Each year, the QSR 50 provides a deep dive looking at how the top quick-service brands stack up.
One of the key measurements is average-unit volume (AUV), which illustrates how much chains are earning per store measured on a mature base.
The list includes 15 brands just outside the top 50. So this is a compilation of the top 45 AUVs among the 65 highest-grossing quick-service brands in America in terms of U.S. systemwide sales.
Note: The figures are by U.S. restaurants as of 2020 year end.
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1. Portillo’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $6,923
Unit count: 66
Franchised stores: 0
Company stores: 66
Total change in units from 2019: 2
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $450
2. Chick-fil-A
Average sales per unit (thousands): $5,013
Unit count: 2,607
Franchised stores: 2,589
Company stores: 18
Total change in units from 2019: 107
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $12,800
3. Raising Cane’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,850
Unit count: 509
Franchised stores: 92
Company stores: 417
Total change in units from 2019: 52
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,722
4. Whataburger
Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,197
Unit count: 844
Franchised stores: 114
Company stores: 730
Total change in units from 2019: 14
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,698
5. In-N-Out Burger
Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,060
Unit count: 365
Franchised stores: 0
Company stores: 365
Total change in units from 2019: 11
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,100
6. Shake Shack
Average sales per unit (thousands): $3,020
Unit count: 205
Franchised stores: 22
Company stores: 183
Total change in units from 2019: 20
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $550
7. McDonald’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,944
Unit count: 13,682
Franchised stores: 13,025
Company stores: 657
Total change in units from 2019: -164
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $40,518
8. Culver’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,624
Unit count: 782
Franchised stores: 776
Company stores: 6
Total change in units from 2019: 50
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,986
9. Five Guys
Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,575
Unit count: 1,382
Franchised stores: 938
Company stores: 444
Total change in units from 2019: 14
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,711
10. Panera Bread
Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,500
Unit count: 2,175
Franchised stores: 1,196
Company stores: 979
Total change in units from 2019: -50
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $5,500
11. Krispy Kreme
Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,259
Unit count: 369
Franchised stores: 83
Company stores: 276
Total change in units from 2019: 4
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $830
12. Zaxby’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,200
Unit count: 905
Franchised stores: 760
Company stores: 145
Total change in units from 2019: 10
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,000
13. Chipotle
Average sales per unit (thousands): $2,200
Unit count: 2,750
Franchised stores: 0
Company stores: 2,750
Total change in units from 2019: 150
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $5,985
14. Popeyes
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,920
Unit count: 2,634
Franchised stores: 2,593
Company stores: 41
Total change in units from 2019: 135
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $4,587
15. Panda Express
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,915
Unit count: 2,263
Franchised stores: 150
Company stores: 2,113
Total change in units from 2019: 79
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $3,817
16. Bojangles
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,861
Unit count: 758
Franchised stores: 432
Company stores: 326
Total change in units from 2019: 12
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,374
17. El Pollo Loco
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,837
Unit count: 482
Franchised stores: 283
Company stores: 199
Total change in units from 2019: 0
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $880
18. Jason’s Deli
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,818
Unit count: 253
Franchised stores: 87
Company stores: 166
Total change in units from 2019: -30
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $500
19. Habit Burger Grill
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,745
Unit count: 278
Franchised stores: 263
Company stores: 15
Total change in units from 2019: 7
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $480
20. Wendy’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,725
Unit count: 5,881
Franchised stores: 5,520
Company stores: 361
Total change in units from 2019: 29
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $10,231
21. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,681
Unit count: 388
Franchised stores: 356
Company stores: 32
Total change in units from 2019: 20
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $643
22. Jack in the Box
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,660
Unit count: 2,241
Franchised stores: 2,097
Company stores: 144
Total change in units from 2019: -2
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $3,673
23. Taco Bell
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,648
Unit count: 6,799
Franchised stores: 6,324
Company stores: 475
Total change in units from 2019: 33
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $11,000
24. Sonic Drive-In
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,611
Unit count: 3,526
Franchised stores: 3,255
Company stores: 271
Total change in units from 2019: 0
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $5,680
25. Steak ‘N Shake
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,563
Unit count: 556
Franchised stores: 276
Company stores: 280
Total change in units from 2019: -54
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $800
26. White Castle
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,527
Unit count: 365
Franchised stores: 0
Company stores: 365
Total change in units from 2019: -10
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $565
27. Del Taco
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,516
Unit count: 596
Franchised stores: 301
Company stores: 295
Total change in units from 2019: 0
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $857
28. Wingstop
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,489
Unit count: 1,538
Franchised stores: 1,506
Company stores: 32
Total change in units from 2019: 153
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,000
29. McAlister’s Deli
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,418
Unit count: 481
Franchised stores: 449
Company stores: 32
Total change in units from 2019: 12
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $625
30. Burger King
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,414
Unit count: 7,081
Franchised stores: 7,029
Company stores: 52
Total change in units from 2019: -265
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $9,657
31. Carl’s Jr.
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,400
Unit count: 1,079
Franchised stores: 1,031
Company stores: 48
Total change in units from 2019: -21
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $1,500
32. Domino’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,328
Unit count: 6,355
Franchised stores: 5,992
Company stores: 363
Total change in units from 2019: 229
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $8,287
33. KFC
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,305
Unit count: 3,943
Franchised stores: 3,896
Company stores: 47
Total change in units from 2019: -122
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $4,700
34. Arby’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,273
Unit count: 3,369
Franchised stores: 2,176
Company stores: 1,193
Total change in units from 2019: 10
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $4,215
35. Starbucks
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,235
Unit count: 15,328
Franchised stores: 6,387
Company stores: 8,941
Total change in units from 2019: 287
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $18,750
36. Boston Market
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,133
Unit count: 330
Franchised stores: 16
Company stores: 314
Total change in units from 2019: -46
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $400
37. Tim Hortons
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,109
Unit count: 633
Franchised stores: 633
Company stores: 0
Total change in units from 2019: -23
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $702
38. Hardee’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,100
Unit count: 1,766
Franchised stores: 1,563
Company stores: 203
Total change in units from 2019: -64
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $2,000
39. Noodles & Company
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,100
Unit count: 454
Franchised stores: 76
Company stores: 378
Total change in units from 2019: -3
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $465
40. Qdoba
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,086
Unit count: 750
Franchised stores: 406
Company stores: 344
Total change in units from 2019: 20
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $787
41. Taco John’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,077
Unit count: 389
Franchised stores: 378
Company stores: 11
Total change in units from 2019: 2
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $380
42. Checkers and Rally’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,030
Unit count: 858
Franchised stores: 594
Company stores: 264
Total change in units from 2019: -17
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $854
43. Round Table Pizza
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,030
Unit count: 414
Franchised stores: 376
Company stores: 38
Total change in units from 2019: -13
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $435
44. Captain D’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,024
Unit count: 531
Franchised stores: 246
Company stores: 285
Total change in units from 2019: -4
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $544
45. Papa John’s
Average sales per unit (thousands): $1,008
Unit count: 3,134
Franchised stores: 2,546
Company stores: 588
Total change in units from 2019: -8
U.S. systemwide sales (millions): $3,198