How much turkey per person, and when it goes in the oven
The published answers run from 1 pound of whole turkey per person to 2 pounds, depending on whether you want leftovers. The size you pick also sets your morning: a 12 pound bird and a 20 pound bird go into the oven about 1½ hours apart. The table gives the bird for 6 to 24 guests at each amount, how long USDA says it roasts at 325 °F, and the time it has to go in for a 5 PM dinner.
What is published
- USDA: the brochure Let's Talk Turkey says to allow 1 pound of turkey per person, for fresh and for frozen turkeys. For a frozen pre-stuffed turkey it says to allow 1¼ pounds per person. It gives no leftovers figure.
- Smoking-meat.com's How Much Turkey Per Person plans on about 1½ pounds of uncooked whole turkey per person without leftovers and about 2 pounds with leftovers. The two sources differ, and the table shows all three amounts so you can pick.
- Big groups: the same site says to keep whole turkeys at around 12 pounds or less, and that if you need 20 pounds of turkey the author would rather see two 10 pound birds than one 20 pound bird ("More birds are better than bigger birds"). USDA's roasting table runs to 24 pounds, so one big bird is possible.
- Not found: a figure for a breast-only or boneless turkey from a source I opened, so this page covers whole birds.
Bird size, roast time and in-by time
Each cell shows the pounds you need (guests times pounds per person), the USDA weight row that covers it, the roast time for that row, and the clock time to put it in the oven. The roast times are USDA's 325 °F range for an unstuffed whole turkey. The in-by time is my arithmetic: the long end of the range, plus USDA's 20 minute stand before carving, for dinner at 5 PM. USDA's smallest whole-bird row is 8 to 12 pounds, so a smaller target is rounded up to that row. A weight on the edge of two rows (12, 14, 18 or 20 lb) uses the longer row. Add 15 minutes for the preheat.
| Guests | 1 lb each (USDA) | 1½ lb each | 2 lb each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 |
6 lb
8 to 12 lb, 2¾ to 3 h in by 1:40 PM |
9 lb
8 to 12 lb, 2¾ to 3 h in by 1:40 PM |
12 lb
12 to 14 lb, 3 to 3¾ h in by 12:55 PM |
| 8 |
8 lb
8 to 12 lb, 2¾ to 3 h in by 1:40 PM |
12 lb
12 to 14 lb, 3 to 3¾ h in by 12:55 PM |
16 lb
14 to 18 lb, 3¾ to 4¼ h in by 12:25 PM |
| 10 |
10 lb
8 to 12 lb, 2¾ to 3 h in by 1:40 PM |
15 lb
14 to 18 lb, 3¾ to 4¼ h in by 12:25 PM |
20 lb
20 to 24 lb, 4½ to 5 h in by 11:40 AM |
| 12 |
12 lb
12 to 14 lb, 3 to 3¾ h in by 12:55 PM |
18 lb
18 to 20 lb, 4¼ to 4½ h in by 12:10 PM |
24 lb
20 to 24 lb, 4½ to 5 h in by 11:40 AM |
| 15 |
15 lb
14 to 18 lb, 3¾ to 4¼ h in by 12:25 PM |
22.5 lb
20 to 24 lb, 4½ to 5 h in by 11:40 AM |
30 lb
over 24 lb: past USDA's table, so two or more birds |
| 18 |
18 lb
18 to 20 lb, 4¼ to 4½ h in by 12:10 PM |
27 lb
over 24 lb: past USDA's table, so two or more birds |
36 lb
over 24 lb: past USDA's table, so two or more birds |
| 20 |
20 lb
20 to 24 lb, 4½ to 5 h in by 11:40 AM |
30 lb
over 24 lb: past USDA's table, so two or more birds |
40 lb
over 24 lb: past USDA's table, so two or more birds |
| 24 |
24 lb
20 to 24 lb, 4½ to 5 h in by 11:40 AM |
36 lb
over 24 lb: past USDA's table, so two or more birds |
48 lb
over 24 lb: past USDA's table, so two or more birds |
The full USDA table is on the turkey roasting time chart, and the in-by chart shows the times for a noon to 6 PM dinner. Weights between the rows round up, so a 13 pound target uses the 12 to 14 pound row.
What the choice does to your day
- Thawing: a bigger bird needs more days in the refrigerator. When to thaw a turkey counts back from dinner by weight. USDA's refrigerator table gives 1 to 3 days for 4 to 12 pounds and 5 to 6 days for 20 to 24 pounds.
- The oven: at 20 guests, one big bird against two smaller ones changes both the start time and what fits. The two turkeys in one oven page compares them.
- Leftovers: the more turkey you buy, the more has to be cooled and put away in time. See reheating leftover turkey for the 2-hour deadline.
- A breast or legs only? Turkey breast cooking time and turkey legs and thighs have their own tables.