Subway Tuna Calories (6-inch & Footlong): Full Nutrition Facts (2026)
Tuna is one of Subway’s most iconic and consistently popular sandwiches. It has been on the menu for decades — and for good reason. The flavour is familiar, the texture is satisfying, and it feels like it should be a healthy choice.
But the calorie count surprises a lot of people. A 6-inch Subway Tuna contains 480 calories — the same as the Meatball Marinara, and significantly more than most of the chicken and turkey options. A footlong comes in at 960 calories, close to the daily calorie limit for some diets.
Understanding why the tuna is so calorie-dense — and what you can do about it — makes a big difference if this is a sandwich you order regularly. This guide covers everything.
Subway Tuna Calories: The Quick Answer
6-inch Subway Tuna (standard build): 480 calories
Footlong Subway Tuna (standard build): 960 calories
Standard build means 9-Grain Wheat bread, tuna filling with mayo, standard vegetables (lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cucumbers, olives), no extra cheese, and no additional sauce.
These are among the highest calorie counts for a 6-inch sandwich on the Subway menu — placing the Tuna in the same tier as the Meatball Marinara and well above most chicken and turkey options.
Full Nutrition Facts: Subway Tuna 6-inch and Footlong (2026)
Here is the complete macro and micronutrient breakdown based on Subway’s official 2026 US nutrition data.
| Nutrient | 6-inch | Footlong |
| Calories | 480 kcal | 960 kcal |
| Protein | 19g | 38g |
| Total Fat | 25g | 50g |
| Saturated Fat | 4.5g | 9g |
| Total Carbs | 44g | 88g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3g | 6g |
| Sugars | 7g | 14g |
| Sodium | 590mg | 1,180mg |
| Cholesterol | 45mg | 90mg |
The fat content is the standout figure. At 25g of total fat per 6-inch, the Subway Tuna has more fat than any other standard sandwich on the menu. For context, that is more fat than the Meatball Marinara (17g) and the Italian B.M.T. (16g) — two sandwiches that most people consider the indulgent options.
On the other hand, sodium is relatively moderate at 590mg per 6-inch — one of the lower sodium readings among the higher-calorie sandwiches. And the protein content of 19g is decent, though not exceptional given the calorie count.
Why Is the Subway Tuna So High in Calories?
This is the question most people have — and the answer is simpler than you might expect.
Tuna on its own is actually a very low-calorie, high-protein food. A standard portion of plain canned tuna in water contains roughly 100–120 calories and almost zero fat. So why does the Subway Tuna come in at 480 calories?
The answer is mayonnaise. Subway’s tuna filling is pre-mixed with mayonnaise in the kitchen before service. That mayo — not the tuna — is responsible for the bulk of the fat and a significant portion of the calories.
| Component | Calories | Fat | Notes |
| 9-Grain Wheat Bread (6″) | 210 kcal | 2.5g | Base bread calories |
| Tuna filling (with mayo) | ~255 kcal | ~22g | Pre-mixed with mayo in kitchen |
| Standard vegetables | ~15 kcal | 0g | Essentially calorie-free |
| Total (no extra sauce) | ~480 kcal | ~25g | Fat mainly from the mayo mix |
The tuna filling alone, with its mayo mixture, contributes approximately 255 calories and 22g of fat to the sandwich. That is more calories from the filling than the bread itself. And crucially, because the mayo is mixed in before service, you cannot ask staff to remove it — the filling arrives at the counter already combined.
This is worth knowing before you order. If you love the flavour of the Subway Tuna, there is no workaround for the mayo-mixed filling. What you can control is everything around it: the bread, the cheese, and any additional sauce.
How Cheese Affects Your Tuna Sub Calories
The standard tuna build includes no cheese. Adding cheese is the most common customisation — and since tuna is already high in fat, it pushes the calorie count up noticeably.
| Cheese | Extra Calories | Total 6″ Calories | Notes |
| No cheese | +0 kcal | 480 kcal | Standard build |
| American | +40 kcal | 520 kcal | Classic pairing |
| Swiss | +50 kcal | 530 kcal | Low sodium option |
| Provolone | +50 kcal | 530 kcal | Mild flavour match |
| Pepper Jack | +50 kcal | 530 kcal | Adds spicy kick |
Given that the tuna filling is already rich and creamy from the mayo, many people find the flavour complete without cheese. Skipping cheese on the tuna sub is one of the easiest ways to keep the calorie count from climbing further — and unlike some sandwiches, the tuna genuinely does not need cheese for flavour.
If you do want cheese, Swiss is worth considering. It adds the same 50 calories as Provolone and Pepper Jack but with significantly less sodium — a worthwhile trade on a sandwich that already has plenty of flavour.
Subway Tuna vs Other 6-inch Sandwiches
To understand where the Tuna sits on the Subway menu, here is a full comparison against the most popular sandwiches:
| Sandwich (6″) | Calories | Protein | Fat | Verdict vs Tuna |
| Tuna | 480 kcal | 19g | 25g | — |
| Meatball Marinara | 480 kcal | 21g | 17g | Same cal, more protein, less fat |
| Italian B.M.T. | 410 kcal | 21g | 16g | Lower cal, more protein, less fat |
| Steak & Cheese | 380 kcal | 26g | 12g | Lower cal, much more protein |
| Rotisserie Chicken | 320 kcal | 27g | 6g | 160 fewer cal, more protein |
| Turkey Breast | 280 kcal | 18g | 4.5g | 200 fewer cal, similar protein |
| Veggie Delite | 200 kcal | 8g | 2g | 280 fewer cal, lower protein |
The comparison is revealing. The Tuna and Meatball Marinara are tied at 480 calories — but the Meatball Marinara delivers more protein (21g vs 19g) and significantly less fat (17g vs 25g). From a pure nutrition standpoint, the Meatball Marinara is a better calorie-for-protein trade-off than the Tuna.
Against the leaner options, the gap is even more striking. The Rotisserie Chicken at 320 calories has 160 fewer calories than the Tuna, more protein (27g vs 19g), and a fraction of the fat (6g vs 25g). If your goal is high protein at low calories, the Tuna is one of the weaker options on the menu despite being seafood.
How to Make a Lower-Calorie Tuna Order
You cannot change the tuna filling itself — the mayo is already mixed in. But you can control everything else. Here is how to build a lighter version of the Tuna sub:
| Change | Calorie Saving | Impact |
| Choose Artisan Italian bread | Save 30 kcal | Lightest bread option vs 9-Grain Wheat |
| Skip the cheese | Save 40–50 kcal | Tuna already has fat — cheese adds fast |
| Use mustard instead of mayo sauce | Save up to 105 kcal | Biggest saving — tuna already has mayo in it |
| Load all free vegetables | 0 extra kcal | Adds volume and nutrition for free |
| Order 6-inch not footlong | Save 480 kcal | Single most impactful choice |
| All changes combined (6-inch) | ~395 kcal total | Still lower fat and calorie-conscious build |
One important note on sauce: because the tuna filling already contains mayo, adding extra mayo or ranch on top layers fat on top of fat. If you want to add a sauce, mustard or red wine vinegar are the sensible choices — they add flavour without significant calories and complement the tuna well.
Is Subway Tuna a Healthy Choice?
If you are tracking calories
The Subway Tuna is not the best choice. At 480 calories and 25g of fat for a 6-inch, it is one of the higher-calorie and highest-fat options on the menu. For the same calorie budget, you could get significantly more protein from a Rotisserie Chicken or a Steak & Cheese.
If you enjoy it and eat it occasionally
Then there is nothing wrong with it. The tuna provides 19g of protein, and the omega-3 fatty acids in tuna have genuine health benefits — though much of the omega-3 benefit is reduced when the fish is mixed heavily with mayo. As an occasional meal, a 6-inch Tuna is perfectly fine as part of a balanced diet.
If you are specifically trying to eat more seafood
The Subway Tuna does give you fish in your diet — just be aware that the nutritional profile is quite different from plain tuna due to the mayo. If high-protein seafood is the goal, the tuna salad or bowl format (no bread) at least removes the bread calories and brings the total closer to 270 calories.
See Your Exact Tuna Order Nutrition
Switch the bread, add cheese, or choose a different sauce — and your calorie and fat count will shift from the numbers above.
Use the free Subway Calorie Calculator at subwaycaloriecalculator.online to build your exact Tuna order and get a real-time breakdown of calories, protein, carbs, fat, fiber, and sodium. Takes 30 seconds and removes all the guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Quick Answer |
| How many calories in a 6-inch Subway Tuna? | 480 kcal on the standard build — 9-Grain Wheat, tuna filling, standard veggies, no cheese or extra sauce. |
| How many calories in a footlong Subway Tuna? | 960 kcal. At nearly 1,000 calories, a tuna footlong is one of the highest-calorie single meals at Subway. |
| Why is Subway Tuna so high in calories? | The tuna filling is pre-mixed with mayonnaise in the kitchen before it reaches the sandwich. That mayo is what drives the high fat and calorie count — not the tuna itself. |
| Is Subway Tuna healthy? | It depends on your goals. Tuna itself is nutritious and high in protein. The issue is the mayo it comes mixed with. For calorie tracking, it is one of the higher-calorie options on the menu. |
| How much protein does Subway Tuna have? | 19g of protein for a 6-inch and 38g for a footlong. |
| Can I ask for less mayo in my Subway Tuna? | The tuna is pre-mixed with mayo before service, so staff cannot easily remove it. You can reduce the portion size slightly or ask for a lighter scoop, but you cannot get the tuna without any mayo. |
| Is the Subway Tuna higher in calories than the Meatball Marinara? | They are equal at 480 kcal for a 6-inch. However, tuna has significantly more fat (25g vs 17g) and slightly less protein (19g vs 21g) than the Meatball Marinara. |
Disclaimer: Nutrition values are based on Subway’s official 2026 US nutrition data for the standard Tuna build on 9-Grain Wheat bread with standard vegetables, no cheese, and no additional sauce. Actual values may vary by location, preparation, and the amount of tuna filling used. For precise dietary needs, refer to subway.com or consult a registered dietitian.