Daily Outputs

Turkey Size Calculator

Enter your adults and children, how hungry they are, and how many leftovers you want. The starting rule is 1 pound of whole turkey per adult, with children counted as half.

Buy a turkey of about
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Refrigerator thawing time
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Planning the whole meal? Use the Thanksgiving turkey planner.

How the size is calculated

  1. Count servings. Each adult is one serving and each child is half a serving. So 8 adults and 4 children is 10 servings.

  2. Pick pounds per serving by appetite:

    Appetite Whole turkey per serving
    Light eaters ¾ lb
    Average eaters 1 lb
    Big eaters 1¼ lb

  3. Add leftovers: nothing for dinner only, ¼ lb per serving for some, ½ lb for plenty.

  4. Multiply and round up to the next whole pound.

For example, 8 adults and 4 children who are average eaters and want some leftovers need 10 × (1 + ¼) = 12.5 lb, so buy a 13 lb turkey.

A whole turkey is a lot of bone, so a 1 lb serving gives each person roughly half a pound of meat. The 1 lb per person rule is the common standard; the light, big, and leftover amounts are adjustments around it, so round up if you’re unsure.

If the total is over 24 lb, the calculator suggests two turkeys. The biggest birds in most stores are around 24 lb, and they get harder to thaw and cook evenly. For very small groups, a bone-in turkey breast is often a better fit than a whole bird.

After you buy

Frequently asked questions

How much turkey do I need per person?

About 1 pound of whole, bone-in turkey per adult. Allow ¾ pound for light eaters and 1¼ pounds for big eaters, then add ¼ to ½ pound per person for leftovers. For a boneless turkey breast, about ½ pound per person is enough.

How much turkey per child?

Count each child as half an adult, about ½ pound of whole turkey. Teenagers often eat as much as adults, so count them as adults.

How much turkey do I need for big eaters?

Plan on about 1¼ pounds per adult, or 1¾ pounds if you also want plenty of leftovers. For 10 big eaters, that's a 13 lb turkey for dinner only or an 18 lb turkey with plenty of leftovers.

What size turkey do I need for 10 people?

For 10 average adults, about a 10 lb turkey for dinner only, 13 lb for some leftovers, or 15 lb for plenty of leftovers.

What size turkey do I need for 20 people?

About 20 lb for 20 average adults with no leftovers. With plenty of leftovers you'd need about 30 lb, which is easier as two 15 lb turkeys.

Is it better to cook one big turkey or two small ones?

Above about 20 to 24 lb, two smaller turkeys are usually better. They thaw faster, cook more evenly, and you can roast one and smoke the other.

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