How Much Turkey Per Person
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Whether you’re smoking a turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, a family gathering, or just because it’s Saturday and you feel like firing up the smoker, one of the first questions is usually the same: How big of a turkey do I need?
It sounds like a simple question, but a whole turkey includes bones, it loses weight while cooking, and some people eat more than others. You also have to decide whether you only want enough for the meal or whether leftover turkey is part of the plan.
After cooking hundreds of turkeys over the years, I’ve settled on a recommendation that has worked well for my family and for the countless readers I’ve helped with turkey cooks.
How Much Turkey Per Person Do I Recommend?
My recommendation is to plan on about 2 pounds of uncooked whole turkey per person.
That’s more generous than the recommendation you’ll see on many websites, but there’s a reason for it. A whole turkey includes bones, loses some weight during cooking, and I really like having plenty of leftover turkey.
Some of the best meals happen after the turkey cook is over. Leftover turkey is perfect for sandwiches, soups, casseroles, sliders, appetizers, and easy meals over the next few days.
If you don’t need that much leftover turkey, a more conservative estimate is 1½ pounds of uncooked whole turkey per person. That should still provide plenty for the meal without leaving you with quite as much extra.
You may see recommendations as low as 1 pound per person, and that can work when turkey is only a small part of a large meal with plenty of sides. I still think it cuts things a little too close, especially when you account for bones, cooking loss, and a few people going back for seconds.
Turkey Size Guide
Use this chart as a practical starting point when you’re choosing how much turkey to buy.
| Number of People | Conservative Amount | My Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6-pound turkey | 8-pound turkey |
| 6 | 9-pound turkey | 12-pound turkey |
| 8 | 12-pound turkey | Two 8-pound turkeys |
| 10 | 15 pounds total | Two 10-pound turkeys |
| 12 | 18 pounds total | Two 12-pound turkeys |
| 15 | 22 to 23 pounds total | Three 10-pound turkeys |
| 20 | 30 pounds total | Three or four smaller turkeys |
These numbers don’t have to be exact down to the ounce. Get as close as you can, and don’t worry if the turkey you find is a pound larger or smaller than the number in the chart.
More Birds Are Better Than Bigger Birds
If you’ve followed my turkey recipes over the years, you’ve probably heard me say:
More birds are better than bigger birds.
That’s advice I still stand behind.
Whenever possible, I recommend keeping whole turkeys at around 12 pounds or less. Smaller turkeys tend to cook more evenly, they’re easier to handle, and it’s usually easier to keep the breast meat juicy while the thighs and legs finish cooking.
Larger turkeys take longer for the heat to reach the center, and the outside portions of the bird may be exposed to heat for much longer than necessary. This can make it harder to get everything done at about the same time without drying out the breast.
If you need 20 pounds of turkey, I’d rather see you cook two 10-pound birds than one 20-pound bird. The smaller birds will usually cook better, and having two turkeys also gives you more legs, wings, and crispy skin to serve.
It may take a little more room in the smoker or oven, but the final result is usually worth it.
How Much Turkey Do You Need Without Leftovers?
If you only want enough turkey for the meal, plan on about 1½ pounds of uncooked whole turkey per person.
For six people, that would be about 9 pounds of turkey. Since I prefer smaller birds and turkey sizes aren’t always exact, you could choose a turkey somewhere between 9 and 10 pounds and be in good shape.
This amount should provide a comfortable serving for everyone, especially when the turkey is served with several side dishes.
How Much Turkey Do You Need for Plenty of Leftovers?
For plenty of leftover turkey, plan on about 2 pounds of uncooked whole turkey per person.
For an average family of six, I usually recommend a turkey weighing around 12 pounds. That gives everyone plenty to eat and should leave enough turkey for sandwiches, appetizers, extra meals, and anything else you want to make over the next few days.
I don’t consider the extra turkey waste. I consider it meal planning.
You can use leftover turkey in:
- Turkey sandwiches
- Soups and stews
- Casseroles
- Sliders
- Turkey salad
- Tacos and quesadillas
- Dips and other appetizers
- Stuffed jalapeños
- Pot pies
Cooked turkey also freezes well, so you don’t have to use all of it immediately.
Does the Number of Side Dishes Matter?
The number and size of your side dishes can affect how much turkey people eat.
At a big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner with dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, casseroles, and dessert, most people probably won’t eat as much turkey as they would at a simpler meal.
On the other hand, if you’re smoking a turkey on a Saturday and only serving it with one or two sides, turkey may make up a larger part of each person’s plate.
That’s another reason I prefer using 1½ pounds per person as the conservative number instead of cutting it all the way down to 1 pound. It gives you a little room for larger appetites and second helpings.
Bone-In Turkey Versus Turkey Breast
The recommendations on this page are for a whole, bone-in turkey.
If you’re cooking a boneless turkey breast, you don’t need nearly as much because you aren’t paying for the weight of the backbone, ribs, legs, wings, and other bones.
For a boneless turkey breast, plan on about ½ pound per person, or a little more if you want leftovers.
For a bone-in turkey breast, plan on around ¾ to 1 pound per person, depending on how much leftover meat you want.
What About Children?
Young children generally eat less turkey than adults, so you don’t always have to count every child as a full serving.
As a general guide, two small children can be counted as roughly one adult when estimating how much turkey you need.
Teenagers are another story. I usually count them as adults, and depending on the teenager, you may want to allow a little extra.
When in doubt, round up. A little extra turkey is easier to deal with than running out while people are still hungry.
Planning the Rest of the Turkey Cook
Once you know how much turkey you need, the rest of the cook becomes easier to plan.
You can figure out how much refrigerator space you need, when to begin thawing, whether you have enough room in the smoker, and when the turkey needs to start cooking.
If you’re cooking several smaller turkeys, they don’t necessarily have to finish at exactly the same time. A finished turkey can rest while the second bird catches up, and that resting time will help the juices settle before carving.
Use internal temperature rather than cooking time alone to decide when the turkey is done. Cooking time is only an estimate, and every turkey and every cooker behaves a little differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much turkey do I need for six people?
For six people, plan on a 9-pound turkey if you only want a small amount left over. My usual recommendation is a 12-pound turkey, which provides plenty for the meal and leaves extra turkey for sandwiches and other meals.
How much turkey do I need for eight people?
For eight people, a 12-pound turkey is the conservative choice. For generous servings and plenty of leftovers, plan on around 16 pounds total, preferably as two smaller turkeys.
How much turkey do I need for ten people?
For ten people, plan on at least 15 pounds of uncooked turkey. My preference would be two turkeys weighing around 10 pounds each so you have plenty of leftovers and the birds cook more evenly.
How much turkey do I need for Thanksgiving?
Use the same basic recommendation you would for any other turkey meal. Plan on 1½ pounds of uncooked whole turkey per person for the meal with a little extra, or 2 pounds per person if you want plenty of Thanksgiving leftovers.
Is 2 pounds of turkey per person too much?
It’s generous, but that’s intentional. The number includes bones and cooking loss, and it leaves plenty of turkey for sandwiches, soups, casseroles, appetizers, and extra meals.
If leftovers aren’t important, use the more conservative estimate of 1½ pounds per person.
Should I cook two smaller turkeys instead of one large turkey?
Yes, whenever you have the cooking space. Smaller turkeys usually cook more evenly, are easier to handle, and make it easier to keep the breast meat from drying out.
More birds are better than bigger birds.
What should I do if I buy too much turkey?
Refrigerate the leftover meat for meals over the next few days or freeze it for later. Remove the meat from the bones and divide it into smaller portions before freezing so it’s easier to thaw only what you need.
Final Thoughts
For a whole turkey, plan on 1½ pounds of uncooked turkey per person if you want enough for the meal with a modest amount left over.
My recommendation is a more generous 2 pounds per person because I enjoy having plenty of leftover turkey for sandwiches, appetizers, and extra meals.
Whether you’re cooking for Thanksgiving, another holiday, a family get-together, or an ordinary Saturday, the same numbers work.
When you need more turkey, don’t feel like you have to buy the biggest bird you can find. Cook two or more smaller turkeys whenever possible.
More birds are better than bigger birds.
