Tyler Brooks, Food & Menu Researcher · Last verified August 2026
Almost everything on the catering menu falls into one of two categories, and picking the right one depends more on how your group actually eats than on price alone.
One sub per person, individually packaged with chips and a cookie. Each box can hold a different sub, so people with different preferences (or allergies) aren't stuck with one shared option.
Whole subs, sliced into pieces and arranged for sharing, effectively Jersey Mike's version of a party tray, even though the menu doesn't use that word. Usually offered across a handful of sub varieties per box, so a group can sample more than one flavor without everyone ordering separately.
The practical difference comes down to logistics. Boxed lunches take longer to assemble since each one is packed separately, but they eliminate any confusion about who's eating what. Subs by the Box are faster to set out and serve, closer to what most people picture when they ask for a party tray, but work better for a casual event than a formal meeting where people want to eat at their desks.
A boxed lunch includes your choice of sub, a bag of chips, and a cookie, made Mike's Way unless you specify otherwise. Drinks are typically sold separately rather than bundled in.
Subs by the Box typically lets you choose across several sub varieties, most commonly a mix of Italian-style, turkey and provolone, and club-style subs, though the exact selection can vary by location. Desserts (cookies or brownies) and drinks are usually available as separate add-ons rather than included by default, our Sides Menu and Drinks Menu pages cover what's typically on offer.
Catering quotes for the same order type can swing by a wide margin depending on where you are and what's in season promotionally. A boxed lunch that runs one price at a location in one state can cost noticeably more or less at a different store, and the same is true for a full Subs by the Box order. Location, sub selection, and whatever promotion is active that week all move the number more than most published price lists account for. It's worth checking our current coupons and deals before you order, since a catering-eligible promotion can meaningfully change the total.
What stays consistent regardless of location: boxed lunches are priced per person, and Subs by the Box are priced per box rather than per person, that structural difference matters more for comparing the two formats than any specific dollar figure would. For the actual number, your local store or the official catering order page for your event date is the only source that reflects what you'll really pay. Confirming your store's hours and location details ahead of time also helps, since catering pickup windows don't always match regular counter hours.
A standard boxed lunch: sub, chips, and a cookie, individually packaged.
Vegetarians have one clear option: The Veggie, built with provolone, swiss, and green bell peppers. There's no vegan sub on the menu. For gluten sensitivity, a gluten-free roll is available at some locations for boxed lunches, but it's not universal, confirm with your store ahead of time rather than assuming. If your group includes someone with a serious gluten restriction, ordering their sub as Sub in a Tub instead removes the guesswork entirely, no roll to double-check.
Large recurring catering accounts are one of the reasons Jersey Mike's locations sometimes staff up around office parks and event venues; if that side of the business interests you, our pages on working at Jersey Mike's and what it costs to open a franchise cover the operational side of the brand.