Turkey Size Calculator

How Much Turkey Per Person?

Turkey size depends on adults, children, and whether you want leftovers. This calculator estimates bird weight in pounds and kilograms, plus thaw and cook time hints. Build a full menu with the Thanksgiving Calculator, roast using the Turkey Cooking Time Calculator, and scale sides with the Mashed Potatoes Per Person Calculator.

Turkey Weight Formula

Plan about 1 lb of turkey per adult and 0.5 lb per child. Enable leftovers to multiply the total by 1.5 so you have extra meat for sandwiches and soups.

$$\text{turkey lb} = (\text{adults} \times 1 + \text{children} \times 0.5) \times \text{leftover factor}$$

The leftover factor is 1.5 when enabled, or 1 when you want no extra meat.

Thaw and Cook Estimates

Refrigerator thaw uses about 5 hours per pound. Cold water thaw uses about 1 hour per pound. Unstuffed roasting is about 15 minutes per pound. Stuffed roasting is about 17.5 minutes per pound.

Example for 8 Adults and 3 Children

Base weight: $8 + 1.5 = 9.5$ lb. With leftovers: $9.5 \times 1.5 = 14.25$ lb. Buy a 14 to 16 lb turkey for a comfortable fit.