Interactive Group Event Planning Guide
Welcome to the Sandwich Project Planning Tool!
Enter a sandwich count or budget, pick your brands, and get a full shopping list with quantities and costs.
Why does this matter? (click to read more)
Every brand slices their meat differently — some slices are paper-thin, others are thick-cut. That means the number of slices needed to reach 2 oz varies by package. Your nutrition label will say something like "Serving size: 2 oz (56g), about 5 slices" — that’s how many slices equal one sandwich’s worth of meat.
The calculator handles this math for you — it knows the weight-per-slice for each brand listed and will tell you exactly how much to buy. But it’s always safest to double-check your labels while you’re shopping, especially if you’re using a brand not listed here.
All pricing is based on recent retail pricing at various stores (Kroger, Walmart, Costco, etc.) and may vary by location.
Interactive Calculator
Plan Your Sandwich Making Shopping Trip
Peanut Butter & Jelly Calculator
Plan Your PB&J Sandwiches
Every PB&J Sandwich Contains
About Ham Sandwiches: We're phasing out ham sandwiches based on feedback from our partner agencies. Many find that turkey and chicken are more widely accepted and preferred by their communities. We still gratefully accept ham sandwich donations—we never refuse sandwiches—but encourage turkey or chicken for new batches when possible.
Pricing Information (Updated 9/17/2025)
Important Shopping Notes
Don't get meat sliced at the deli counter—pre-packaged is safer and easier to work with.
Individually wrapped slices like Kraft singles are a pain to unwrap, they're "cheese product" (not real cheese), and they turn into a gross mess on sandwiches. Get deli-style sliced cheese—the kind sold together in one pack, not individually wrapped processed singles
Ingredient Cost Guide
Quick Reference: Popular Quantities
Rough package counts for common batch sizes, using typical deli packs (~24 slices cheese, ~30 slices meat per pack). Use the calculator above for exact costs with your brands.
40
80
120
200
Perfect Sandwich Recipe
Every Sandwich Contains
Food Safety Requirements
Personal Hygiene
- Wash hands with soap and warm water
- Wear disposable gloves (required)
- Change gloves if touching non-food items
- Use hair ties or nets for long hair
- Use beard nets if applicable
- Clean and cover all prep surfaces
Temperature Control
- Keep all ingredients at 40°F or below
- Never leave ingredients at 80°F or above
- Remove only 1 package of meat at a time from fridge
- Return completed loaves immediately
- Never put warm sandwiches in coolers
Ingredient Standards
- Use same quality you'd feed your family
- Pre-packaged deli meat only (no deli counter)
- Check expiration: 10+ days after purchase
- Keep nut products away from deli area
- When in doubt, throw it out!
Transport Safety
- Cool sandwiches in freezer 20-30 minutes before packing
- Ensure coolers are cool before loading (not hot from garage)
- Use ice packs - enough to touch every loaf of sandwiches
- Fill coolers completely (no air circulation)
- Once packed, do NOT open cooler - it will rapidly heat up
- Transport directly to host locations
Planning Tips
Timing Guidelines (+20 min for setup/cleanup)
- Small (50–100 sandwiches, 3–5 adults): 45–90 minutes
- Medium (200–300 sandwiches, 5–8 adults): 1.5–2.5 hours
- Large (500+ sandwiches, 10–20 adults): 2–4 hours
- Solo/pair events: plan ~25 sandwiches per adult per hour
Storage & Transport
- ~100 sandwiches per large cooler
- Plan 2-3 hours ingredient storage
- Use your own coolers with ice packs
- Never put warm sandwiches in coolers
- Once packed, don't open cooler during transport
Quality Standards
- Same quality you'd serve family
- 10+ days until expiration
- Pre-packaged deli meat only
- Add 5-10% buffer for extras