Turkey size, thaw & roasting times for Thanksgiving 2026

Quick answer

• How much: about 1 lb of turkey per person (USDA). Plan 1¼ lb if you want leftovers.
• Thaw: in the fridge, about 24 hours for every 4–5 lb.
• Roast: at 325°F. A 12–14 lb unstuffed turkey takes about 3 to 3¾ hours.
• Done: 165°F in the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. Let it stand 20 minutes before carving.

Turkey calculator

How many guests?

Assumes an unstuffed, fully thawed turkey cooked on Thanksgiving Day (Thu Nov 26, 2026). Over 24 lb, we suggest two smaller birds.

When to start thawing (fridge method)

Turkey weight	Fridge thaw time	Move to fridge by
4–12 lb	1–3 days	Mon, Nov 23
12–16 lb	3–4 days	Sun, Nov 22
16–20 lb	4–5 days	Sat, Nov 21
20–24 lb	5–6 days	Fri, Nov 20

"Move by" dates use the longer end of each USDA range so the bird is ready Thursday morning. A thawed turkey keeps in the fridge 1–2 days. Short on time? Cold-water thawing takes about 30 minutes per pound (change the water every 30 minutes and cook right away). You can also cook from frozen; it takes at least 50% longer.

Roasting times at 325°F

Weight	Unstuffed	Stuffed
4–6 lb (breast)	1½–3¼ hr (4–8 lb breast)	Not usually applicable
6–8 lb (breast)		2½–3½ hr
8–12 lb	2¾–3 hr	3–3½ hr
12–14 lb	3–3¾ hr	3½–4 hr
14–18 lb	3¾–4¼ hr	4–4¼ hr
18–20 lb	4¼–4½ hr	4¼–4¾ hr
20–24 lb	4½–5 hr	4¾–5¼ hr

Times are approximate. Always use a food thermometer. USDA recommends cooking stuffing in a separate dish rather than in the bird; if you do stuff it, the center of the stuffing must also reach 165°F.

Leftovers

Refrigerate turkey, stuffing, and gravy within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), in shallow covered containers. Use within 3–4 days, or freeze and use within 2–6 months for best quality. Reheat to 165°F.

Plan the whole meal

GravyBoat builds the menu, a shopping list grouped by store section with cost estimates, potluck assignments, and a day-by-day timeline around your turkey.

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