Perfect Thanksgiving portions every time—no more guessing, no food waste
Get exact turkey portions for your Thanksgiving feast
Planning Thanksgiving dinner? The golden rule is simple: 1.5 pounds of turkey per person for bone-in birds, or 0.75 pounds per person for boneless turkey breast. This accounts for bone weight and ensures everyone gets a generous serving with leftovers.
Whether you're hosting 6 or 60 guests, our turkey calculator below takes the guesswork out of shopping. Plus, we'll show you how to adjust for leftover lovers, big eaters, and kids.
Whole Turkey (Bone-in)
1.5 lbs
per person
Turkey Breast (Boneless)
0.75 lbs
per person
🦃 Common Guest Counts:
| Guests | Turkey Size (Bone-in) | Breast Size (Boneless) | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-6 | 8-10 lbs | 3-4 lbs | 2.5-3 hours |
| 8-10 | 12-15 lbs | 6-8 lbs | 3-3.5 hours |
| 12-14 | 18-21 lbs | 9-11 lbs | 3.5-4 hours |
| 16-20 | 24-30 lbs | 12-15 lbs | 4-4.5 hours |
Add 30 minutes to cooking time
Internal stuffing temperature must reach 165°F for food safety
Faster, more even cooking
Cook stuffing separately in a casserole dish
Yes, if feeding more than 16 people. Two 12-14 lb turkeys cook faster and more evenly than one 24+ lb bird.
✅ Benefits:
❌ Drawbacks:
1 Week Before
Calculate portions, order turkey from butcher
3 Days Before
Buy fresh turkey or start thawing frozen (24 hours per 4-5 lbs)
1 Day Before
Brine turkey (optional), prepare side dishes
Thanksgiving Day
Roast turkey (3-4 hours), let rest 30-60 minutes before carving
3-4 days
Store in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking
2-6 months
Freeze in portions for easy reheating
1-2 days
Refrigerate separately, freeze up to 6 months
A 7kg turkey (15.4 pounds) feeds 10-12 people. Calculate 1 pound per person for generous servings with leftovers, or ¾ pound per person if serving many sides. A 7kg turkey yields approximately 10-11 pounds of cooked meat after accounting for bone weight and cooking loss. For 12+ guests, consider cooking two smaller turkeys instead of one large bird—they cook faster and more evenly. See Turkey Cooking Time Per Pound for cooking a 7kg turkey at 13-15 min/lb.
A 20-pound turkey feeds 13-16 people with leftovers. Use 1-1.5 pounds per person: 1 pound for generous servings plus leftovers, 1.25-1.5 pounds for serious leftover lovers. A 20-pound turkey takes 4-5 hours at 325°F unstuffed. For smaller gatherings of 6-8 people, try Whole Chicken Cooking Time at 80-100 minutes—much faster than a full turkey.
Yes, a 5kg turkey (11 pounds) is enough for 8 people but with minimal leftovers. At 1 pound per person, 11 pounds feeds 8-10 people comfortably if you're serving multiple sides. For generous portions and leftovers, go up to 6-7kg (13-15 pounds) for 8 guests. A 5kg turkey takes approximately 2.5-3 hours at 325°F unstuffed. For easier preparation with similar serving size, Ham Cooking Time feeds 8-10 people and takes just 80-120 minutes.
Yes, a 3kg turkey crown (6.6 pounds, breast only with no legs/thighs) is enough for 6 people. Turkey crown has less bone waste than whole turkey—expect about 5 pounds of meat from a 3kg crown. This provides approximately ¾-1 pound per person, perfect for 6 guests. Turkey crowns cook faster than whole turkeys: 3kg takes 90-110 minutes at 350°F. No leftovers with this size. For 6 people with leftovers, get a 4-5kg crown or a 5-6kg whole turkey.
Plan 1.5 pounds per person if you want substantial leftovers for sandwiches, soup, and casseroles. Example: 8 guests = 12-pound turkey minimum. A 15-pound turkey for 8 people guarantees excellent leftovers. Remember that whole turkey is about 50% bone and skin—a 12-pound turkey yields approximately 6-7 pounds of cooked meat. Turkey breast has less waste (30% bone) than whole turkey (50% bone and carcass).
Two small turkeys (10-12 lbs each) are better than one large turkey (20+ lbs) for several reasons. Small turkeys cook faster (2.5-3 hours vs 4-5 hours), cook more evenly, and give you more white meat and drumsticks. Two 12-pound turkeys feed the same number as one 24-pound turkey but provide 4 breasts instead of 2. The only downside: two turkeys need more oven space. For non-turkey options, Prime Rib Cooking Time serves a crowd at 15-17 min/lb.
Use this formula: Number of guests × 1-1.5 pounds = turkey weight needed. Examples: 6 people = 6-9 lb turkey (or 3kg crown). 8 people = 8-12 lb turkey. 12 people = 12-18 lb turkey. 16 people = 16-24 lb turkey (or two 10-12 lb turkeys). Use 1 lb/person for standard servings, 1.5 lb/person for leftovers. Account for big eaters—teenage boys and hungry adults need 1.5 lbs per person minimum.