Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Pizza Hut?

Panda Express is cheaper, averaging $7.73 per item versus $11.05 for Pizza Hut — a 30% difference. Based on 115 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Pizza Hut?

Pizza Hut has more menu items (104 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 115 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Pizza Hut?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 526 for Pizza Hut. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Pizza Hut similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Pizza Hut (6,326 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 6%.

Panda Express vs Pizza Hut (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 104 items at Pizza Hut.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Pizza Hut averages $11.05 across 104 items. Panda Express is $3.32 cheaper per item (30% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 526 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Pizza Hut: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Pizza Hut	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$11.05	Panda Express
Menu Items	11	104	Pizza Hut
Avg Calories	479	526	Panda Express
US Locations	2,500	6,326	Pizza Hut
Secret Menu	1	1	Tie

Panda Express is 30% cheaper on average than Pizza Hut ($3.32 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Panda Express

Honey Walnut Shrimp $1.50

Bowl (1 entree + 1 side) $8.30

Plate (2 entrees + 1 side) $9.80

Bigger Plate (3 entrees + 1 side) $11.30

Pizza Hut

Blue Cheese $0.60

Chocolate $0.60

Ranch $0.60

Garlic $0.60

Marinara $0.60

Lowest Calorie Options

Panda Express

Broccoli Beef 150 cal

Kung Pao Chicken 290 cal

Honey Walnut Shrimp 360 cal

White Steamed Rice 380 cal

Beijing Beef 470 cal

Pizza Hut

Marinara 60 cal

Tuscani Chicken Alfredo with Breadsticks 140 cal

Tuscani Meaty Marinara with Breadsticks 140 cal

Cinnamon Sticks 160 cal

Icing 170 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Pizza Hut

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Pizza Hut delivers 2.34¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Pizza Hut share 1 menu categories (6% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Panda Express fits 0 items, Pizza Hut fits 1 item
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Pizza Hut fits 1 item (310 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Pizza Hut fits 3 items (200 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Pizza Hut ranks #331 of 414 (pricier than 80% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Pizza Hut, 39% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $11.05)
More variety: Pizza Hut (104 items)
More locations: Pizza Hut (6,326 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Pizza Hut Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide