A whole turkey is roughly 50–60% edible meat, so 1 lb per adult gives about 8 oz of cooked meat. For more than about 20 guests, two medium birds cook more evenly and quickly than one giant turkey.
How to use the Turkey Size Calculator
- Adults
- Children
- Appetite
- Leftovers?
- Turkey cut
- Stuffed?
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the number of adults and children, their appetite, whether you want leftovers, the cut and the stuffing.
Tips
- Buy the turkey early and allow enough fridge thawing time (about one day per 4–5 lb.)
- Always check the thickest part of the thigh and breast with a thermometer: 165 °F (74 °C).
- Let the turkey rest 20–30 minutes before carving so the juices settle.
- Make a timeline working backwards from when you want to eat.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thawing a turkey on the counter, which lets bacteria grow.
- Stuffing the bird the night before.
- Relying only on the pop-up timer instead of a thermometer.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Adults | A number |
| Children | A number |
| Appetite | Choose one: Average, Big eaters, Light (many other dishes) |
| Leftovers? | Choose one: Yes, plenty, A few, No |
| Turkey cut | Choose one: Whole turkey, Bone-in breast, Boneless breast / roast |
| Stuffed? | Choose one: No, Yes |
What each result means
- Turkey to buy = ([Adults] + [Children]×0.5)×[Appetite]×[Leftovers?]×[Turkey cut]×453.59237
- Cooked meat (approx.) = ([Adults] + [Children]×0.5)×[Appetite]×[Leftovers?]×0.5×453.59237
- Thawing time in the fridge = [Turkey to buy]÷453.59237×5.5
- Thawing time in cold water = [Turkey to buy]÷453.59237×0.5
Example values
How the main result changes when Adults changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Adults | Turkey to buy (lb) |
|---|---|
| 4 | 7.5 |
| 6 | 10.5 |
| 8 | 13.5 |
| 10 | 16.5 |
| 12 | 19.5 |
| 16 | 25.5 |
Formula
Turkey = adults × 1 lb + children × 0.5 lb (× 1.5 for leftovers; × 1.25 for big eaters)
Boneless breast or roast: about 60% of the whole-bird weight
Thawing: fridge 24 h per 4–5 lb; cold water 30 min per lb
Roasting at 325 °F: about 15 min per lb unstuffed, 17.5 min per lb stuffed
Worked example
Inputs: Adults: 8; Children: 2; Appetite: Average; Leftovers?: Yes, plenty; Turkey cut: Whole turkey; Stuffed?: No.
Results: Turkey to buy = 13.5 lb; Cooked meat (approx.) = 6.8 lb; Thawing time in the fridge = 74 h 15 min; Thawing time in cold water = 6 h 45 min; Roasting time at 325 °F (163 °C) = 3 h 23 min.
Frequently asked questions
How big a turkey do I need for 10 people?
About 10–15 lb (4.5–7 kg), depending on leftovers.
How much turkey per person?
1 lb (450 g) of whole bird per adult, 1.5 lb with leftovers.
How long does a 15 lb turkey take to cook?
About 3¾–4¼ hours unstuffed at 325 °F.