How Many Sandwiches Do You Need for a Group? (Quick Catering Calculator)

For box lunches, the math is simple: one box per person. For platters, each standard Subway catering platter includes 15 portions — made from five footlong sandwiches sliced into thirds — and feeds 5 to 9 people at 2 to 3 pieces per guest. The table below has the full breakdown for groups from 10 to 100.

The Quick Reference Table

Group Size

Box Lunches

6″ Subs

Footlong Subs

Platters (5–9 people each)

10 people

10 boxes

10–12

8–10

2 platters

15 people

15 boxes

15–18

12–15

2–3 platters

20 people

20 boxes

20–24

16–20

3–4 platters

25 people

25 boxes

25–30

20–25

3–5 platters

30 people

30 boxes

30–36

24–30

4–6 platters

40 people

40 boxes

40–48

32–40

5–8 platters

50 people

50 boxes

50–60

40–50

6–10 platters

75 people

75 boxes

75–90

60–75

9–15 platters

100 people

100 boxes

100–120

80–100

12–20 platters

Each standard Subway catering platter contains 15 individual portions. At 2–3 pieces per guest, one platter feeds 5 to 9 people. Use the lower end of that range for hungry groups — construction crews, athletic teams, growing students. Use the upper end for lighter eaters or events where the sandwiches are part of a larger spread.

Box lunches are always 1:1. One box, one person, no math required.

Box Lunches vs. Platters — Which One Fits Your Event?

Factor

Box Lunches

Platters

Individual portions

Yes — one per person

No — shared

Dietary labeling

Easy — each box labeled

Harder to separate

Setup required

None

Light setup needed

Best for

Office meetings, school lunches, corporate events

Parties, social gatherings, informal events

Minimum order

10 boxes

1 platter

Starting price

$6.50/person

$40/platter

For a working office meeting, choose box lunches every time. People eat at their desk or in a conference room — there’s no table to set up, no serving line to manage, and dietary accommodations are easy to label and hand off individually.

For a party, team celebration, or social event where people are moving around and serving themselves, platters are the cleaner option.

Read more about our party platter options and office lunch catering on the site.

Do You Need a Buffer?

Short answer: usually yes.

  • Unknown headcount: add 10–15% to your confirmed number. If you’ve got 30 confirmed, order 33–35 boxes.
  • Heavy eaters (construction crews, athletic teams, teenage groups): multiply headcount by 1.2 to 1.5 for platters.
  • Office lunch where people typically eat light: 1:1 is fine. Box lunches travel well and keep.
  • Party setting with other food on the table: use the upper end of the platter serving range.

Leftover box lunches are easy to redistribute — they’re individual and sealed. Leftover platters are trickier to manage. When in doubt, order a box lunch over a platter for events where you’re not sure of the count.

Minimums and Lead Time at AMARA Subway

  • Box lunch minimum: 10 boxes
  • Platter minimum: 1 platter (no minimum count)
  • Standard lead time: 24 hours
  • Large orders (50+ boxes): give us 48 hours when possible
  • Delivery: available on orders of $250 or more — roughly 38 box lunches or 7 platters

We run six locations across Cobb County: Acworth (two stores), Kennesaw, Marietta (two stores), and Powder Springs. For very large orders, we coordinate across locations so nothing gets turned away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sandwiches do I need for 20 people?

Order 20 box lunches — one per person. If you’re going with platters instead, order 3 to 4 platters (at 5–9 people each). Box lunches are the simpler choice for groups where individual portions matter.

How much does Subway catering cost per person?

Box lunches start at $6.50 per person through AMARA Subway in Cobb County. Platters start at $40. For a group of 20, box lunches total $130.

What comes in a Subway catering box lunch?

Each AMARA Subway box lunch includes a freshly made sub, chips, and a cookie. Dietary customizations are available — let us know when you order.

How far in advance do I need to order?

24 hours minimum. For orders over 50 boxes, 48 hours is appreciated. For very large events, call us directly to discuss timing.

Ready to place your order? Box lunches start at $6.50/person with a 10-box minimum. Get a quote or order online at amarasubway.com/catering/. We serve Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta, and Powder Springs — call (678) 355-6035 and we’ll get it handled.

Ready to Order Catering?

Call or submit a catering request. We respond within a few hours during business hours. Open 9am–10pm · Seven days a week · Six locations