The short answer
- Whole turkey: 1 pound per person. Most of a whole bird's weight is bone, so this gives each guest a generous plate.
- Want leftovers? 1½ pounds per person.
- Bone-in turkey breast: about ¾ pound per person.
- Boneless breast or turkey roast: about ½ pound per person.
- Children eat about half as much, so count two kids as one adult.
Not sure? The turkey calculator works it out from your guest list and also tells you when to start thawing and when the bird goes in the oven.
Turkey size by number of guests
| Adults | Whole turkey | With leftovers | Boneless breast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 lb* | 6 lb* | 2 lb |
| 6 | 6 lb* | 9 lb | 3 lb |
| 8 | 8 lb | 12 lb | 4 lb |
| 10 | 10 lb | 15 lb | 5 lb |
| 12 | 12 lb | 18 lb | 6 lb |
| 16 | 16 lb | 24 lb | 8 lb |
| 20 | 20 lb | 30 lb (two birds) | 10 lb |
| 24 | 24 lb | 36 lb (two birds) | 12 lb |
*Whole turkeys are rarely sold under about 8 to 10 pounds. For a small group, a bone-in turkey breast is often the better buy. It cooks faster and there's less to store afterward.
Adjusting for your crowd
- Big eaters or a long day of grazing: round up to the next size.
- Lots of sides, or a second main like ham: you can round down. With two mains, about ¾ pound of whole turkey per person is plenty.
- More than about 20 pounds needed? Two smaller turkeys cook faster and more evenly than one giant bird, and a 12 to 14 pound turkey is easier to find than a 24 pounder.
- Everyone wants a drumstick? A whole bird only has two. Add a pack of turkey legs or drumsticks.
Buying and timing
- Frozen turkey: buy it early and thaw it in the refrigerator, allowing about 1 day for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 16-pound turkey needs about 4 days. See how long to thaw a turkey for the start date by size.
- Fresh turkey: buy it no more than 1 to 2 days before cooking, and keep it in the refrigerator.
- Roasting time: at 325 °F, an unstuffed 12 to 14 pound turkey takes about 3 to 3¾ hours. See how long to cook a turkey for every size.
- Done at 165 °F in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh and the wing.
Thawing, storage and doneness guidance: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, "Let's Talk Turkey." Serving amounts are the common rule of thumb for holiday dinners.
Frequently asked questions
How big a turkey do I need for 10 people?
About 10 pounds, or 15 pounds if you want leftovers. A 12 to 14 pound bird is a common choice for 10 guests because it covers seconds and a few leftover sandwiches.
How much turkey do I need for 20 people?
About 20 pounds, or 30 pounds with leftovers. For 30 pounds, cook two 14 to 16 pound turkeys instead of one very large bird.
How much cooked turkey meat does a whole turkey give?
Roughly half of a whole turkey's raw weight ends up as cooked meat on the plate, since the rest is bone, skin and cooking juices. That's why the rule is a full pound per person even though each serving is closer to half a pound.
How much turkey per person for a turkey breast?
About ¾ pound per person for a bone-in breast and ½ pound per person for a boneless breast or turkey roast.