The short version: Jimmy John’s catering centers on party boxes of sandwich thirds and individual box lunches that run roughly $10 to $14 per person. The quick sizing math: an 18-piece party box feeds 6 to 9, a 30-piece feeds 10 to 15, and same-day orders are usually possible for smaller groups. Two things planners should know before ordering: ask for no mayo with packets on the side so the sandwiches stay fresh, and watch out for Slims in the online box lunch menu, which are plain sandwiches with no veggies or sauce.

Prices vary by location. Figures in this guide were last verified September 2026.

Jimmy John’s is one of the easiest office catering orders there is: sandwiches everyone recognizes, formats built for groups, and stores that genuinely specialize in short-notice orders. The catch is that the format names confuse first-time orderers, and a couple of small ordering decisions make the difference between a fresh spread and a soggy one.

We have been delivering office meals since 1995, and sandwich catering is a staple of the lunch programs we run. This guide covers the party box math, the box lunch details, real costs, and the ordering tips that catering staff themselves recommend. Waiter.com is not affiliated with Jimmy John’s.

Does Jimmy John’s cater?

Yes. Jimmy John’s offers catering at locations nationwide through party boxes, box lunches, catering bundles, sides, and desserts, available for pickup or delivery. The chain built its reputation on speed, and that carries into catering: staff describe a few 30-piece boxes as an easy same-day order, though 24 hours of notice is the standard courtesy and large orders need more.

Jimmy John’s catering at a glance

Question	Answer
Formats	Party boxes (sandwich thirds), box lunches, catering bundles, wrap boxes, sides, desserts
Typical cost	Roughly $10 to $14 per person for box lunches; party boxes usually less per head
Lead time	Same-day often works for small orders; 24 hours is standard; multi-hundred box lunch orders need several days
Delivery	Available; catering is usually delivered by store staff, but confirm, since regular delivery is third-party in many markets
Payment	Many stores require prepayment on large orders
Dietary notes	Any sandwich can be made as a gluten-free Unwich lettuce wrap; vegetarian and vegan options are minimal

Party boxes explained: 18-piece vs 30-piece vs 12-Pack

Party boxes are the shareable format: 8 inch sandwiches cut into thirds, wrapped for grab-and-go, no utensils needed. Sizing them is the question every planner Googles, so here is the math straight from Jimmy John’s own guidance.

Box	What’s inside	Feeds	Best for
18-Piece Party Box	18 sandwich thirds (6 sandwiches)	6 to 9 people	Small meetings
30-Piece Party Box	30 sandwich thirds (10 sandwiches)	10 to 15 people	Mid-size office lunches; usually the best value per person
12-Pack Party Box	12 half sandwiches or wraps	6 to 9 people	Lighter meals; wrap crowds
Catering Bundles	Sandwiches plus chips, cookies, sides at a bundled price	Small feeds 6 to 10; Large feeds 15 to 20	The easy button for a complete spread

Plan on 2 to 3 thirds per person. Both the 18 and 30-piece boxes let you mix any Original or Favorite sandwiches, on bread or as Unwich lettuce wraps, so one box can cover most of a team’s preferences.

Box lunches: what’s inside, what they cost, and the Slims trap

A box lunch is one complete meal per person: an 8 inch sandwich or wrap, chips, a pickle spear, and a cookie, typically $10 to $14 each depending on location and sandwich choice. It is the standard format for seated meetings, trainings, and any event where handing each person their own labeled box beats a shared spread.

The Slims trap: when you order box lunches online, the menu lists both Original sandwiches and Slims, and they look similar. Slims are just bread, meat, and cheese: no lettuce, no tomato, no mayo, no sauce. They are cheaper for a reason, and store managers say offices mis-order them constantly and only find out when 40 plain sandwiches arrive. If you want dressed sandwiches, pick Originals or Favorites, and if the menu confuses you at all, order by phone and let the store walk you through it.

The flip side: Slims can be a deliberate strategy for large events. Staff suggest ordering mixed Slims and setting out a self-serve toppings table, which costs less per box, sidesteps everyone’s topping preferences, and keeps sandwiches from sitting dressed for hours.

What Jimmy John’s catering costs by headcount

Group size	Party box route	Box lunches
10 people	$70 to $110	$100 to $140
20 people	$140 to $210	$200 to $280
50 people	$330 to $520	$500 to $700

Add chips, cookies, pickle buckets, and gallon drinks per person as needed, plus delivery fees and tax. On tipping, staff are candid: around 10 percent on a pickup catering order is appreciated and gets split among the crew who made it, delivery tips go to the driver, and cash is the surest way a tip reaches the people who did the work. They are equally candid that regular customers who tip well get noticeably attentive service.

Sandwich math for large groups: how many boxes for 40 guests

Jimmy John’s retired its old sandwich platters, so party boxes are the platter format now. For 40 guests as a full lunch, order three 30-piece boxes (90 thirds, just over 2 per person) and round up to four if appetites run big or the sandwiches are the whole meal. For 40 guests as one of several foods, two 30-piece boxes covers it. The same math scales: one 30-piece box per 10 to 15 people as a meal, per 15 to 20 as a snack.

Ordering, lead times, and the no-mayo rule

How far ahead: 24 hours of notice is the standard ask and guarantees the store lays out enough bread for your order. That said, small orders move fast: staff describe a few 30-piece boxes as doable within an hour or two, and same-day catering is a point of pride at many stores. Multi-hundred box lunch orders are a different animal, planned days to a week out with a final headcount about three days before. Expect to prepay on large orders.

The no-mayo rule: the most consistent advice from Jimmy John’s workers and managers is to order catering with no mayo and request mayo and mustard packets on the side. Catering is made ahead of your pickup or delivery window, and mayo is what makes sandwiches soggy by the time they are eaten. Some stores do this by default on every catering order. If your event is hours after pickup, go further and ask for tomatoes or all veggies on the side; stores can pack them separately.

On delivery: catering orders are generally delivered by the store’s own drivers. If delivery timing matters for your event, confirm when ordering that a store driver is bringing it.

Dietary options: the Unwich, and what’s missing

The Unwich is the genuine strength here: any sandwich, including every party box and box lunch, can be made as a lettuce wrap, which cleanly covers gluten-free and low-carb teammates at no coordination cost. Specify it per sandwich when ordering.

Vegetarian and vegan coverage is the weak spot. The only meatless sandwich is the veggie, and the vegan version of it is essentially lettuce, tomato, and avocado spread on bread, which plant-based employees describe as bleak. One more planning note: the condiment lineup was simplified in recent years, so yellow mustard is the only mustard, and specialty sauces vary. If your team skews vegetarian or has layered dietary needs, this is where a single-chain order starts to strain.

Is Jimmy John’s catering right for your office?

Order it when: you need reliable, fast, crowd-friendly food at roughly $7 to $14 per person, especially on short notice. The party box format is well designed for offices, the Unwich handles gluten-free without drama, and stores routinely execute huge orders when given lead time.

Look elsewhere when: your team has real vegetarian or vegan representation, delivery reliability is mission critical and the store cannot confirm an in-house driver, or, the big one, you are feeding the same office every week. After three decades of running office lunch catering programs, the pattern is universal: sandwiches are a beloved week one and a mutiny by week four. Variety is what keeps a lunch program alive.

Want sandwiches Tuesday and something different Thursday? Waiter.com’s recurring meal programs rotate hundreds of local restaurants so lunch never gets stale. We have delivered office meals since 1995. Get a quote for your team at Waiter.com.

Jimmy John’s catering FAQ

How many people does a 30-piece Jimmy John’s party box feed?

A 30-piece party box feeds 10 to 15 people as a meal, at 2 to 3 sandwich thirds each. As a snack alongside other food, it stretches to 15 to 20 people.

How much is Jimmy John’s 30 party box?

Pricing varies by location and sandwich selection, but a 30-piece party box generally lands in the $75 to $100 range, which works out to roughly $5 to $8 per person for a group of 12 to 15. Premium sandwich choices push the total up.

How much does Jimmy John’s catering cost?

Plan on roughly $10 to $14 per person for box lunches and less per head for party boxes. Sides, drinks, delivery fees, and tax are additional, and prices vary by location.

How many sandwich platters do I need for 40 guests?

Jimmy John’s uses party boxes rather than platters. For 40 guests eating sandwiches as the meal, order three 30-piece party boxes, and add a fourth for bigger appetites. If sandwiches are one of several foods, two 30-piece boxes is enough. Feeding a bigger crowd or setting up a recurring program? Get a quote, or browse restaurants that deliver to your office at Waiter.com.