Photo: recipetineats.comTurkey size calculator
How much turkey per person
One pound of whole turkey per guest. One and a half pounds if you want leftovers. For 8 guests that is a 12 pound turkey.
- Buy one 12 lb turkey
- 12 lb at the typical $1.49 a pound.
- Thawabout 3 days in the fridge.
- Roast2.75 to 3 hours at 325 F, unstuffed.
Turkey size by number of guests
Whole turkey, with some leftovers (1.5 lb a guest). Whole turkeys are sold in about 8 to 24 pound sizes; for more than 24 pounds, buy two.
| Guests | No leftovers | Some leftovers | Bone-in breast (3/4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 8 lb | 8 lb | 3 lb |
| 4 | 8 lb | 8 lb | 5 lb |
| 6 | 8 lb | 9 lb | 7 lb |
| 8 | 8 lb | 12 lb | 9 lb (2 breasts) |
| 10 | 10 lb | 15 lb | 12 lb (2 breasts) |
| 12 | 12 lb | 18 lb | 14 lb (2 breasts) |
| 14 | 14 lb | 21 lb | 16 lb (2 breasts) |
| 16 | 16 lb | 24 lb | 18 lb (3 breasts) |
| 18 | 18 lb | 28 lb | 21 lb (3 breasts) |
| 20 | 20 lb | 30 lb | 23 lb (3 breasts) |
| 24 | 24 lb | 36 lb | 27 lb (4 breasts) |
Sizes round up to whole pounds. Thaw time is for each bird, so two smaller birds thaw faster than one big one. The smallest whole turkeys are about 8 lb, so a table for 2 to 4 still gets an 8 lb bird (or a 3 lb breast). Rule of thumb: Butterball and USDA. Thaw times: USDA FSIS refrigerator thawing chart.
Turkeys in store ads this week
Real ad prices, cheapest per pound first. A 12 pound turkey at the lowest whole-turkey ad price costs about $13.14. All turkey prices this week.
Whole turkeys
In your city
Ads in other cities
-
WalmartSale Butterball Frozen Whole Turkey, All Natural, 10-16 lbs
$13.14any 10 to 16 lb bird
-
Harris Teeter Harris Teeter Frozen Whole Turkeys
$1.49/lb
-
Safeway Butterball Whole Turkey
$1.99/lbabove typical $1.49
-
Vons Butterball Whole Turkey
$1.99/lbabove typical $1.49
Bone-in turkey breasts
Fit tables of 2 to 4. A bone-in breast needs about 3/4 of the whole-bird weight.
In your city
Ads in other cities
-
HannafordSale Basted Bone-In Turkey Breast
$1.49/lb
-
Marc'sSale Frozen Bone-In Turkey Breast
$1.99/lb
Some turkey prices need a store card or a minimum grocery spend; the ad says so. The price shown is the ad price.
Common questions
How much turkey per person?
Plan 1 pound of whole turkey per guest. Plan 1.5 pounds per guest if you want leftovers. A bone-in turkey breast is about 3/4 of those numbers because it has less bone.
What size turkey for 8 people?
A 12 pound turkey: 8 guests at 1.5 pounds each. That gives everyone a full plate and leftovers. For no leftovers, 8 pounds is enough (it is also the smallest whole turkey most stores sell).
What size turkey for 12 people?
An 18 pound turkey with leftovers, or 12 pounds without. A turkey over 20 pounds is hard to cook evenly in a home oven, so for 16 or more guests buy two smaller turkeys.
How long does a turkey take to thaw?
In the fridge, allow 1 to 3 days for 4 to 12 pounds, 3 to 4 days for 12 to 16 pounds, 4 to 5 days for 16 to 20 pounds and 5 to 6 days for 20 to 24 pounds (USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service). Count back from Thanksgiving: a 14 pound turkey goes in the fridge by Monday, November 23.
How long does it take to roast a turkey?
At 325 F, unstuffed: about 2.75 to 3 hours for 8 to 12 pounds, 3 to 3.75 hours for 12 to 14 pounds, 3.75 to 4.25 hours for 14 to 18 pounds. It is done when the thickest part of the breast reads 165 F.