Turkey Per Person Calculator
Start from guest count instead of total weight. Adjust for who's at the table — big eaters, kids, and the kind of meal you're hosting.
Understand the recommendation
Read the complete guide for assumptions, safety notes, examples, and practical decisions behind this calculator.
Read the related guide →Turkey Per Person Rule of Thumb (Quick Reference)
How much raw turkey to buy per guest based on cut and meal style:
- Whole Bone-In Turkey: 1 to 1.25 lbs (450–570 g) per adult for a standard dinner; 1.5 lbs (680 g) per adult for hearty eaters or generous next-day leftovers.
- Bone-In Turkey Breast: 0.75 to 1 lb (340–450 g) per adult (higher edible meat ratio than whole bird).
- Boneless Turkey Breast: 0.5 to 0.75 lb (225–340 g) per adult (100% edible meat, zero bone waste).
- Children (under 12): Plan 0.5 lb (225 g) per child (approx. 40–50% of adult portions).
Your table
Free · instantHow the per-person rate works
- Traditional holiday spread — plan 1.25 lb raw bone-in whole turkey per adult.
- Heavy side dishes / buffet — with abundant casseroles and rolls, 1.0 lb per adult is plenty.
- Big eaters & guaranteed leftovers — budget 1.5 lb per adult for second helpings and next-day sandwiches.
- Children under 12 — count as half an adult portion (0.5 lb / 50%).
- Edible yield — a whole raw bone-in bird yields 40–50% cooked, carved meat.
How the per-person calculator works
- Pick your meal type. A sit-down dinner starts at 1.5 lb of turkey per adult because the bird is the centerpiece; a buffet with many sides starts at 1.25 lb.
- Choose an appetite level. The calculator multiplies the base rate by 0.8 for light eaters, 1.0 for average, and 1.25 for big eaters.
- Enter adults and children separately. Children under 12 are counted at 40% of the adjusted adult rate.
- The calculator multiplies each group by its rate and adds them together for your total raw, bone-in turkey weight — also shown in kilograms.
- Round up to the nearest turkey size you can actually buy, since birds are sold in whole-pound increments.
Per-person examples
8 adults and 2 kids at a buffet, average appetites
Buffet base 1.25 lb × 1.0 appetite = 1.25 lb per adult, so children are 0.50 lb each. That's 8 × 1.25 = 10 lb plus 2 × 0.50 = 1 lb, for 11 lb total — buy a 12 lb turkey.
6 adults at a sit-down dinner, average appetites
Sit-down base 1.5 lb × 1.0 = 1.50 lb per adult. 6 × 1.50 = 9 lb of turkey, which a 10 lb bird covers with a little slack for the carcass.
10 adults and 4 kids at a buffet, big eaters
Buffet base 1.25 lb × 1.25 heavy = 1.56 lb per adult and 0.63 lb per child. 10 × 1.56 = 15.6 lb plus 4 × 0.63 = 2.5 lb, for 18.1 lb — an 18–20 lb turkey.
Turkey per person by meal type and appetite
| Meal style | Appetite level | Per adult | Per child under 12 | 10 adults need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional holiday spread | Light eaters | 1.00 lb | 0.50 lb | 10.0 lb |
| Traditional holiday spread | Average eaters | 1.25 lb | 0.63 lb | 12.5 lb |
| Traditional holiday spread | Big eaters / Leftovers | 1.50 lb | 0.75 lb | 15.0 lb |
| Buffet with heavy sides | Light eaters | 0.85 lb | 0.43 lb | 8.5 lb |
| Buffet with heavy sides | Average eaters | 1.00 lb | 0.50 lb | 10.0 lb |
| Buffet with heavy sides | Big eaters / Leftovers | 1.25 lb | 0.63 lb | 12.5 lb |
| Sit-down (turkey-forward) | Light eaters | 1.25 lb | 0.63 lb | 12.5 lb |
| Sit-down (turkey-forward) | Average eaters | 1.50 lb | 0.75 lb | 15.0 lb |
| Sit-down (turkey-forward) | Big eaters / Leftovers | 1.75 lb | 0.88 lb | 17.5 lb |
Common per-person planning mistakes
- Treating the result as cooked meat. These are raw, bone-in weights — a whole turkey yields only about 40–50% edible meat after bones, skin, and trim.
- Counting children as full adults. Kids under 12 eat roughly 40% of an adult portion, so a table of 8 adults and 4 kids does not need 12 adult portions.
- Using the sit-down rate for a buffet loaded with sides. When ham, casseroles, and stuffing compete with the turkey, 1.25 lb per adult is plenty.
- Forgetting leftovers. The calculator plans the meal itself; if you want sandwiches the next day, add 2–3 lb before you shop.
- Buying one enormous bird for a big group. Two 12–14 lb turkeys cook faster and more evenly than a single 26 lb bird.
Turkey Per Person Calculator FAQ
How many pounds of turkey per person should I plan?
For a traditional holiday spread, plan 1–1.25 pounds per adult. For a sit-down dinner where turkey is the main focus, plan 1.25–1.5 pounds. Light eaters or buffet-style meals can drop to 0.75–1 pound per person.
How is the turkey per person rate determined?
The rate depends on three things: appetite level (light/average/heavy), whether children are at the table (roughly 40% of adult portion), and meal type — a buffet with many sides needs less turkey per person than a sit-down dinner.
Does the per-person rate change by turkey cut?
Yes. A bone-in whole turkey yields less edible meat per pound than a boneless breast, so you need a higher raw weight per person for whole birds. This calculator accounts for that in the total.
How much extra turkey should I buy for leftovers?
Add about 0.5 lb per person on top of the calculated total for a day of sandwiches, or 1 lb per person if you want soup and casseroles too. On a 12 lb result for 10 guests, that means buying 16–18 lb instead.
How do I count teenagers and toddlers?
Count teenagers as adults — they often out-eat them. Toddlers under about 4 barely register, so leave them out entirely rather than counting them as children at 40%.
What if I'm serving turkey breast instead of a whole bird?
Halve the number. Boneless breast is nearly all edible meat, so 0.5–0.75 lb per adult replaces the 1.25 lb whole-bird figure. Bone-in breast sits in between at roughly 0.75–1 lb per adult.
Calculations calibrated against USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) guidelines. Maintained by the Turkey Size Calculator Editorial Team. Last reviewed: November 2026. Read our Methodology, Sources, and Corrections Policy.
Explore more turkey calculators
Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
By weight, method, and stuffed vs. unstuffed.
Turkey Thawing Calculator
Backward-plan from your serve time.
Turkey Brine Calculator
Wet vs. dry, salt %, and brine time.
Spatchcock Time Calculator
See how much time spatchcocking saves.
Deep-Fried Turkey Calculator
Oil volume, time per pound, safety caps.
Turkey Cost Calculator
Budget by size and price per pound.
Turkey Calories Calculator
Macros per serving, by cut.
Rest & Carving Calculator
Rest time plus expected carved yield.
Turkey Size Chart
Standalone printable reference table.
Catering Calculator (25–100+)
Large-event and multi-bird planning.
Turkey Leftovers Calculator
Safe storage days and reheating amounts.