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

Updated September 26, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Hardee's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Hardee's is cheaper on 4 of them, by an average of $1.75 per item.

Typical menu price: Hardee's $4.99 · 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 — Hardee's's wording first.

Item	Hardee's	Sonic Drive-In	Difference
Classic Chicken Sandwichvs Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$5.99	$6.79	$0.80 cheaper at Hardee's
Onion Rings	$3.79	$4.29	$0.50 cheaper at Hardee's
Double Cheeseburgervs SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger	$3.29	$8.29	$5.00 cheaper at Hardee's
Sausage Biscuit	$2.79	$3.49	$0.70 cheaper at Hardee's

Make Hardee's and Sonic Drive-In at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Countertop Nugget Ice Maker The soft, chewable "Sonic ice" at home. Check price on Amazon Burger Press Uniform smash-style patties in seconds. Check price on Amazon Cast Iron Griddle The crust fast-food flat-tops are known for. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

Hardee's vs Sonic Drive-In at a Glance

	Hardee's	Sonic Drive-In
Typical menu price	$4.99	$4.29
Average menu price	$4.96	$4.66
Cheapest item	Hash Rounds (medium) — $2.29	$1.99 Snack Menu items — $1.99
Most expensive item	Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders (5 pc) — $8.99	SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger — $9.29
Items priced	26	44
Menu sections	4	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1960	1953
Headquarters	Franklin, Tennessee	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Locations	About 1,600 restaurants in the United States	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 $4.99 — 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.

Hardee's is strongest on Made from Scratch Biscuits, Monster Biscuit, Famous Star with Cheese; 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

Hardee's

Two-biscuit breakfast deals on the app often cost about $5, roughly $2 below menu price.
The Sausage Biscuit at about $2.79 is one of the cheapest filling breakfasts at any national chain.
Hardee's app rewards give points on every order and a free biscuit or burger offer for new members.

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.

Hardee's vs Sonic Drive-In — FAQ

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

Hardee's is cheaper on most matched items — 4 of 4. Across the whole menu Sonic Drive-In is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $4.99 at Hardee's.

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

On matched items the average difference is $1.75, or about 6% overall. Hardee's averages $4.96 across 26 priced items; Sonic Drive-In averages $4.66 across 42.

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

Hardee's starts at $2.29 (Hash Rounds (medium)) 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.