Turkey Size Calculator – How Much Turkey Do You Need?
Do you find yourself asking around to find out how much turkey to prepare for your guests? We do too! That’s why we talked with food experts and chefs and built a tool to help plan the right amount of turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
Simply enter the number of adults and children in the form below to calculate how much turkey you’ll need.
Turkey Size Estimate:
On this page:
Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
Chef Shannon is a menu and recipe developer, food stylist, private chef, and author of the book The All-American Lemonade Stand.
Turkey Size Chart – Turkey Needed Per Person
How Much Turkey Do You Need?
The happiest holiday memories are often made around the Thanksgiving table, with the turkey being the ultimate centerpiece! Thankfully (pun intended!), this chart will help you decide what size turkey to buy based on guest count.
The general rule of thumb is one pound of turkey per adult and a half pound per child. But if leftovers like late-night turkey sandwiches and turkey tetrazzini are as traditional as the feast itself, plan for two to three pounds per person total.
Smaller gatherings don’t necessarily mean smaller turkeys because the meat-to-bone ratio is typically less for birds under 12 pounds. If in doubt, always go bigger at two pounds per person.[1]
What Size Turkey Should You Buy?
Before you embark on a ‘pilgrimage’ for the perfect poultry, do you know what size your turkey should be? We do! Simply multiply the number of guests by the amount per person as directed above.
turkey size = people × amount per person
Start by multiplying the number of adults times 1 (or 1.5 if you want leftovers). Then multiply the number of children by .5. Finally, add the two numbers together.
If the result is less than 12 pounds, then multiply by 1.5 since there will be a little less meat.
If the result is larger than 15 or 20 pounds, then consider getting more than one turkey for the meal.
For example, let’s calculate the right amount of turkey for 10 adults and 8 children.
adults = 10 × 1 lb
adults = 10 lbs
children = 8 × .5 lb
children = 4 lbs
total = 10 lbs + 4 lbs
total = 14 lbs
| People | Turkey Size |
|---|---|
| 4 | 4-6 lbs |
| 6 | 6-9 lbs |
| 8 | 8-12 lbs |
| 10 | 10-15 lbs |
| 12 | 12-18 lbs |
| 14 | 14-21 lbs |
| 16 | 16-24 lbs |
| 18 | 18-27 lbs |
| 20 | 20-30 lbs |
| 25 | 25-38 lbs |
| 30 | 30-45 lbs |
Don’t forget to allow time for safe thawing and proper cooking time to ensure a holiday bird that’s tender, juicy, and delicious year after year.
References
- Martha Stewart, Our Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Turkey for Thanksgiving, https://www.marthastewart.com/274812/turkey-tips