How many people does a 6 ft sub feed?
A 6 ft party sub — 72 inches — feeds about 13 people as the main food (5 inches each, with 10% extra), or about 24 people with chips and sides at 3 inches each.
How to work it out
- 13 adults × 5 in × 1.1 = 72 in ÷ 12 = 6 feet
A six-foot hero, hoagie or sub is a party centerpiece as much as a meal. How many it feeds depends entirely on how long a piece each person takes, and what else is on the table.
Adjust for your project
More options: Kids · Extra
- Party sub length
- 6 feet
- Per adult (incl. extra)
- 5.5 in
- Party subs are usually sold in whole feet; most shops need a day’s notice for 3 ft and longer. Ask how they cut it — 2 in or 3 in pieces stretch further on a buffet.
- Perishable food should not sit out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90 °F / 32 °C). Keep hot food at 140 °F (60 °C) or above and cold food at 40 °F (4 °C) or below (USDA FSIS).
Sandwiches by number of guests (kind as above)
| Guests | Party sub length |
|---|---|
| 12 | 5.5 feet |
| 20 | 9.2 feet |
| 30 | 13.8 feet |
| 50 | 22.9 feet |
| 75 | 34.4 feet |
| 100 | 45.8 feet |
Inches per person
A 6 ft sub is 72 inches of sandwich. As the main food at a lunch, about 5 inches per adult is a fair planning figure — a little less than a 6 in sub from a sandwich shop, because there is usually something else on the table. With 10% extra that is about 13 people. As one item in a spread with chips, salads and dessert, 3-inch pieces work, and the same sub feeds about 24.
| Sub | Length | Main food (5 in each, +10%) | With sides (3 in each) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 ft | 36 in | about 6 | about 12 |
| 4 ft | 48 in | about 8–9 | about 16 |
| 6 ft | 72 in | about 13 | about 24 |
| 8 ft | 96 in | about 17 | about 32 |
Ordering and serving a long sub
- Order ahead. Long subs usually need notice; ask the shop to cut it into pieces of the size you want.
- Carry it flat. A 6 ft board does not fit every back seat — measure the car.
- Two hours out. A sub with meat and cheese should not sit out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90 °F); put half out and keep half cold.
For a bigger crowd, individual sandwiches are easier: how many sandwiches for 50 people. Hot alternative: how many sliders for 50 people.
Different size? Use the full Sandwich & Slider Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Heavy-duty paper plates (bulk)Budget price
Sturdy plates that do not fold under a scoop of baked beans. Get small ones too for dessert.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Dinner napkins (bulk)Budget price
Napkins go faster than anything else on the table, especially with wings and barbecue.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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Frequently asked questions
How long a sub for 20 people?
About 9.2 feet at 5 inches each with 10% extra.
How many people does a 3 ft sub feed?
About 6 people as the main food, or about 12 with sides at 3 inches each.
How long a sub for 30 people with other food?
About 11 feet at 4 inches each with 10% extra.
Other common sizes
- How many sandwiches for 50 people — 83 sandwiches (15.6 lb deli meat)
- How many sliders for 50 people — 138 sliders (33.2 lb raw pork shoulder)
Sources
- Iowa State University Extension (AnswerLine) — Graduation party tips (opens in a new tab) — Per person: sandwich meat 3–4 oz, sliders 1.5–2 oz, burgers 4–6 oz, sides 4–6 oz; 1 to 1.5 lb of food per guest; soda 2 cans and water 2 bottles per hour; punch 6 oz.
- USDA FNS — Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs, Section 1 (Meats/Meat Alternates) yield table (opens in a new tab) — Cooked lean meat per lb as purchased: Boston butt bone-in 0.52, boneless 0.60; brisket ¼ in trim 0.46, practically free of fat 0.69; ground beef ≤20% fat 0.74; spareribs 0.39; chicken thighs 0.52, drumsticks 0.49, breast halves 0.66, whole chicken 0.44; turkey breast 0.64; boneless fully cooked ham 0.90; chuck roast boneless 0.63; frankfurters 8 or 10 per lb.