What size turkey do I need is a question which many dinner party planners may find themselves asking. On the one hand, not having enough turkey to go round can be a disaster. On the other hand, order too big a turkey and you are drowning in left overs! (Although we doubt you could ever get enough of Farmisons delicious, award-winning, free range turkey!) If you are planning a festive feast and find yourself wondering what size turkey do I need, then this guide is for you. Whether it is for Christmas, Thanksgiving or any other occasion, turkey is a fantastic option for a roast dinner. Read on to find out what size turkey will suit you best. Plus, we will share the answers to lots of other questions you may have.
Determining what size turkey to buy for your holiday meal can be a tricky task. You want to make sure you have enough to feed everyone, with a little extra for leftovers, but you also don’t want to end up with a huge amount of wasted turkey. This guide will walk you through how to calculate the right turkey size for your gathering using some simple rules of thumb.
How Much Turkey Per Person Do You Need?
The general recommendation is to plan for 1-1.5 pounds of turkey per person, depending on how many leftovers you want. Here are some more specific guidelines
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For a meal without leftovers, plan for 1 pound per person.
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For a meal with leftovers, plan for 15 pounds per person
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If you have a lot of kids at your meal, you can reduce it to 1 pound per adult and 1/2 pound per child. Kids tend to eat less.
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If you have big eaters coming, consider going up to 2 pounds per person to be safe.
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For smaller gatherings under 8-10 people, allow 1.5-2 pounds per person since smaller turkeys have a lower meat-to-bone ratio.
So for example, if you are having Thanksgiving dinner for 10 adults and 5 kids, and want leftovers, you would need:
10 adults x 1.5 lbs = 15 lbs5 kids x 0.5 lbs = 2.5 lbs Total = 17.5 lbsHaving a turkey size chart can make it easier to determine how much turkey you need based on your guest count. Here is a simple chart:
| Number of Guests | Turkey Size (with leftovers) |
|---|---|
| 4 people | 6-8 lbs |
| 6 people | 9-12 lbs |
| 8 people | 12-16 lbs |
| 10 people | 15-20 lbs |
| 12 people | 18-24 lbs |
| 14 people | 21-28 lbs |
| 16 people | 24-32 lbs |
| 18 people | 27-36 lbs |
| 20 people | 30-40 lbs |
What Size Turkey Should I Buy?
Once you’ve estimated your turkey size based on the number of guests and pounds per person, you can determine what size turkey to actually purchase.
Here are some tips:
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Look for a turkey that is slightly larger than your estimated size. It’s better to have extra than not enough.
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Make sure to account for the fact that a turkey’s listed weight includes the bones and giblets. The actual meat weight will be 15-20% less than the total weight.
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If your estimate is less than 12 pounds, increase it to allow for the lower meat-to-bone ratio on small turkeys.
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If your estimate is over 18-20 pounds, consider getting two smaller turkeys rather than one huge one to make carving and cooking easier.
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Whole turkeys are typically available in 4-6 pound increments, so round your estimate to the nearest increment when selecting your bird.
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You can also buy just a turkey breast rather than a whole bird if you have a smaller gathering. Breasts range from 2-8 pounds typically.
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If your freezer space is limited, make sure to choose a turkey that will fit!
Turkey Types and Labels
When you go to select your turkey, you’ll notice lots of options like frozen vs fresh, free-range, organic, kosher etc. Here’s a quick guide to what they mean:
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Fresh turkeys have never been frozen. They tend to be more expensive but some find them more flavorful. Requires less thaw time.
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Frozen turkeys are more cost effective. Allow at least 24 hrs of thaw time per 4-5 lbs.
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Free-range/Organic – allowed access outdoors. More flavorful meat. Feed is organic.
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Kosher – processed according to Jewish dietary laws. Soaked and salted so the meat is more dense.
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Self-basting/Injectable brine – contains a salt solution for added moisture. Convenient but masks natural turkey flavor.
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Natural – minimally processed with no artificial ingredients added.
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Heritage breed – traditional turkey varieties rather than commercially farmed. More flavor but expensive. Often need to special order.
Thawing Your Turkey
Allowing enough time for your frozen turkey to fully thaw is critical. Here are some tips:
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Allow 24 hours of thaw time in the fridge per 4-5 lbs of turkey.
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For faster thawing, place turkey (in its original wrapper) in a sink full of cold water. Change water every 30 mins. Allow 30 minutes per pound this way.
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Cook from frozen in an emergency but it will take significantly longer. Add at least 50% to the cook time.
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Do not thaw at room temperature or in hot water. This allows bacteria to grow.
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Check your thawed turkey for doneness by ensuring the meat reaches 165°F internally before serving.
Summary
When calculating how much turkey you need, plan for 1-1.5 pounds per person depending on your desired leftovers. Add up the total turkey weight needed for your guest count, then select a whole turkey or turkey breast that matches closely. Allow proper thawing time for frozen birds, and review the label for information on natural vs injected birds, kosher, etc. With this simple guide, you’ll be sure to buy just the right amount of turkey this holiday season!
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What Size Turkey Do I Need? – Farmison’s Formula
The first step to figure out what size turkey you need, is to find out how many people you are feeding. Once you confirm the guest list for your traditional christmas dinner or thanksgiving feast, you will be able to calculate what size turkey you need using Farmisons magic formula! Follow the simple calculations below to
- For parties of 9 or less:
- Number of guests x 0.55 = ideal turkey size in kg.
- Number of guests x 1.2 = ideal turkey size in lbs.
- For parties of 10 or more:
- Number of guests x 0.45 = ideal turkey size in kg.
- Number of guests x 1 = ideal turkey size in lbs.
If you want leftovers, (we know how incredible a boxing day turkey sandwich can be!) then you might want to order a slightly larger bird. Calculate the number of left over portions you want as if they are additional guests. This is Farmisons formula for if youd like leftovers:
- (Number of guests + Number of left over portions) x 0.45 = ideal turkey size in kg.
- (Number of guests + Number of left over portions) x 1 = ideal turkey size in lbs.
What Size Turkey Do I Need? – Without Maths
We appreciate you might have enough on your plate without having to do maths! To make things easier, we have listed our suggestions on what size turkey you need depending on how many guests you are feeding below. These numbers should give hearty portions.
- What size turkey do I need for 4 people = 2.2kg or 4.8 lbs.
- What size turkey do I need for 6 people = 3.3kg or 7.2lbs.
- What size turkey do I need for 8 people = 4.4kg or 9.6lbs.
- What size turkey do I need for 10 people = 4.5kg or 10lbs.
- What size turkey do I need for 12 people = 5.4kg or 12lbs.
- What size turkey do I need for 14 people = 6.3kg or 14lbs.
- What size turkey do I need for 20 people = 9kg or 20lbs.
If you require more than 14lbs of turkey, we recommend preparing two birds rather than one. Or, to keep things simple you could prepare turkey breasts alongside the whole roasting turkey. This means you get extra meat and still have a whole bird for your centrepiece.
What Size Turkey To Buy – Ace Hardware
FAQ
What is the best size of turkey to buy?
The general rule is to plan for 1 1/2 pounds per guest. So if you’re serving 10 people on Thanksgiving, choose a bird that is 15 to 20 pounds. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don’t end up getting eaten. Plus there’s always the bonus of having leftovers.
How many people will a 15 lb turkey feed?
| Number of Guests | Size Turkey Recommended |
|---|---|
| 4 – 6 | 4- to 9-lb. turkey* |
| 8 – 10 | 8- to 15-lb. turkey |
| 12 – 16 | 12- to 24-lb. turkey |
| 18 – 20 | 18- to 30-lb. turkey |
Will a 20lb turkey fit in an 18 quart roaster?
Make this Thanksgiving one to remember with our classic Roast Turkey recipe. With its durable cookwell and large interior, your NESCO 18 Qt. Roaster holds up to a 22-pound turkey to feed the entire family.
How many will a 20 pound turkey serve?
1.5 is per person before you cook and take it off the bone. A 20lb turkey can comfortably feed 12-13 people.
What size Turkey should I buy?
One of the most frequently asked questions is what size turkey to buy. The rule of thumb is 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person with leftovers and 1 pound of turkey per person without leftovers. If your guest list includes a lot of kids, lean towards a smaller size turkey. If your guests are big eaters, lean towards a larger turkey.
How much Turkey should a 10 pound turkey eat?
The end goal is 1/2 a pound of turkey per adult and 1/3 of a pound per child at the dinner table. So if you’re serving a holiday dinner of 10 adults, you need five pounds of cooked turkey in total. We know we’re going to lose roughly 50% of the weight of a whole bird through cooking and the bones. So you’ll want a 10-pound turkey.
How much raw turkey per person?
That equals one pound of raw turkey per adult and 2/3 of a pound per child. If you’re concerned that’s not enough or you want to ensure there will be plenty of leftovers to go around, consider purchasing 1 1/2 pounds of raw turkey per person attending.
How many people can a 8 pound turkey serve?
Most turkey portion serving sizing charts are based using a bone-in turkey. A chart might say 1 to 1.5 pounds of purchased turkey per person, so an 8-pound turkey is allegedly perfect for 6-8 people. I say NO! Initially, the bone removes some of that weight. Secondly, the weight becomes further reduced during cooking.
How many people can a turkey breast feed?
How Much Turkey Breast to Buy. One (3-pound) half-breast will feed two to four people. A whole (six- to seven-pound) turkey breast (two breasts, still joined at the breast bone) will feed six to eight people. What size Turkey should I buy? One of the most frequently asked questions is what size turkey to buy.
Do you need a large Turkey to feed a crowd?
You don’t have to buy one large turkey to feed a crowd. Large turkeys are heavy and take a long time to cook. Instead, try dividing the total number of pounds by two and buying two smaller birds. Cooking a small turkey is quicker, and the meat will cook more evenly.