How much turkey you need per person at Thanksgiving comes down to about 1 pound of uncooked whole turkey per guest, or 1.5 pounds for hearty eaters or ample leftovers, according to USDA. For 10 guests, that means a 10 to 15 pound bird.
Use our calculator below to match your guest count, or scan the chart by guest count in pounds and kilograms, amounts for turkey breast and boneless breast, and how long to thaw the bird you buy.
The short answer: buy 1 pound of whole turkey per person, and 1.5 pounds per person if you want leftovers. For a turkey breast, plan on 3/4 pound per person, and for a boneless breast, 1/2 pound. For 10 guests, that is a 10 to 15 pound turkey.
Turkey Size Calculator
Based on USDA guidance: about 1 pound of uncooked whole turkey per person, or 1.5 pounds for hearty eaters or ample leftovers. Breast amounts are from University of Missouri Extension.
Adults
Children
Children count as half a guest. That is our estimate, not an agency rule.
Do you want leftovers?NoYes
AppetitesAverageHearty eaters
UnitsPoundsKilograms
The calculator needs JavaScript. Use the chart below instead.
Weights are uncooked purchase weights. Round up to the next available size when shopping. Thaw in a refrigerator at 40°F or below and cook to 165°F.
Key takeaways
Whole turkey: 1 pound per person, or 1.5 pounds with hearty eaters or leftovers (USDA).
Turkey breast: 3/4 pound per person for turkey breast and 1/2 pound boneless, per University of Missouri Extension.
Thaw early: allow about 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds (USDA).
Weights are uncooked purchase weights: whole turkey and turkey breast amounts include bones, and the boneless breast amount does not.
How big a turkey you need by number of guests
Prefer a chart? This one applies the 1-pound and 1.5-pound guidelines to common guest counts. The kilogram figures are our own conversion, rounded to one decimal (1 pound is about 0.45 kilograms).
Guests
1 lb per person
1.5 lb per person (leftovers or hearty eaters)
In kilograms
4
4 lb
6 lb
1.8 to 2.7 kg
6
6 lb
9 lb
2.7 to 4.1 kg
8
8 lb
12 lb
3.6 to 5.4 kg
10
10 lb
15 lb
4.5 to 6.8 kg
12
12 lb
18 lb
5.4 to 8.2 kg
15
15 lb
22.5 lb
6.8 to 10.2 kg
20
20 lb
30 lb
9.1 to 13.6 kg
You will rarely find a turkey at the exact weight, so round up to the next size. For larger groups, the National Turkey Federation says that when you need more than 15 pounds of turkey, you may want two smaller birds for even cooking.
How many people a turkey feeds
Turkey size
Feeds (at 1.5 lb each)
Feeds (at 1 lb each)
12 lb
8
12
14 lb
9
14
16 lb
10
16
18 lb
12
18
20 lb
13
20
22 lb
14
22
24 lb
16
24
This is our math from the 1-pound and 1.5-pound guidelines, rounded down. Use the “Feeds at 1.5 lb each” column if you want leftovers or have hearty eaters.
How much turkey per person, by type of turkey
What you are cooking
Per person
Source
Whole turkey, standard allowance
3/4 to 1 pound
Univ
