Turkey cooking time calculator
This turkey cooking time calculator gives the roasting time for your bird from the USDA timetable for a 325 °F oven. Enter the weight in pounds or kilograms to see the time for an unstuffed or stuffed turkey, the extra time when cooking from frozen, how long to thaw it and the safe internal temperature of 165 °F.
Example: Weight in: pounds · Turkey weight 15 lb / kg → Roasting time at 325 °F: 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min. Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service – Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (updated 17.11.2023; read 09.10.2026). Updated: .
How it is calculated
A 15 lb unstuffed turkey takes about 3¾ to 4¼ hours at 325 °F; stuffed it takes 4 to 4¼ hours. It is done when a food thermometer reads 165 °F in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.
Turkey roasting time chart (325 °F)
| Weight | Unstuffed | Stuffed |
|---|---|---|
| 4–8 lb (breast) | 1½–3¼ hours | 6–8 lb: 2½–3½ hours |
| 8–12 lb | 2¾–3 hours | 3–3½ hours |
| 12–14 lb | 3–3¾ hours | 3½–4 hours |
| 14–18 lb | 3¾–4¼ hours | 4–4¼ hours |
| 18–20 lb | 4¼–4½ hours | 4¼–4¾ hours |
| 20–24 lb | 4½–5 hours | 4¾–5¼ hours |
The timetable comes from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. It assumes an oven set no lower than 325 °F and the turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. A turkey cooked from frozen takes at least 50% longer.
Examples
- 15 lb unstuffed: 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min; stuffed 4 h to 4 h 15 min.
- 15 lb from frozen, unstuffed: 5 h 38 min to 6 h 23 min.
- 12 lb: 2 h 45 min to 3 h. 20 lb: 4 h 15 min to 4 h 30 min.
- 6 kg (13.2 lb): 3 h to 3 h 45 min.
Thawing and serving
In the refrigerator allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds, so a 15 lb turkey needs 3 to 3¾ days (the USDA chart says 3 to 4 days for 12 to 16 lb). In cold water allow about 30 minutes per pound – 7½ hours for 15 lb – and change the water every 30 minutes. Plan on 1 pound of turkey per person, so a 15 lb bird serves about 15. For other meats see the meat temperature chart, and for quantities the meat per person calculator.
Limits
The times are guide values for a conventional oven at 325 °F. Convection ovens, oven bags, the starting temperature of the bird and opening the oven door change the time; the thermometer decides. Birds over 24 lb are outside the USDA chart.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I cook a turkey per pound?
At 325 °F the USDA chart works out to between about 11 and 24 minutes per pound – larger birds need fewer minutes per pound. A 15 lb unstuffed turkey takes 3¾ to 4¼ hours.
What temperature should I cook a turkey at?
USDA recommends an oven temperature no lower than 325 °F. The roasting timetable is based on that temperature.
What internal temperature should turkey be?
165 °F, measured in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. Stuffing must reach 165 °F as well.
How long to cook a 20 lb turkey?
4¼ to 4½ hours unstuffed and 4¼ to 4¾ hours stuffed at 325 °F (USDA timetable for 18 to 20 lb).
How long does it take to thaw a turkey?
About 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds, or about 30 minutes per pound in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes.
Can I cook a turkey from frozen?
Yes. USDA says it is safe, but it takes at least 50% longer than a thawed turkey. Remove the giblet packages with tongs during cooking.
Sources and legal basis
As of: · Editorial policy
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