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Buying a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner comes with nearly as many questions (not to mention drama) as preparing and serving the meal itself: How big a turkey should I buy? How do I cook it evenly? Should I cook it in parts? Is Kelly still vegetarian? Wait—how much turkey do I need if I want lots of leftovers?
We hear you. We’ve been there. And we have plenty of Thanksgiving turkey recipes to steer you in the right direction. But to determine once and for all just how big a holiday bird should be, I turned to our incomparable team of test kitchen editors for their best turkey-buying and holiday-hosting tips.
First and foremost, know your approximate number of guests before shopping for your turkey. Planning ahead allows you to buy the right size bird with confidence and allows you to calculate the turkey’s roasting time. With the day’s approximations anchored by the turkey’s oven appointment, you can plan the other side dishes accordingly (better yet, outsource those entirely to your guests). And tell yourself that maybe—just maybe—Thanksgiving will run on schedule this year.
Turkey is a delicious and versatile meat that can be the centerpiece of any holiday meal or everyday dinner. But with prices fluctuating, how do you know how much per pound to pay for turkey? As a budget-conscious shopper, I did some extensive research to uncover the average cost per pound for various turkey products.
In this comprehensive guide I’ll share key insights on turkey prices per pound including
- Average costs for whole turkeys, breasts, drumsticks, ground turkey and more
- What impacts the price per pound for different turkey cuts
- How to find the best turkey deals and save money
Arm yourself with the knowledge below so you can serve up amazing turkey meals without overspending!
Average Turkey Prices Per Pound
On average across the United States, you can expect to pay the following turkey prices per pound:
- Whole turkey – $1.40 to $2.50 per lb
- Boneless turkey breast – $3.99 to $5.99 per lb
- Turkey drumsticks – $1.99 to $2.99 per lb
- Ground turkey – $3.50 to $4.50 per lb
- Turkey tenderloins – $7.99 to $9.99 per lb
But prices will vary depending on the specific cut brand, farm season and retailer. Here’s a deeper look at what impacts the cost per pound for turkey.
Factors That Affect Turkey Prices
Several key factors play into the price per pound for whole turkeys and turkey parts:
Type of Cut
- Whole turkeys are cheaper per pound than cuts like breast, drums or tenderloins. Ground turkey costs more than chicken ground meat.
Brand
- Premium and organic brands charge higher prices per pound than basic store brands.
Fresh vs. Frozen
- Fresh turkey tends to cost more per pound than frozen turkey.
Time of Year
- Prices peak around the holidays when consumer demand is highest.
Store or Source
- Grocery stores, big box clubs, local farms and online sellers vary in turkey prices.
Understanding what determines the cost per pound can help you be an informed shopper and find the best turkey deals.
Average Prices Per Pound by Turkey Type
Here are typical per-pound costs for different cuts and types of turkey:
Whole Turkeys
- Frozen: $1.15 to $1.99 per lb
- Fresh: $1.99 to $2.99 per lb
- Organic/Free-range: $2.49 to $4.99 per lb
- Kosher: $2.99 to $3.99 per lb
- Heritage: $4.99+ per lb
Parts & Ground
- Boneless breast: $3.99 to $5.99 per lb
- Drumsticks: $1.99 to $2.99 per lb
- Ground turkey: $3.50 to $4.50 per lb
- Turkey tenderloins: $7.99 to $9.99 per lb
As you can see, whole frozen turkeys offer the best value per pound. Specialty turkeys like organic and heritage breeds cost more per pound, as do cuts like breast and tenderloins.
Average Cost Per Pound by Weight
For whole turkeys, larger birds are generally a better deal per pound than smaller sizes. Here’s a breakdown:
- 8 to 12 lbs – $1.89/lb
- 12 to 16 lbs – $1.69/lb
- 16 to 20 lbs – $1.59/lb
- 20 to 24 lbs – $1.49/lb
You’ll typically find the lowest price per pound on large 20+ pound turkeys. But beware overbuying since you need ample refrigerator space to thaw large birds.
How to Get the Best Price Per Pound on Turkey
Here are some of my top tips for scoring the lowest price per pound when buying turkey:
- Buy frozen instead of fresh turkey
- Shop at warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club
- Look for holiday sales at grocery stores
- Check prices across multiple stores
- Buy larger whole turkeys over 20 lbs
- Opt for store brands instead of premium
- Stock up when turkey goes on sale and freeze it
Being flexible on the turkey type, brand and source can lead to major savings per pound. With the right strategies, you can enjoy delicious turkey on a budget!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I pay per pound for an organic turkey?
Expect to pay $2.49 to $4.99 per pound for organic, about $1 more per pound than standard turkeys.
What’s the average cost per pound for a 15 lb frozen turkey?
A 15 lb frozen turkey averages about $1.59 per pound, so around $23-24 total.
Is kosher turkey more expensive per pound?
Yes, kosher turkey runs $2.99 to $3.99 per lb, costlier than standard frozen birds.
Should I pay more for fresh or frozen turkey per pound?
Go frozen! It averages just $1.15 to $1.99 per lb compared to $1.99 to $2.99 for fresh.
Where can I get the best price per pound buying turkey in bulk?
Warehouse clubs like Costco offer great bulk turkey deals. Larger whole turkeys also offer the lowest cost per pound.
The Bottom Line
Arming yourself with average turkey prices per pound for different types and sizes helps you shop smart. Use these benchmarks, compare prices across retailers, and watch for sales to score the best deals. With the right intel, you can serve amazing turkey meals on a budget this holiday season!
What if I’m afraid of underserving my guests?
Want to show off your baking skills (beyond pumpkin pie, obviously)? Make a big tray of stuffing-flavored biscuits (which are especially delicious the next morning, sandwiching a fried egg). And, of course, you’ve got to have cranberry sauce—either homemade or canned; that’s your prerogative.
How many pounds of turkey per person do I really need?
As tempting as a 20-pound turkey may look at the store, you really don’t need one that large for a six-person gathering. The general rule is 1 to 1½ pounds of turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole bone-in turkey comes with parts that don’t get eaten. “When you buy a whole turkey, a lot of it is bone,” says recipe developer (and former BA staffer) Jessie YuChen. The smaller the bird, the higher that percentage may be. For smaller gatherings, Jessie recommends scaling your amount of turkey to 2 pounds per person to guarantee extra turkey for leftovers (more on that later). “For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” Jessie says. (Most of our recipes call for a 12-to-14-pound bird.)
Beyond the bones, the total mass of a whole bird accounts for cartilage and less favorable cuts of meat around the shoulders, neck, and back that are better suited for making stock than presenting on a platter. Buying a pound of turkey per person doesn’t mean it’ll yield an equivalent amount of meat.So, what’s the best size turkey for my crowd?
If you’re thinking about going up a turkey size to guarantee everyone feels well-fed and plenty doped up on tryptophan, contributing editor Amiel Stanek points out that larger birds are more prone to uneven cooking. “In terms of ensuring the breast meat is moist, and the dark meat is cooked through,” he says, “you’re going to get the best results from a 15-pound turkey, max.” If you’re cooking for a large crowd, consider buying two or more moderately sized birds and roast them side by side—or roast one a day or two early and then reheat on Thanksgiving Day.
If a 15-pound bird sounds teeny compared to your guest list, Amiel and Jessie recommend supplementing with a different meat or protein, no matter your party’s size. “I like to do steak or lamb chops,” says Jessie, “which are very festive and a lot easier to prepare than a whole turkey recipe.” Having a second meat on the table provides a backup if you choose a smaller turkey or your bird is on the scrawny side, but it also makes your turkey stretch further. Aim for 1 to 1½ total pounds of protein per person, including your supplementary main, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
If you’re hosting a smaller gathering, another option is to forgo the roast turkey entirely in favor of a smaller bird—roast chicken or glazed duck make just as nice a centerpiece.