How big a turkey for 10 people?
For 10 people, plan on 10 lb of whole turkey, so look for a 10 to 12 lb whole turkey. That thaws in the fridge in 2 to 3 days and carves to about 5.3 lb of turkey.
How to work it out
- 10 guests = 10 adult portions
- 10 × 1 lb (whole turkey) = 10 lb
- × 0.53 cooked yield = about 5.3 lb of carved turkey, or 8 oz per adult
Ten is the number most Thanksgiving hosts plan for: the family plus a couple of friends. At USDA’s pound per person, a 10–12 lb turkey covers dinner with a modest plate of leftovers; go to 14 lb if the leftovers matter as much as the meal.
Adjust for your project
More options: Kids
- Look for
- a 10 to 12 lb whole turkey
- Cooked turkey you’ll carve (approx.)
- 5.3 lb
- Cooked turkey per adult (approx.)
- 8 oz
- Thawing in the fridge (smallest to largest bird in that range)
- 2 to 3 days
- Roasting at 325 °F, unstuffed (whole range)
- 2¾ to 3 hours
- Raw turkey per adult
- 1 lb
- Perishable food should not sit out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90 °F / 32 °C). Keep hot food at 140 °F (60 °C) or above and cold food at 40 °F (4 °C) or below (USDA FSIS).
Turkey size by number of guests (type and leftovers as above)
| Guests | Turkey to buy | Look for | Thawing in the fridge (smallest to largest bird in that range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 lb | a 4 to 6 lb whole turkey | 1 to 1½ days |
| 6 | 6 lb | a 6 to 8 lb whole turkey | 1½ to 2 days |
| 8 | 8 lb | an 8 to 10 lb whole turkey | 2 to 2½ days |
| 10 | 10 lb | a 10 to 12 lb whole turkey | 2 to 3 days |
| 12 | 12 lb | a 12 to 14 lb whole turkey | 2½ to 3½ days |
| 15 | 15 lb | a 15 to 17 lb whole turkey | 3 to 4½ days |
| 20 | 20 lb | a 20 to 22 lb whole turkey | 4 to 5½ days |
Choosing the bird for ten
A 10 lb turkey carves to about 5¼ lb of meat with skin, by the USDA Food Buying Guide yield — about 8 oz per adult, which is a full plate once the stuffing, potatoes and two other sides are on it. A frozen bird can be bought weeks ahead; a fresh one only a day or two before, by USDA’s advice.
If you lean toward the top of the range, the extra pound or two is mostly bone, so the cooking time barely changes: USDA’s timetable puts every unstuffed bird from 8 to 12 lb at 2¾ to 3 hours at 325 °F (163 °C). Stuffed, allow 3 to 3½ hours, and check that the center of the stuffing reaches 165 °F (74 °C) as well as the meat.
Timeline for a 10–12 lb frozen turkey
- Two and a half to three days before: move it from the freezer to the fridge, in its wrapper, on a tray to catch drips.
- The morning of: check the cavity for ice and pull out the neck and giblets.
- About 3½ hours before dinner: into a 325 °F (163 °C) oven.
- When the thigh, wing and breast read 165 °F (74 °C): out, tent with foil and rest 20 minutes before carving.
If there are a few kids at the table, use the children box — four small children plan like two adults. For a bigger group, how big of a turkey for 12 people runs the same numbers, and how long to cook a 15 lb turkey covers the next size up.
Different size? Use the full Turkey Size Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Instant-read meat thermometerBudget price
The only reliable way to know a turkey, ham or brisket is done. Check the thickest part, away from bone, and check it is calibrated before the big day.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Roasting pan with rackMid-range price
A heavy pan about 2–3 in deep with a rack lifts the bird out of the drippings. Measure your oven before buying one sized for a 24 lb turkey.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How big a turkey for 10 people with leftovers?
About 15 lb with plenty of leftovers: a 15 to 17 lb whole turkey.
How much boneless turkey breast for 10 people?
About 5 lb of boneless breast roast at ½ lb per person.
How big a turkey for 10 big eaters?
About 12.5 lb, a quarter more than the USDA rule: a 13 to 15 lb whole turkey.
Other common sizes
- How big a turkey for 8 people with leftovers — 12 to 14 lb whole turkey
- How big of a turkey for 12 people — 12 to 14 lb whole turkey
- How big a turkey for 20 people — 20 to 22 lb whole turkey, or two 10–12 lb birds
Sources
- USDA FSIS — Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (copy hosted by UW–Madison Extension) (opens in a new tab) — 1 lb of turkey per person (1¼ lb pre-stuffed); refrigerator thawing about 24 hours per 4–5 lb; cold water 30 minutes per lb; roasting timetable at 325 °F (163 °C); 165 °F (74 °C); 20-minute rest; 2-hour rule.
- USDA FSIS — Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (fsis.usda.gov) (opens in a new tab) — The same guide on the FSIS website. FSIS also publishes Your Safe Thanksgiving Guide: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/your-safe-thanksgiving-guide
- Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska–Lincoln) — Turkey 101 (opens in a new tab) — Per person: whole turkey 1 lb, bone-in breast ¾ lb, boneless breast ½ lb, pre-stuffed 1¼ lb.
- USDA FNS — Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs, Section 1 yield table (opens in a new tab) — Whole turkey without neck and giblets: 1 lb as purchased = 0.53 lb cooked turkey with skin; bone-in breast 0.64 lb.
- FoodSafety.gov — Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart (reviewed Dec. 2022; copy hosted by the Virginia Department of Health) (opens in a new tab) — Poultry and stuffing 165 °F (74 °C); pork, beef and raw ham 145 °F (63 °C) with a 3-minute rest; ground meat 160 °F; leftovers 165 °F (74 °C).