Dairy Queen vs Smoothie King (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 64 items at Smoothie King.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Smoothie King averages $4.83 across 64 items. Dairy Queen is $0.74 cheaper per item (15% difference). Dairy Queen has lower average calories (571 vs 616 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Dairy Queen | Smoothie King | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.08 | $4.83 | Dairy Queen |
| Menu Items | 64 | 64 | Tie |
| Avg Calories | 571 | 616 | Dairy Queen |
| US Locations | 4,500 | 1,300 | Dairy Queen |
| Secret Menu | 7 | 0 | Dairy Queen |
Dairy Queen is 15% cheaper on average than Smoothie King ($0.74 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Dairy Queen
Smoothie King
Lowest Calorie Options
Dairy Queen
Smoothie King
Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Smoothie King
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Smoothie King delivers 0.95¢/cal. Smoothie King gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Dairy Queen and Smoothie King 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), Smoothie King fits 3 items (1380 cal)
- $15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Smoothie King fits 3 items (750 cal)
- $20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Smoothie King fits 3 items (1530 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Smoothie King ranks #86 of 414 (cheaper than 79% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Smoothie King, 24% are under 500 calories. Dairy Queen offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $4.83)
- More variety: Dairy Queen (64 items)
- More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Smoothie King (0.95¢/cal)