Quick answer: KFC nuggets cost $6.04 for 8, $8.53 for 12 and $25.61 for 36 on US delivery menus. Tenders cost $3.16 each or $25.61 for 8. The cheapest way in is a Go Bucket at $4.26.
KFC nuggets prices by box size
Kentucky Fried Nuggets replaced most of KFC's older boneless line-up and now come in four box sizes. The bigger the box, the less each nugget costs. The typical price is the median across the restaurants we checked.
Kentucky Fried Nuggets
| Box | Typical price | Price range | Per nugget | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 pc. Nuggets | $6.04 | $5.48 – $12.59 | $0.76 | 280 |
| 10 pc. Nuggets | $7.25 | $7.19 – $11.99 | $0.73 | 350 |
| 12 pc. Nuggets | $8.53 | $7.92 – $18.59 | $0.71 | 420 |
| 36 pc. Nuggets | $25.61 | $23.78 – $46.79 | $0.71 | 1,260 |
The 36 piece box costs about $0.71 a nugget, against $0.76 in the 8 piece. Three 12 piece boxes would cost $25.59, so for a group the 36 piece saves $-0.02. Each nugget has about 35 calories and 3 g of protein.
KFC tenders prices
Original Recipe Tenders are sold singly as an add-on and in boxes of 8, 12 and 16 — the same sizes as the chicken bucket.
Original Recipe Tenders
| Order | Typical price | Price range | Per tender | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Recipe Tender (1 piece) | $3.16 | $2.27 – $5.39 | $3.16 | 170 |
| 8 pc. Tenders (tenders only) | $25.61 | $22.19 – $39.59 | $3.20 | 1,360 |
| 12 pc. Tenders (tenders only) | $35.08 | $29.99 – $51.59 | $2.92 | 2,040 |
| 16 pc. Tenders (tenders only) | $44.83 | $36.59 – $62.39 | $2.80 | 2,720 |
A single tender costs $3.16; by the box a tender works out to $3.20 in the 8 piece, $2.92 in the 12 piece and $2.80 in the 16 piece, so only the bigger boxes really save. For a family, the tenders meals with large sides and biscuits start at $36.41 — see KFC family meal prices.
Nuggets or tenders: which is better value?
Tenders are much bigger than nuggets — one tender has 170 calories and 11 g of protein, about the same as 5 nuggets. So the price per piece says little; the fair comparison is the price of the same amount of food.
Price for the same protein
| Order | Typical price | Protein | Calories | Price per 10 g protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 pc. Nuggets | $6.04 | 24 g | 280 | $2.52 |
| 12 pc. Nuggets | $8.53 | 36 g | 420 | $2.37 |
| 36 pc. Nuggets | $25.61 | 108 g | 1,260 | $2.37 |
| 8 pc. Tenders (tenders only) | $25.61 | 88 g | 1,360 | $2.91 |
| 16 pc. Tenders (tenders only) | $44.83 | 176 g | 2,720 | $2.55 |
In the biggest boxes, 10 g of protein costs $2.55 as tenders and $2.37 as nuggets. The smaller pieces win on price; tenders are the better pick if you want something that feels like a main meal rather than a snack.
Combos, Go Buckets and kids meals
Combos add an individual side, a medium drink and, for tenders, a biscuit. The Go Buckets are a smaller, cheaper meal in a cup: $4.26 with either. Kids meals come with 5 nuggets or 2 tenders.
Combos, Go Buckets & kids meals
| Menu item | Typical price | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| 8 pc. Nuggets Combo | $10.55 | $9.59 – $18.59 |
| 12 pc. Nuggets Combo | $13.29 | $11.99 – $22.19 |
| 3 pc. Tenders Combo | $12.31 | $10.43 – $19.79 |
| 4 pc. Tenders Combo | $14.87 | $12.23 – $22.19 |
| 5 pc. Tenders Combo | $16.14 | $14.51 – $24.59 |
| 5 pc. Tenders Big Box | $17.27 | $14.99 – $25.79 |
| Nuggets Go Bucket | $4.26 | $4.19 – $5.99 |
| Tender Go Bucket | $4.26 | $4.19 – $5.99 |
| 5 pc. Nuggets Kids Meal | $6.82 | $6.23 – $11.63 |
| 2 pc. Tenders Kids Meal | $6.82 | $6.23 – $11.63 |
The 8 pc. combo costs $4.51 more than the box alone; an individual side and a medium Pepsi bought separately would cost $7.87. Every combo compared: KFC combo prices.
KFC Popcorn Chicken prices
KFC Popcorn Chicken is a limited-time item and only 19 of the restaurants in our sample had it on the menu, so these prices rest on a smaller sample. Where it was sold, a regular portion cost $6.09 and the bucket $12.20. The KFC popcorn chicken bucket has 1,670 calories and 63 g of protein, against 620 calories in a regular portion.
Popcorn Chicken
| Menu item | Typical price | Price range | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Popcorn Chicken | $6.09 | $5.99 – $7.31 | 620 |
| Popcorn Chicken Bucket | $12.20 | $12.00 – $12.20 | 1,670 |
| Popcorn Chicken Combo | $10.36 | $10.19 – $10.97 | 940 |
| Popcorn Chicken Big Box | $13.41 | $13.19 – $15.24 | 1,470 |
| Popcorn Chicken Go Bucket | $4.26 | $4.19 – $4.26 | — |
Prices by city
8 KFC nuggets cost from $5.48 in Orlando, FL to $12.59 in Seattle, WA. The table shows the two 8 piece boxes in every city we checked.
Nuggets & tenders by city
| City | 8 pc. Nuggets | 8 pc. Tenders (tenders only) |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $5.99 | $22.79 |
| Atlanta, GA | $5.97 | $27.07 |
| Baltimore, MD | $6.82 | $25.85 |
| Birmingham, AL | $5.84 | $26.83 |
| Boston, MA | $7.67 | $28.66 |
| Brooklyn, NY | $6.45 | $27.07 |
| Charlotte, NC | $5.60 | $24.39 |
| Chicago, IL | $5.97 | $28.05 |
| Columbus, OH | $5.99 | $22.79 |
| Dallas, TX | $5.99 | $23.99 |
| Denver, CO | $7.19 | $29.15 |
| Detroit, MI | $5.97 | $28.05 |
| Houston, TX | $6.09 | $25.61 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $5.84 | $26.83 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $7.55 | $25.61 |
| Kansas City, MO | $5.84 | $26.83 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $6.59 | $22.19 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $6.09 | $28.66 |
| Memphis, TN | $6.70 | $25.61 |
| Miami, FL | $5.60 | $24.39 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $6.83 | $23.39 |
| Minneapolis, MN | — | $23.75 |
| Nashville, TN | $6.59 | $22.79 |
| New Orleans, LA | $5.99 | $23.99 |
| New York (Manhattan), NY | $5.84 | $28.05 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $5.99 | — |
| Orlando, FL | $5.48 | $23.78 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $6.83 | $23.15 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $7.19 | $22.79 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $5.99 | $22.79 |
| Portland, OR | $7.20 | $30.00 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $5.99 | $27.59 |
| San Antonio, TX | $5.99 | $25.79 |
| San Diego, CA | $8.39 | $23.99 |
| San Francisco, CA | $7.19 | $32.39 |
| Seattle, WA | $12.59 | $39.59 |
| Washington, DC | $6.83 | $23.39 |
KFC sauces for nuggets and tenders
Delivery menus let you pick sauces with every box; extra cups cost about $0.35 each. Sauces add calories: from 45 for Sticky Chicky Sweet 'n Sour to 130 for ranch per cup.
Dipping sauces
| Menu item | Typical price | Price range | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFC Sauce | $0.35 | $0.24 – $0.78 | 90 |
| Ranch | $0.35 | $0.24 – $0.78 | 130 |
| Honey Mustard | $0.35 | $0.24 – $0.78 | 110 |
| Buffalo Ranch | $0.35 | $0.24 – $0.78 | 120 |
| Comeback Sauce | $0.35 | $0.24 – $0.78 | 120 |
| Sticky Chicky Sweet 'n Sour | $0.35 | $0.24 – $0.78 | 45 |
| Honey BBQ | $0.33 | $0.24 – $0.78 | — |
Nuggets and tenders calories
Values from KFC's nutrition guide for the standard recipe, without sauce. 12 nuggets have 420 calories — less than the Classic Chicken Sandwich at 650. For more light options see the low calorie KFC menu.
Tenders & nuggets nutrition
| Item | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Recipe Tender (1 piece) | 170 | 11 g | 6 g | 20 g | 400 mg |
| 8 pc. Tenders (tenders only) | 1360 | 88 g | 48 g | 160 g | 3200 mg |
| 8 pc. Nuggets | 280 | 24 g | 12 g | 8 g | 1120 mg |
| 12 pc. Nuggets | 420 | 36 g | 18 g | 12 g | 1680 mg |
| 36 pc. Nuggets | 1260 | 108 g | 54 g | 36 g | 5040 mg |
| Popcorn Chicken | 620 | 23 g | 41 g | 40 g | 1970 mg |
All bone-in chicken and buckets: KFC chicken prices · the full KFC menu prices.
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Frequently asked questions
How much are KFC nuggets?
8 pieces cost $6.04, 10 pieces $7.25, 12 pieces $8.53 and 36 pieces $25.61 at the median restaurant we checked.
How much is a 36 piece nuggets at KFC?
The 36 piece box cost $25.61 at the median ($23.78 – $46.79), about $0.71 a nugget.
How much is one KFC tender?
A single Original Recipe Tender added to an order cost $3.16. In an 8 piece box a tender works out to $3.20.
How much is a KFC nuggets combo?
The 8 pc. Nuggets Combo with an individual side and a medium drink cost $10.55, the 12 pc. combo $13.29. The Nuggets Go Bucket cost $4.26.
How many calories are in KFC nuggets?
KFC lists 280 calories for 8 nuggets (35 each) and 170 calories for one Original Recipe Tender, before sauce.
Are KFC nuggets or tenders better value?
Per piece, nuggets are far cheaper ($0.71 in the 36 piece box). Per gram of protein the difference is smaller: 10 g of protein cost $2.37 as nuggets and $2.55 as tenders in the biggest boxes.
Does KFC have popcorn chicken?
KFC Popcorn Chicken is a limited-time item. It was on the delivery menu at 19 of the restaurants we checked, at $6.09 for a regular portion.
Are these KFC nuggets prices the same in the restaurant?
They are delivery-menu prices before fees, recorded on October 13, 2026. KFC does not publish counter prices and we do not estimate them; at the counter or in the KFC app for pickup you will usually pay a little less.