How Long To Cook A Turkey: A Pound-By-Pound Guide

When it comes to preparing the perfect Thanksgiving turkey, one size doesn't fit all. And while recipes and "package directions" usually offer some general guidance, they don't always cover all the important factors.

But fear not—you've found the perfect guide for roasting your best turkey, no matter the size. Just check out our handy charts below, and pay special attention to the following tips to guarantee your Thanksgiving feast is a delicious success.

How Long To Cook A Turkey Chart

All Your Turkey Questions, Answered

When it comes to the big bird, there's lots of questions to consider: What size turkey should you buy? How long do cook it? What temperature do you choose? Should you stuff, baste, rest...and on and on. If you've got a turkey question, we've answered it below.

What size turkey should I buy?

That depends on how many people you're feeding. On average, plan for one to one and half pounds per Thanksgiving guest. For 10 people, you'll want a turkey between 10 and 15 pounds. If you want leftovers, go bigger.

How long do you cook a turkey per pound?

The standard rule of turkey roasting time says 13 minutes per pound for unstuffed birds and 15 minutes per pound for the stuffed ones.

At what temperature should I cook turkey?

Techniques for cooking a turkey vary. Some cooks swear by starting the bird off at 450°F to get a crispy skin. We like a steady temperature the whole time, and 325°F is the ideal turkey roasting temperature in our books. You can also find more information on FoodSafety.gov.

If you're more adventurous, there's more than one way to roast a turkey. But if you already have enough on your plate (and it's Thanksgiving, so you surely do!), stick to a trusty 325°F.

How will I know when a turkey is done?

Grab your meat thermometer, and insert the probe in the thickest part of the turkey thigh. When it reads 165°F, your bird is cooked.

Should I let the turkey rest before carving?

Resting the turkey before carving is essential to prevent all that delicious moisture from escaping, so make sure you let the turkey rest at least 15 minutes once it's out of the oven.

Do I have to baste the turkey?

While basting your turkey may seem as close to Thanksgiving gospel as a Norman Rockwell painting, it isn't as necessary or as helpful as you may think. Read more about our take on basting, but the gist is this: The more you open that oven door to baste your bird, the longer it's going to take to roast evenly. And if you have a long line of Thanksgiving side dishes waiting to bake up golden brown and bubbly, that's precious time you don't want to waste. So keep that oven door closed as much as possible.

Is stuffing the turkey dangerous?

There are a lot of food safety debates when it comes to filling your turkey with stuffing (we all know it's dressing, right?), so we won't get into that right at this moment. But we'd be remiss to not point out that baking a stuffed-to-the-brim bird takes longer than baking an unstuffed bird.

Stuff or don't stuff—that's totally up to you. Just know it does take a bit longer to bake. Don't worry: Our handy charts above cover that, too!

Are big turkeys better?

If you haven't already bought your turkey, we advise that you buy a turkey that's between 12 and 15 pounds—anything larger could result in uneven cooking. If you must buy a 24-pound turkey, we'll still provide a time range, but we recommend buying two smaller birds instead.

What's the best temperature to bake a turkey?

If you'd like to keep things simple, set your oven temperature to 325°F for a for a slow, steady roast. Preheat your oven to 325°F, and use the timetable above.

How To Tell When a Turkey Is Done

Bottom Line: Remove the turkey from the oven when a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of the thigh registers 165°F.

A little more: When it comes to the cooking time for your bird, focus on the temperature of the meat rather than the actual time. The times listed below are a guideline to help you plan the approximate time required to cook your Thanksgiving turkey to the right temperature, but we highly recommend using a meat thermometer to determine doneness.

Turkey Cooking Times Per Pound

8 – 12 lb Turkey Cooking Time:

2 hours 45 minutes - 3 hours (unstuffed)
3 hours - 3 hours 30 minutes (stuffed)

12 – 14 lb Turkey Cooking Time:

3 hours - 3 hours and 45 minutes (unstuffed)
3 hours 30 minutes - 4 hours (stuffed)

14 – 18 lb Turkey Cooking Time:

3 hours 45 minutes - 4 hours 15 minutes (unstuffed)
4 hours - 4 hours 15 minutes (stuffed)

18 – 20 lb Turkey Cooking Time:

4 hours 15 minutes - 4 hours 30 minutes (unstuffed)
4 hours 15 minutes - 4 hours 45 minutes (stuffed)

20 – 24 lb Turkey Cooking Time:

4 hours 30 minutes - 5 hours (unstuffed)
4 hours 45 minutes - 5 hours 15 minutes (stuffed)