Comparison · 3 matched items
Burger King vs Five Guys 2026
Prices checked 8 August 2026 15 Five Guys items tracked
Burger King wins on
Dramatically cheaper, and a normal-sized portion
Five Guys wins on
Larger portions and made-to-order build quality
Burger King and Five Guys compared across 3 matched items: Burger King is cheaper on 2 of the 2 rows where both chains have a tracked price, and carries fewer calories on 3 of 3. On the headline comparison the Whopper is 670–710 cal at $6.19–$8.04, against Cheeseburger at 980 cal and $9.20. In short: Dramatically cheaper, and a normal-sized portion, while Five Guys wins on larger portions and made-to-order build quality.
Both chains are overwhelmingly franchised, so prices are ranges rather than fixed figures, and rows our sources do not cover are marked not tracked rather than estimated — Five Guys price coverage is 3 of 15 tracked items. Competitor figures come from the same sources and the same checks as our Burger King data, so this comparison is like for like.
The signature burgers side by side
The Whopper carries 270 fewer calories than the Cheeseburger. Calories use the upper bound where our two nutrition sources disagree.
Five Guys is not a Burger King competitor in the ordinary sense — it is a fast-casual chain at roughly double the price point, and the portions are the largest of any chain on this site. Comparing them is useful precisely because the gap is so wide.
The headline is portion size and price. A Five Guys cheeseburger is a two-patty sandwich as standard, its regular fries order is larger than most chains' large, and both facts show up immediately in the calorie column below.
How do Burger King and Five Guys compare on price and calories?
3 matched items| Item role | Burger King | Five Guys | Price diff | Calorie diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature burger | Whopper $6.19–$8.04 · 670–710 cal | Cheeseburger $9.20 · 980 cal | BK $2.08 cheaper | BK -270 |
| Basic cheeseburger | Cheeseburger $1.89 · 300 cal | not tracked | — | — |
| Fries (largest tracked) | French Fries - Large price not tracked · 440 cal | Large Five Guys Style Fries $9.59 · 1314 cal | — | BK -874 |
| Crispy chicken sandwich | Royal Crispy Chicken $5.99–$7.79 · 600 cal | not tracked | — | — |
| Chocolate shake | Chocolate Shake $3.39–$5.29 · 590 cal | Vanilla Shake Base $5.79 · 670 cal | BK $1.45 cheaper | BK -80 |
Price differences use the midpoint of each chain's tracked range. Calories use the upper bound where our sources disagree, so nothing is understated. See how we source prices and calories.
Who wins at what?
Burger King is better for
- Dramatically cheaper across every comparable item
- Portion sizes that suit an ordinary meal rather than a shared one
- Far faster service and drive-thru availability
Five Guys is better for
- Made-to-order burgers with unlimited free toppings
- Fresh-cut fries served in famously oversized portions
- Free peanuts while you wait, which no burger chain offers
The portion gap is the whole story
Five Guys publishes calorie figures that are not rounded the way most chains round theirs, and the numbers are large enough that the precision is beside the point. Its regular fries order alone carries more calories than many complete meals at Burger King.
This matters for how you read the table below. A "cheeseburger" at Five Guys is a two-patty sandwich by default, so it is not comparable to a Burger King Cheeseburger by name — it is closer to a Whopper in role, which is how it is paired here.
Why our price coverage here is thinner
Five Guys prices vary more than most chains and our tracked sources cover the menu less completely, so fewer rows in the table carry a price. The calorie comparison is the more complete half of this page, and it is also where the interesting difference lies.
Free toppings qualify the price comparison
Five Guys includes its full topping range at no extra cost, which is unusual in either segment. At Burger King, adding cheese or bacon moves both the price and the calorie count. Comparing headline prices therefore understates what a fully-built Five Guys burger already includes.
It does not close the gap — the price difference is far too large for toppings to account for — but it is a real qualification on the table above rather than a marketing point.
Reading the fries row carefully
Five Guys serves its fries in a cup inside a bag, and the bag is filled well beyond the cup. The published figure for a regular order is already very large, and the practical portion is larger still. Treat that row as indicative rather than precise.
It is also the clearest example on this site of why calories per dollar is a value metric and not a health one. Five Guys scores well on food-per-dollar precisely because the portions are enormous.
Burger King vs Five Guys FAQs
Why is Five Guys so much more expensive than Burger King?
Five Guys operates a fast-casual model: made-to-order burgers, fresh-cut fries, unlimited toppings at no extra charge, and substantially larger portions. It is priced against a different market than a quick-service chain like Burger King.
Is a Five Guys burger bigger than a Whopper?
Yes, substantially. A standard Five Guys cheeseburger is a two-patty sandwich, and its calorie figure is well above the Whopper's. Five Guys also serves a smaller "Little" tier that is closer to a conventional single-patty burger.
Are Five Guys toppings really free?
Five Guys includes its standard topping range at no additional charge, which is unusual. At Burger King, adding cheese or bacon changes both the price and the calorie count of the item.
Is Five Guys fast food or fast casual?
Fast casual. Burgers are made to order, service is slower, portions are substantially larger, and prices sit at roughly double a quick-service chain like Burger King. They compete for different occasions.
Sources
- Five Guys calories — FatSecret (60% of values are multiples of ten, our label-value check)
- Five Guys prices — thirstybear.com
- Five Guys prices — menupricetoday.com
- Five Guys corporate site — corporate information
- Burger King figures come from the same sources and the same checks, so this comparison is like for like — see our sourcing and editorial policy.