🧮 Sandwich Calculator

What is this?

This calculator helps you plan a sandwich-making event for The Sandwich Project. It figures out exactly how much food to buy and what it will cost — so you don't overbuy or run short.

How to use it (3 simple steps):

Step 1: Pick your sandwich type below — Deli Meat or PB&J.

Step 2: Tell us either how many sandwiches you want to make, or how much money you have to spend.

Step 3: Choose your brands and options, then hit "Calculate" — we'll show you a full shopping list with quantities and costs.

Using a different brand? Select "Enter custom package" at the bottom of any ingredient dropdown to enter your own weight, slice count, and price.

⚠️ Reminders: Use pre-packaged deli meat only (not sliced at the deli counter). For cheese, use deli-style sliced American cheese — not Kraft singles or any individually plastic-wrapped slices.
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Where are you shopping?

Filter products by store, or keep "Show All" to see everything

Step 1: What type of sandwich are you making?

Step 2: How do you want to plan — by sandwich count or by budget?

What do you want to calculate?

What do you want to calculate?

Step 3: Enter your details and calculate

Enter Your Sandwich Details

📊 View Pricing Info
We'll calculate the cost and shopping list for you
Choose Your Ingredients
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Meat

Pick a meat type below, then choose your brand. TSP recommends 2 oz per sandwich.

2 oz per sandwich (TSP standard).

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Cheese

We calculate 2 slices per sandwich.

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Bread

Each loaf makes about 10–11 sandwiches (using 2 slices per sandwich).

⚙️ Advanced Options & Custom Package Settings
Default: 20 (total slices minus 2 heels). Adjust for non-standard loaf sizes.
💡 Custom Package Support: The calculator supports arbitrary package sizes and non-standard items. Enter any weight (oz), slice count, or price manually if the suggested packages don't match what you're using.

ℹ️ 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.

Reference & Resources

🥪 Assembly Instructions

🥪 Deli Sandwich Assembly

Deli sandwich assembly guide
2slices bread (no heels)
2slices cheese (one per bread slice)
2-3slices deli meat (follow package serving size)
1zip-lock sandwich bag
Meat tip: Check the package label—if serving size = 2 slices (thick cut), use 2. If serving size = 3 slices (thin cut), use 3. Goal is ~2 oz per sandwich.
Assembly Order: Bread → Cheese → Meat → Cheese → Bread
📥 Deli Sandwich Making 101 (PDF) 🏷️ Deli Sandwich Labels (PDF)

📋 Event Toolkit

Everything you need to run a sandwich-making event — food safety guidelines, assembly guides, labels, and more.

🛡️ Food Safety Guide 🥪 Deli Making 101 🥜 PB&J Making 101 🏷️ Deli Labels 🏷️ PB&J Labels 📊 Inventory Template
View All Toolkit Resources →

🛒 Shop Smart

✅ Shopping Standards

  • Pre-packaged deli meat only (not sliced at deli counter)
  • Same quality you'd serve family
  • 10+ days until expiration
  • Add 5-10% buffer for extras
✅ Right Cheese Deli-style sliced American cheese (NOT individually wrapped)
❌ Wrong Cheese Kraft singles or any individually plastic-wrapped slices — they're a pain to unwrap, they're "cheese product" (not real cheese), and they turn into a gross mess on sandwiches
Pricing Information (Updated 9/17/2025)

Ingredient Cost Guide

Based on recent shopping • Prices vary by location

🛡️ REQUIRED: Food Safety Guidelines

Every volunteer must follow these rules — no exceptions.

Our recipients include children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. These rules protect them.

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Before You Start
  • Wash hands with soap & warm water
  • Gloves on — required at all times
  • Hair & beards tied back or netted
  • Clean & cover all prep surfaces
  • Pre-packaged meat only (no deli counter)
  • Check dates: expires 10+ days out
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While Making Sandwiches
  • Keep ingredients at 40°F or below
  • ⚠️ Never leave ingredients at 80°F+
  • One meat package out of fridge at a time
  • Change gloves after touching non-food items
  • Return finished loaves to fridge immediately
  • Keep nut products away from deli area
  • When in doubt, throw it out!
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Packing Up
  • Refrigerate 30 min before packing into coolers
  • ⚠️ Never put warm sandwiches in coolers
  • Coolers must be cool first (not hot from garage)
  • Ice packs touching every loaf
  • Pack tight — fill completely, no air gaps
  • ~100 sandwiches per large cooler
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Transport & Delivery
  • Don't reopen — coolers heat up fast
  • Go direct — straight to host locations
  • Family quality: feed others what you'd feed yours
⚠️ REMEMBER: Our recipients include children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Every rule above exists to protect them.

📄 Download Food Safety Guide

For comprehensive food safety guidelines, download our complete volunteer guide:

📥 Food Safety for Volunteers (PDF)

📋 Group Event Planner

Enter your sandwich goal and we'll tell you how many volunteers you need and how long it will take.

Quick Reference: Popular Quantities

Quantities based on common package sizes (~24 slices cheese, ~30-32 slices meat). Use the calculator above for exact costs with your chosen brands.

🏠 40

~4-5 meat packages
~4 cheese packages
~2 bread loaves

🏢 80

~8-10 meat packages
~7 cheese packages
~4 bread loaves

🏫 120

~12-15 meat packages
~10 cheese packages
~6 bread loaves

🎪 200

~20-25 meat packages
~17 cheese packages
~10 bread loaves