Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or Denny's?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $6.39 for Denny's — a 36% difference. Based on 235 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Dairy Queen or Denny's?

Denny's has more menu items (171 vs 64). The total combined menu across both chains is 235 items.

Which has lower calories, Dairy Queen or Denny's?

Denny's averages 544 calories per item, compared to 571 for Dairy Queen. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and Denny's similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and Denny's (1,350 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs Denny's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 171 items at Denny's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Denny's averages $6.39 across 171 items. Dairy Queen is $2.31 cheaper per item (36% difference). Denny's has lower average calories (544 vs 571 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Denny's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Denny's	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$6.39	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	171	Denny's
Avg Calories	571	544	Denny's
US Locations	4,500	1,350	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	7	0	Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 36% cheaper on average than Denny's ($2.31 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Dairy Queen

Add Extra Stuff $0.69

Add a Boost (Protein) $0.99

Add a Boost (Fresh Banana) $0.99

Buffalo Chicken $1.89

Chicken Bacon BBQ $1.89

Denny's

Eggs $0.79

Eggs(Scrambled With Cheese) $0.79

Sauces & Dressings $0.89

2% Milk $1.19

Chocolate Milk $1.19

Lowest Calorie Options

Dairy Queen

Chicken Wrap 280 cal

Fries 280 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger 390 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger – Combo 390 cal

Chicken Bacon Ranch – Combo 390 cal

Denny's

Lemonade Iced Tea 80 cal

Grilled Ham Slice 90 cal

Grits 90 cal

Seasonal Fruit 110 cal

Bacon (4 Bacon Strips) 130 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Denny's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Denny's delivers 1.49¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Denny's share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (905 cal), Denny's fits 1 item (270 cal)
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Denny's fits 0 items
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Denny's fits 3 items (961 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Denny's ranks #168 of 414 (cheaper than 60% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Denny's, 56% are under 500 calories. Denny's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $6.39)
More variety: Denny's (171 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Denny's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide