How big a turkey for 20 people?
For 20 people, plan on 20 lb of whole turkey: a 20 to 22 lb whole turkey, or two 10 to 12 lb turkeys. A 20 to 22 lb bird needs 4 to 5½ days to thaw in the fridge.
How to work it out
- 20 guests = 20 adult portions
- 20 × 1 lb (whole turkey) = 20 lb
- × 0.53 cooked yield = about 10.6 lb of carved turkey, or 8 oz per adult
Twenty guests is a big family holiday or a Friendsgiving. One 20 lb turkey does the job, but two 10–12 lb birds are often the better plan: each thaws in about three days or less, they roast in less time, and you can cook one a day ahead.
Adjust for your project
More options: Kids
- Look for
- a 20 to 22 lb whole turkey
- Cooked turkey you’ll carve (approx.)
- 10.6 lb
- Cooked turkey per adult (approx.)
- 8 oz
- Thawing in the fridge (smallest to largest bird in that range)
- 4 to 5½ days
- Roasting at 325 °F, unstuffed (whole range)
- 4¼ to 5 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 |
One big turkey or two small ones?
| One 20–22 lb turkey | Two 10–12 lb turkeys | |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge thawing | 4 to 5½ days | 2 to 3 days |
| Roasting, unstuffed at 325 °F (163 °C) | 4¼ to 5 hours | 2¾ to 3 hours (side by side) |
| Carved turkey (approx.) | about 10½–11½ lb | about 10½–12½ lb |
| Pan and oven | needs a large pan and a full shelf | two standard pans, or one oven each |
The meat is about the same either way; what changes is the logistics. A 20–22 lb bird needs to go into the fridge almost a week before the holiday and takes the oven for most of the afternoon. Two smaller turkeys can roast side by side if the oven is wide enough, or one can be cooked the day before, carved, chilled within 2 hours and reheated to 165 °F (74 °C) in covered pans with a little broth.
Feeding twenty without stress
- Add a ham. Many hosts serve turkey and ham at this size. With two meats, you can cut each back — set the appetite to light eaters in both this calculator and the ham calculator.
- Keep it hot. Carve onto a warm platter or into a covered pan in a low oven; perishable food should not sit out more than 2 hours.
- Use a thermometer in each bird. Two turkeys of slightly different weights finish at different times.
The thaw schedule for one big bird is in how long to thaw a 20 lb turkey, and the roasting plan in how long to cook a 20 lb turkey.
Different size? Use the full Turkey Size Calculator.
What you’ll need
- 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) - 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) - Carving knife and forkMid-range price
A long, thin slicing blade carves turkey, ham and brisket cleanly; the fork steadies the meat without shredding it.
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 20 people with leftovers?
About 30 lb in all with plenty of leftovers: two turkeys of about 15 lb each.
How much turkey for 15 people?
About 15 lb: a 15 to 17 lb whole turkey.
How much turkey breast for 20 people?
About 15 lb of bone-in breast, usually two or three breasts.
Other common sizes
- How big a turkey for 8 people with leftovers — 12 to 14 lb whole turkey
- How big a turkey for 10 people — 10 to 12 lb whole turkey
- How big of a turkey for 12 people — 12 to 14 lb whole turkey
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).