FREE · COOKING & KITCHEN
Turkey Size & Cooking Time Calculator.
Work out how big a turkey to buy for your guests, when to start thawing it and when it goes in the oven, from official USDA times, with a calendar file for every step.
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Steps to use Turkey Size & Cooking Time Calculator
Enter your guests, how many leftovers you want and the type of turkey, or the weight of the one you have. Pick the thawing method and the meal time: the size, the thawing start, the oven time and a step-by-step timeline appear at once.
How Turkey Size & Cooking Time Calculator processes your input
USDA FSIS figures: 1 lb per person (1¼ lb pre-stuffed), fridge thawing about 24 h per 4–5 lb, cold water 30 min per lb, roasting timetable stuffed and unstuffed, at least 50 % longer from frozen, 165 °F (74 °C), 20-minute rest. Pounds or kilograms, .ics export.
Turkey Size & Cooking Time Calculator: worked example
10 adults, 2 young children and some leftovers: a 14 lb turkey; thawed in the fridge from Sunday morning for a 3 pm Thanksgiving meal, it goes into a 325 °F oven at 10:40.
How big a turkey do I need?
USDA advice is 1 pound of turkey per person, or 1¼ pounds for a frozen pre-stuffed bird. The calculator counts young children as half a portion and adds 25 % for some leftovers or 50 % for plenty; these two settings are kitchen assumptions you can change.
Example: 10 adults, 2 young children and some leftovers → 11 portions × 1.25 = 13.75 lb, rounded up to a 14 lb turkey (about 6.4 kg). Switch to kilograms and °C at the top if you shop by weight in kg.
How long to thaw and roast a turkey
| Weight | Fridge thawing | Cold-water thawing | Roasting at 325 °F, unstuffed | Stuffed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 12 lb | 1 to 3 days | 4 to 6 hours | 2¾ to 3 hours | 3 to 3½ hours |
| 12 to 16 lb | 3 to 4 days | 6 to 8 hours | 3 to 4¼ hours | 3½ to 4¼ hours |
| 16 to 20 lb | 4 to 5 days | 8 to 10 hours | 3¾ to 4½ hours | 4 to 4¾ hours |
| 20 to 24 lb | 5 to 6 days | 10 to 12 hours | 4½ to 5 hours | 4¾ to 5¼ hours |
Thawing in the fridge takes about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds, and a thawed turkey keeps 1 to 2 days, so starting early is safe. In cold water allow 30 minutes per pound, keep the bird in a leak-proof wrapper and change the water every 30 minutes, then cook it at once. You can also roast it straight from frozen: it takes at least 50 % longer. Never thaw on the counter.
Your Thanksgiving timeline
Enter the meal date and time: the calculator works backwards from it and lists when to start thawing, preheat the oven, put the turkey in, start checking the temperature and take it out to rest for 20 minutes. Download the .ics file to get a reminder for each step.
Example for Thanksgiving on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 15:00 with a 14 lb turkey: start thawing in the fridge on Sunday 22 November around 10:40, oven in at 10:40 on Thursday, check from 13:40, out at 14:25. The turkey is safe when a food thermometer reads 165 °F (74 °C) in the innermost thigh, the wing and the thickest part of the breast.
Scaling the side dishes? Use the Recipe Scaler, convert cups and grams with the Cups to Grams Converter and oven settings with the Oven Temperature Converter.
Questions about Turkey Size & Cooking Time Calculator
How much turkey per person?
1 pound (about 450 g) per person according to USDA, or 1¼ pounds for a frozen pre-stuffed turkey. Add 25 to 50 % if you want leftovers.
When should I start thawing a turkey for Thanksgiving?
In the fridge, about one day per 4 to 5 pounds: start a 14 lb turkey on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The calculator gives the exact start time for your meal.
What temperature should a turkey be cooked to?
165 °F (74 °C), checked with a food thermometer in the innermost thigh, the wing and the thickest part of the breast, and in the centre of any stuffing.
Can I cook a turkey from frozen?
Yes, it is safe, but it takes at least 50 % longer than a thawed turkey. Remove the giblet package carefully with tongs during cooking. Frozen pre-stuffed turkeys must always be cooked from frozen, following the package.
Is Turkey Size & Cooking Time Calculator free, and do I need an account?
Yes. This tool is free to use in your browser without an account. Processing takes place on your device.
What are the limits and what should I check?
Times are USDA guides for a 325 °F oven and whole turkeys of 8 to 24 lb (breasts from 4 lb): always finish with a food thermometer. Counting children as half portions and the leftover margins are assumptions. Nothing is uploaded. Review the result before using it in your work.
Is my input sent to a server?
Your input is processed in your browser and is not uploaded by this tool. Files and pasted text are cleared when the page is refreshed. Normal website requests are still required to load the page and its libraries. Read the privacy explanation.