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Turkey Size Calculator
What size turkey to buy for your guest count, how long it needs to thaw, and roughly how long it will roast.
Your results
Turkey to buy
6.0 kg (13.2 lb)
Thawing time in the fridge
4 days
Roasting time at 325°F (163°C)
3 h 48
Cooked meat yield
2.7 kg (6.0 lb)
Buy 500 g (about 1 lb) of whole turkey per person. That sounds excessive until you remember that a turkey is bone, and a whole bird yields only about 45% edible meat.
Thawing is the step people get wrong. A frozen turkey needs roughly 24 hours in the fridge for every 4 to 5 lb, so a 14 lb bird needs three full days. Thawing on the counter is not a shortcut, it is a food-safety failure.
Roast to 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh, not the breast, and not by the clock. The times here are an estimate for planning, nothing more.
Questions people ask
What size turkey for 12 people?
A 6 kg (13 lb) turkey feeds 12 comfortably with a little left over. For sandwiches the next day, go to 8 kg (17-18 lb).
How long to thaw a turkey?
About 24 hours in the fridge per 4-5 lb (2 kg). A 14 lb bird needs three days. Never thaw at room temperature.
How long to cook a 12 lb turkey at 325°F?
About 3 hours unstuffed, checking from 2 h 30. Pull it when the thigh reads 165°F (74°C) — weight-based times are a planning tool, not a doneness test.