's Jr. burger since 1964 $5.99 |
Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders (5-piece) All-white-meat chicken tenders hand-breaded in-store and fried golden $7.49 | Famous Star with Cheese Charbroiled 1/3 lb beef patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, and American cheese on a toasted bun $4.99 |
Monster Thickburger Two Angus beef patties with bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo $8.49 | Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders All-white-meat chicken tenders, hand-breaded and fried golden, served with your choice of dipping sauce $6.49 |
Made-From-Scratch Biscuit Buttermilk biscuit baked fresh every day — Hardee's breakfast foundation $2.39 | Thick Chocolate Shake Hand-scooped vanilla ice cream blended with chocolate syrup — thick enough to need a spoon $4.99 |
Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit Bacon, scrambled egg, and American cheese on a made-from-scratch biscuit $3.99 | Super Star with Cheese Double charbroiled 1/3 lb patties with all the classic toppings — for serious appetites $6.99 |