Thanksgiving Dinner Calculator
Enter your guest count and get how much turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetables, rolls and pie to make, with or without leftovers.
- Based on USDA food-safety data
- Private: runs in your browser
- Free, no sign-up
How much food per person for Thanksgiving
These are the per-person amounts the calculator uses. They assume a traditional spread with several sides, so each dish is a smaller portion than it would be on its own. Children count as half a portion.
| Dish | Per adult | With leftovers |
|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey | 1 lb | 1½ lb |
| Stuffing / dressing (cooked) | ¾ cup | 1 cup |
| Mashed potatoes (raw potatoes) | ½ lb | ¾ lb |
| Sweet potatoes (raw) | ⅓ lb | ½ lb |
| Gravy | ⅓ cup | ½ cup |
| Cranberry sauce | ¼ cup | ⅓ cup |
| Green vegetables (raw) | ¼ lb | ⅓ lb |
| Dinner rolls | 1½ | 2 |
| Pie (9-inch, 8 slices) | ⅙ pie | ¼ pie |
The turkey amounts follow USDA guidance of 1 pound of whole turkey per person. The other amounts are common holiday-planning rules of thumb. If your crowd are big eaters, or a dish is the family favorite, round up.
A simple make-ahead plan
- Up to a week before: make cranberry sauce and keep it covered in the refrigerator.
- Several days before: start thawing a frozen turkey in the refrigerator, allowing about a day for every 4 to 5 pounds. The turkey calculator gives you the exact day.
- 1–2 days before: bake pies, cube bread for stuffing, and chop onions and celery.
- The morning of: assemble the stuffing and bake it in its own dish, which the USDA recommends for even, safe cooking. Peel potatoes and keep them in cold water.
- While the turkey rests: make the gravy from the pan drippings, reheat the sides, and warm the rolls.
Keeping the leftovers safe
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking (1 hour if the room is above 90 °F), in shallow containers so they cool quickly. Eat refrigerated turkey, stuffing and gravy within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them. Reheat leftovers to 165 °F.
Frequently asked questions
How big a turkey do I need for 12 people?
About a 12-pound turkey, or 18 pounds if you want plenty of leftovers. The turkey calculator also works out thawing and roasting times.
How many pies for 20 people?
About 4 pies of 8 slices, or 5 if you want leftovers. With several kinds of pie on the table, people tend to take smaller slices of two, so the totals balance out.
How much mashed potatoes per person?
Plan on about ½ pound of raw potatoes per adult, which makes roughly ¾ cup mashed. Make ¾ pound per person for leftovers.
Should I serve ham too?
If you add a second main, you can cut the turkey back to about ¾ pound per person. The ham calculator works out size and heating time.