Subway first introduced its famous $5 Footlong promotion back in 2008, offering select subs for just $5 each. The incredibly popular deal put Subway on the map and became synonymous with the brand.
While the days of every Subway footlong costing $5 are gone, they still offer a rotating monthly $5 footlong menu featuring classic subs at this iconic price point.
Below we will cover everything you need to know about Subway’s current $5 footlong menu and promotion, including:
- Current $5 footlong subs each month
- Full nutrition facts and descriptions
- How to get the $5 deal
- Additional footlong deals
- History of the $5 footlong
- Why Subway no longer has permanent $5 subs
- How to save money at Subway
So read on to get the inside scoop on how you can still enjoy Subway’s $5 footlong subs!
Current Subway $5 Footlong Menu
Subway’s $5 footlong menu changes monthly, rotating between some of their classic and most popular 6-inch subs.
Here is the Subway $5 footlong menu lineup for November 2023:
- Black Forest Ham
- Meatball Marinara
- Spicy Italian
- Cold Cut Combo
- Veggie Delite
These subs are all 12 inches long and just $5 each for the entire month.
Next, we will cover the key details on each of these subs currently on the $5 footlong menu.
Black Forest Ham
The Black Forest Ham footlong features Subway’s premium smoked ham along with your choice of veggies and condiments on freshly baked bread. It has:
- 310 calories
- 5g fat
- 55g carbs
- 2g fiber
- 18g protein
With the savory smoked ham flavor and variety of vegetable toppings, the Black Forest Ham makes a solid lunch or dinner choice for just $5.
Meatball Marinara
Subway’s Meatball Marinara footlong is filled with over half a pound of their Italian-style meatballs covered in tangy marinara sauce and melted cheese. Nutrition info:
- 560 calories
- 23g fat
- 73g carbs
- 5g fiber
- 37g protein
This hearty and filling $5 footlong is a favorite for meat lovers.
Spicy Italian
The Spicy Italian footlong features spicy pepperoni and salami topped with cheese and veggies on Italian bread, adding a zesty kick to a classic sub. It contains:
- 430 calories
- 10g fat
- 60g carbs
- 4g fiber
- 28g protein
If you like some heat, the Spicy Italian brings it along with Italian meats and cheese.
Cold Cut Combo
With turkey-based meats, ham, and cheese, the Cold Cut Combo is a Subway staple. As a $5 footlong, expect:
- 320 calories
- 8g fat
- 48g carbs
- 3g fiber
- 20g protein
The Cold Cut Combo combines smoky, savory flavors on a budget.
Veggie Delite
For a vegetarian $5 footlong option, Subway offers the Veggie Delite which is piled high with your choice of crisp vegetables and cheese or hummus. Nutrition information:
- 220 calories
- 3.5g fat
- 45g carbs
- 5g fiber
- 10g protein
Create your own tasty veggie sandwich with the Veggie Delite.
As you can see, Subway’s monthly $5 footlong menu gives you a solid variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and flavors at an unbeatable price.
Next, let’s look at how you can get in on these $5 footlong deals.
How to Get Subway’s $5 Footlong Deal
Taking advantage of Subway’s $5 footlong offer is easy:
1. Visit Subway during the month of the promotion. The $5 subs change monthly.
2. Choose your sub from the rotating $5 footlong menu.
3. Select your bread, cheese, toppings & condiments. Customize your $5 sub to your liking!
4. Pay just $5 for your footlong sub. No coupons or Subway cards are required.
5. Enjoy! Dig into your fresh, affordable footlong.
The $5 footlong deal applies to the sub only. If you add extra meats, cheeses, or premium toppings you will be charged for those additions.
But the base footlong sub from the monthly $5 menu is just $5 at participating Subway locations in the U.S. for a limited time each month.
Now let’s look at some other ways to get footlong subs on a budget from Subway.
More Subway Footlong Deals
In addition to the rotating $5 footlong menu, there are a few other ways to get discounted footlongs at Subway:
Subway Footlongs on Sale for $6
Certain footlong subs like the Steak & Cheese or Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt are regularly priced at just $6 each at participating locations.
Subway Footlong Meal Deals
You can get select footlongs along with chips and a drink for around $8-10 depending on location.
Loyalty Program Discounts
Subway’s MyWay Rewards program offers sandwich discounts and free subs to members.
Promotions and Coupons
Follow Subway on social media or sign up for their email list to get special coupon offers like $2 off footlongs.
Subway App Deals
The Subway app offers subscribers exclusive weekly coupons for discounted subs.
So while the $5 footlong promotion has a limited monthly menu, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy Subway footlongs on a budget.
History of Subway’s $5 Footlong
Subway first introduced $5 footlong subs in 2008 as a temporary promotion to boost sales during the recession.
The $5 footlong deal was an instant success. Customers loved the perceived value of a full footlong sub for just $5.
Subway’s $5 footlong promotion gained major popularity through TV commercials and word-of-mouth.
The deal was so successful that Subway extended it multiple times before finally making it a permanent menu item in 2009, with select subs always available for $5.
At its peak, Subway sold an estimated 8-10 million $5 footlongs per day!
The $5 footlong cemented Subway as the affordable sandwich chain and became central to their brand image.
However, rising costs forced Subway to scale back the iconic deal.
Why Subway No Longer Has Permanent $5 Footlongs
By 2017, food costs had risen so much that $5 was no longer a sustainable price point for Subway to profitably offer every footlong sub for just $5.
Some reasons why the $5 footlong promotion ultimately went away include:
Ingredient Costs – Prices for meats, cheeses, vegetables, and bread ingredients increased over the years. Offering all subs for $5 would mean taking a loss.
Minimum Wage Increases – Rising minimum wages and labor costs made it unfeasible to sell subs this cheap permanently.
Smaller Profit Margins – Subway makes a small fraction on each sub sold, so the $5 price left little profit versus a $6 or $7 sub.
Brand Value – As a mature brand, Subway felt they no longer needed low price points to drive traffic.
Due to these mounting costs, Subway switched from permanent $5 footlongs to a monthly rotating $5 menu in 2018. This allowed them to limit the promotion to keep it financially viable.
While customers were disappointed to see the iconic deal scaled back, the monthly $5 footlong menu still allows Subway to offer value while protecting their bottom line.
Next we will cover some ways you can get the most from Subway’s $5 footlong promotion.
How to Customize Your $5 Footlong
While the $5 footlong menu has preset meats and cheeses, you can still customize your sandwich.
Here are some tips to make your $5 footlong your own:
Load up on veggies – Get extra tomatoes, spinach, onions, peppers and more at no additional cost. Veggies make subs tasty and healthy.
Swap the cheese – Change the standard cheese to your favorite variety like pepper jack or provolone.
Add condiments – Mustard, mayo, oil & vinegar, hot sauce, and Subway sauces like Sweet Onion or Chipotle Southwest are all free additions.
Toast your sub – Opt for a warm, toasty sub by having it toasted before serving.
Make it a meal – Pair your $5 footlong with a side like chips, cookies or a drink for an affordable meal combo.
Order it “deluxe” – Deluxe versions of subs come with veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles already added.
Go half & half – Get 6 inches of two $5 footlong subs to sample two flavors in one sandwich.
So while you can’t swap the core meats on the $5 subs, you have lots of ways to put your own spin on these budget-friendly footlongs.
Save Even More with Subway MyWay Rewards
Signing up for Subway’s MyWay Rewards program is a great way to save even more money on their $5 footlong promotion.
With MyWay Rewards you can earn:
- Points on every purchase
- Free subs for every 50 points
- Bonus points during your birthday month
- Exclusive member deals and coupons
Rewards members often get bonus point offers to redeem subs from the $5 footlong menu for fewer points.
MyWay also offers members surprise reward points and discounts.
So joining the MyWay Rewards program can help you save and take advantage of Subway’s best deals on subs, including $5 footlongs!
$5 Footlong Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about Subway’s $5 footlong offer:
What is on the $5 footlong menu right now?
For November 2023, the $5 footlong menu includes Black Forest Ham, Meatball Marinara, Spicy Italian, Cold Cut Combo, and Veggie Delite subs.
What time does Subway stop selling $5 footlongs?
$5 footlongs are available all day while the promotion is running – during normal restaurant hours.
Can I get ANY footlong for $5 at Subway?
No, only the subs featured on the monthly $5 footlong menu are available for $5. All other footlongs are regular price.
Do $5 footlongs come with chips and a drink?
No, the $5 promotion applies to the footlong sub only. Chips, drinks, cookies, etc. can be added at regular menu price.
Can I use Subway coupons on $5 footlongs?
Yes, coupons and Subway app deals can often be combined with the $5 footlong offer to save even more!
Subway $5 Footlongs: An Iconic, Affordable Sub
The Subway $5 footlong promotion has provided an affordable, filling sandwich option for over a decade. While less subs are permanently $5 now due to rising costs, the monthly rotating $5 menu allows customers to still enjoy these classic footlongs at an iconic price.
Next time you’re seeking an affordable meal, swing by Subway during their $5 footlong promotion for a budget-friendly sandwich bursting with your favorite meats, cheeses, and veggie fixings. Just $5 gets you 12 inches of delicious sub!
Pair it with their baked cookies or chips to make it a combo. And don’t forget to join MyWay Rewards to earn points and redeem rewards on $5 footlongs!
With customized subs at just $5 each, it’s a deal too good to pass up.
