Burger King vs Panera Bread (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 65 items at Burger King vs 197 items at Panera Bread.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Burger King averages $3.33 per item across 65 menu items, while Panera Bread averages $4.34 across 197 items. Burger King is $1.01 cheaper per item (23% difference). Panera Bread has lower average calories (380 vs 491 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Burger King | Panera Bread | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $3.33 | $4.34 | Burger King |
| Menu Items | 65 | 197 | Panera Bread |
| Avg Calories | 491 | 380 | Panera Bread |
| US Locations | 6,809 | 2,254 | Burger King |
| Secret Menu | 10 | 6 | Burger King |
Burger King is 23% cheaper on average than Panera Bread ($1.01 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Burger King
Panera Bread
Lowest Calorie Options
Burger King
Panera Bread
Deep Comparison: Burger King vs Panera Bread
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Burger King delivers 0.72¢/cal on average, while Panera Bread delivers 2.45¢/cal. Burger King gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Burger King and Panera Bread share 1 menu categories (3% 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: Burger King avg $1.83 vs Panera Bread $0.97 — Panera Bread is 47% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Burger King fits 0 items, Panera Bread fits 1 item
- $15 budget: Burger King fits 3 items (1228 cal), Panera Bread fits 3 items (500 cal)
- $20 budget: Burger King fits 3 items (2850 cal), Panera Bread fits 3 items (830 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Burger King ranks #20 of 414 on price (cheaper than 95% of tracked chains). Panera Bread ranks #62 of 414 (cheaper than 85% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Burger King, 65% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panera Bread, 72% are under 500 calories. Panera Bread offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Burger King ($3.33 avg vs $4.34)
- More variety: Panera Bread (197 items)
- More locations: Burger King (6,809 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Burger King (0.72¢/cal)