Denny's vs Sonic Drive-In: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 9, 2026 6 items matched

The short answer

Sonic Drive-In is the cheaper of the two. Of the 6 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Sonic Drive-In is cheaper on 6 of them, by an average of $8.18 per item.

Typical menu price: Denny's $13.29 · Sonic Drive-In $4.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Denny's's wording first.

Item	Denny's	Sonic Drive-In	Difference
Double Cheeseburgervs SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger	$15.49	$8.29	$7.20 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Grilled Chicken Dinnervs Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$15.49	$6.99	$8.50 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
All-American Slamvs All-American Dog	$14.29	$3.29	$11.00 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
BBQ Chicken Sandwichvs Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$13.29	$6.79	$6.50 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
French Toast Slamvs French Toast Sticks (4 pc)	$12.99	$3.29	$9.70 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Value Burgervs Jr. Burger	$8.99	$2.79	$6.20 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In

Denny's vs Sonic Drive-In at a Glance

	Denny's	Sonic Drive-In
Typical menu price	$13.29	$4.29
Average menu price	$12.28	$4.66
Cheapest item	Coffee (bottomless) — $3.49	$1.99 Snack Menu items — $1.99
Most expensive item	T-Bone Steak Dinner — $21.99	SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger — $9.29
Items priced	41	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$$	$
Founded	1953	1953
Headquarters	Spartanburg, South Carolina	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Locations	About 1,500 restaurants in the U.S. and abroad	More than 3,500 drive-ins across the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Sonic Drive-In has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.29 against $13.29 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Sonic Drive-In gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Denny's is strongest on Original Grand Slam, Build Your Own Grand Slam, Moons Over My Hammy; Sonic Drive-In on Cherry Limeade, SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger, Tots. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Denny's

The $5.99 Everyday Value Slam is the cheapest sit-down breakfast at any national chain — two pancakes, an egg and meat.
Build Your Own Grand Slam at $12.49 gives four items; ordering the same four à la carte typically costs $4 to $6 more.
The 55+ menu takes roughly $2 to $3 off the standard versions of the same dishes for guests 55 and older.

Sonic Drive-In

Happy Hour from 2:00 to 4:00 PM every day takes 50 percent off all drinks and slushes — the single biggest recurring discount in fast food.
The Sonic app frequently offers half-price burgers on Tuesdays and free items with a purchase.
Upgrading to a Route 44 (44 oz) for $0.60 more is the cheapest per-ounce drink on the menu, especially during Happy Hour.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Denny's vs Sonic Drive-In — FAQ

Is Denny's cheaper than Sonic Drive-In in 2026?

Sonic Drive-In is cheaper on most matched items — 6 of 6. Across the whole menu Sonic Drive-In is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $13.29 at Denny's.

What is the price difference between Denny's and Sonic Drive-In?

On matched items the average difference is $8.18, or about 62% overall. Denny's averages $12.28 across 41 priced items; Sonic Drive-In averages $4.66 across 42.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Denny's or Sonic Drive-In?

Denny's starts at $3.49 (Coffee (bottomless)) and Sonic Drive-In at $1.99 ($1.99 Snack Menu items).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.