How Much Turkey Per Person?
Here's the short answer. Buy 1.5 pounds of whole turkey per person. Want leftovers for sandwiches on Friday? Bump it to 2 pounds per person.
That sounds like a lot of turkey. It isn't. About half the weight of a whole bird is bone, skin and carcass. So 1.5 pounds raw turns into roughly 3/4 pound of meat on the plate.
Don't want to do the math? Run it in the calculator. Pick your headcount and appetite and it tells you the size bird to buy.
Turkey size chart
| Guests | Turkey for the meal (1.5 lb each) | With leftovers (2 lb each) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6 lb (buy a 10 lb bird) | 8 lb (buy a 10 lb bird) |
| 6 | 9 lb | 12 lb |
| 8 | 12 lb | 16 lb |
| 10 | 15 lb | 20 lb |
| 12 | 18 lb | 24 lb |
| 16 | 24 lb | 32 lb (two birds) |
| 20 | 30 lb (two birds) | 40 lb (two birds) |
Most stores sell whole turkeys from about 10 to 24 pounds. If your number lands under 10, grab the smallest bird you can find or go with a turkey breast.
How to count kids
Count each kid as half an adult. So 8 adults and 4 kids is 10 "turkey eaters." At 1.5 pounds each, that's a 15 pound bird.
Teenagers count as adults. Sometimes as two.
Small birds need more per person
A 10 or 12 pound turkey has more bone for its size than a big one. If you're buying a small bird, lean toward 2 pounds per person so nobody's fighting over the last slice.
When to buy two turkeys
Feeding 16 or more? Think about two 12 to 14 pound birds instead of one 25 pounder. Here's why:
- Smaller birds cook more evenly. The breast doesn't dry out while the thighs catch up.
- They cook faster.
- Two birds fit better in a smoker.
- You get four drumsticks instead of two. That alone keeps the peace.
Turkey breast instead of a whole bird
Small group or a table full of white meat fans? Skip the whole bird.
- Bone in turkey breast: about 1 pound per person.
- Boneless turkey breast: about 1/2 pound per person.
A bone in breast also cooks in about half the time of a whole turkey.
Light eaters vs big eaters
These numbers assume a normal holiday plate with a few sides. Adjust like this:
- Lots of sides and appetizers? You can drop toward 1.25 pounds per person.
- Football crowd, big eaters, or turkey is the only main? Go 2 pounds.
- Serving a ham or prime rib too? Cut the turkey down. Our calculator's "Light" setting handles that.
Don't forget the thaw
A frozen turkey needs about one day in the fridge for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 20 pound bird needs 5 days. See our turkey thawing chart so you know exactly when to move it from the freezer.
FAQ
How big of a turkey do I need for 10 people?
Get a 15 pound turkey for 10 people. If you want leftovers, go with a 20 pound bird or two 10 pound birds.
How much turkey per person with leftovers?
Plan 2 pounds of whole turkey per person if you want leftovers for sandwiches and soup the next day.
How much meat do you get from a whole turkey?
Roughly half the weight of a whole turkey is meat you can eat. A 16 pound bird gives you about 8 pounds of meat.
How much turkey breast per person?
Plan about 1 pound per person for a bone in turkey breast and about 1/2 pound per person for a boneless breast.
Do kids count as a full person?
No. Count each kid as about half an adult. Teenagers count as adults.