Most people ordering a Pub Sub get the whole thing. That context matters, because the buffalo chicken tender numbers look very different at full sub scale than the half sub figures that usually show up in nutrition databases.
The short version: the whole sub with a standard build runs about 1,480 calories and 118g of protein. Add mayo and you're at 1,860. Skip the bread entirely and a whole sub with provolone and ranch is around 1,350. All numbers below are from Publix's official published nutrition data, the same source used in the Publix Sub Macro Calculator.
Half Sub vs. Whole Sub: The Numbers Side by Side
The Pub Sub counter sells halves and wholes. Here's what the same build looks like at each size, before you pick condiments and toppings:
| Build | Half Sub | Whole Sub |
|---|---|---|
| Tenders + buffalo sauce only | 580 cal / 48g prot | 1,160 cal / 96g prot |
| + Provolone + Italian roll | 720 cal / 59g prot | 1,440 cal / 118g prot |
| + Mustard (standard build) | 740 cal / 59g prot | 1,480 cal / 118g prot |
| + Mayo instead of mustard | 950 cal / 59g prot | 1,900 cal / 118g prot |
| No bread, provolone + ranch | 675 cal / 53g prot | 1,350 cal / 106g prot |
The protein is the standout number at both sizes. 96g of protein from just the tenders and buffalo sauce on a whole sub is unusual for a deli order. If protein is the goal, there's not much in the fast-casual world that beats it per dollar.
The Standard Whole Sub (~1,480 Calories)
Italian 5 grain, provolone, mustard, standard toppings. This is the straightforward build — nothing fancy, no heavy condiments.
Standard Whole Sub
1,480 calories is a substantial lunch, but 118g of protein is a genuinely exceptional number. If you're splitting it with someone or eating half now, half later, the per-half math is 740 calories and 59g of protein.
The Standard Half Sub (~740 Calories)
Same build, half the sub. The right choice if you're not especially hungry or pairing it with something else.
Standard Half Sub
No Bread — Half (~675 cal) or Whole (~1,350 cal)
Asking for it as a salad bowl saves 70 calories on a half, 140 on a whole. The deli does it without issue. For a whole sub, dropping the roll and swapping mayo for ranch takes you from a potential 1,900-calorie order down to 1,350 — a 550-calorie swing without changing the protein.
No Bread — Whole Sub
No Bread — Half Sub
What Actually Moves the Number
Mayo is the biggest lever. At 210 calories per 2 tablespoons per half, a whole sub with mayo adds 420 calories versus the same build with mustard. That single swap is the difference between a 1,480-calorie whole sub and a 1,900-calorie one. Ranch is only 25 calories per half — a much lighter option if you want something creamy.
Bread choice barely matters. Italian 5 grain, white, whole wheat, and flatbread are all approximately 70 calories per half. The roll is 140 calories on a whole sub regardless of which you pick. Choose for texture — the Italian 5 grain holds up better under buffalo sauce.
Cheese is a minor variable. Provolone and Swiss are 70 calories per slice, cheddar, muenster, and American are 80. On a whole sub that's a 10–20 calorie difference total. Not worth overthinking.
Toppings are effectively free. Lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumbers, banana peppers, pickles — all zero or near-zero. Load them up. Avocado adds 50 calories per half and bacon adds 40 per half if you're going that direction.
For the exact numbers on your specific build — half or whole — run it through the Publix Sub Macro Calculator.