How Much Turkey Per Person, Plus the Sides Math

The standard estimate is about one and a half pounds of whole turkey per person, or one pound per person if you are not counting on leftovers. That accounts for the bones, which are roughly half the weight of a whole bird.

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This guide gives you the turkey math for any headcount, plus quick amounts for the sides so you buy enough of everything without a fridge full of waste.

The Turkey Rule

A whole turkey is about 45 to 50 percent bone, skin and trim by weight. Plan on one and a half pounds of raw whole turkey per adult if you want leftovers, or one and a quarter pounds if the group has a lot of children. For a boneless turkey breast, which has no waste, three quarters of a pound per person is plenty.

Turkey Size by Headcount

• 4 to 6 people: a 9 to 12 pound turkey, or a 3 to 4 pound boneless breast.
• 8 to 10 people: a 14 to 16 pound turkey.
• 12 to 14 people: an 18 to 20 pound turkey, or two smaller birds.
• 16 to 20 people: two 12 to 14 pound turkeys, which cook faster and more evenly than one giant bird.
• More than 20: roast two birds, or add a turkey breast alongside a whole turkey.

Why Two Small Birds Beat One Huge One

A turkey over 20 pounds takes so long to cook that the breast dries out before the thighs are done, and it barely fits in a home oven. Two 12 to 14 pound birds cook in about three hours each, give you twice the drumsticks, and let you season them differently. If you only have one oven, roast them one after the other and reheat the first one.

The Sides Math

• Stuffing: three quarters to one cup cooked per person, about one pound of bread for eight to ten.
• Mashed potatoes: half a pound of raw potatoes per person.
• Gravy: a third to a half cup per person.
• Cranberry sauce: a quarter cup per person, so one standard batch serves eight to ten.
• Green vegetable or casserole: about one cup per person.
• Dinner rolls: one and a half to two per person.
• Pie: one nine inch pie serves eight, so plan one pie for every eight guests plus one extra for a crowd.

Turkey Amount Questions

How much turkey per person if I want lots of leftovers?

Go up to one and three quarters to two pounds of whole turkey per person. That leaves enough for sandwiches, soup and a second dinner.

How much boneless turkey breast per person?

Three quarters of a pound per person, since there is no bone. A 3 pound breast feeds about four, a 6 pound breast feeds about eight.

I am hosting a small Thanksgiving. Do I have to roast a whole turkey?

No. For four to six people a bone in or boneless turkey breast cooks in about half the time and still gives you a centerpiece and leftovers. Save the whole bird for years you have a full table.

How much does turkey shrink when cooked?

Expect to lose about 25 to 30 percent of the raw weight to moisture and rendering. A 15 pound raw turkey yields roughly 7 to 8 pounds of cooked meat once you remove the bones.