Turkey Cooking Time Calculator

Getting the bird out of the oven on time is the hardest part of hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas, and this tool takes some of the guesswork out of it. Enter your guest count and how many pounds of turkey to allow per person, and you'll get back the size of bird to buy, the oven temperature, an estimated roasting time and the total time from oven to table including the rest.

Several factors drive the estimate: the weight of the bird, whether it's stuffed or unstuffed, and the 165°F (74°C) internal temperature that food safety requires. The calculator uses 13 minutes per pound at 325°F (160°C) for an unstuffed turkey and 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed one, since the dense cavity slows how fast warmth reaches the center. The schedule then adds a 30-minute rest before carving; USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) suggests 20 minutes. These per-pound rates are a rule of thumb and don't match USDA's roasting timetable at every size: FSIS lists 3¾ to 4¼ hours for an unstuffed 14-to-18-pound turkey at 325°F, while 13 minutes a pound gives about 3¼ hours for 15 pounds, so start early and let the thermometer decide.

Ovens rarely run true to their dials, so confirm doneness with a food thermometer: FSIS says to check the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast, and all three should read 165°F. Packing the cavity tight drives the cook time up and invites uneven results; FSIS recommends cooking stuffing in a separate casserole, and if you do stuff the bird, fill it loosely and make sure the center of the stuffing also reaches 165°F. That resting stretch after the bird leaves the oven matters just as much as the roasting itself, because cutting in early lets the juices run out and leaves the meat dry.