Christmas Dinner Portions Calculator
For a standard Christmas dinner, allow about 500g of whole turkey, 250g of potatoes, 80g each of carrots, parsnips and sprouts, 100g of stuffing, three pigs in blankets and 125ml of gravy per adult. Children get about 60% of that. Enter your guests below to get totals rounded to sensible shopping amounts.
Published by CookingCalculator.co.uk. Last reviewed .
Roughly under 12. Allowed 60% of an adult portion.
Adjust serving assumptions
Change any of these to match your family. Leave blank to use our figure. Appetite is applied on top.
Our figure: 80g
Our figure: 80g
Our figure: 80g
Our figure: 3
Our figure: 40g
Our figure: 100g
Quantities for 6 people
6 adults and 0 children, standard appetites.
| Food | Total | Per adult | Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey (oven-ready weight)Turkey size calculator: about 500g of oven-ready bird per adult, 300g per child, rounded, smallest 2kg. This is purchased weight on the bone, not meat on the plate: bone, skin and cooking losses take up much of it. | 3kg | about 500g bird weight | Our calculator |
| Roast potatoes (raw, unpeeled)Potatoes per person calculator: 250g raw per adult, 150g per child. | 1.5kg | 250g | Our calculator |
| Carrots (raw, untrimmed)Planning estimate of 80g per adult, based on the NHS 5 A Day portion size of 80g. It is not an official Christmas serving. With four or more vegetables, many cooks use less of each. | 500g | 80g | Estimate |
| Parsnips (raw, untrimmed)Planning estimate of 80g per adult, based on the NHS 5 A Day portion size of 80g. It is not an official Christmas serving. With four or more vegetables, many cooks use less of each. | 500g | 80g | Estimate |
| Brussels sprouts (raw, untrimmed)Planning estimate of 80g per adult, based on the NHS 5 A Day portion size of 80g. It is not an official Christmas serving. With four or more vegetables, many cooks use less of each. | 500g | 80g | Estimate |
| Stuffing (made up, in a tray)Stuffing calculator: 100g made-up stuffing per adult at a standard appetite. | 600g | 100g | Our calculator |
| Pigs in blanketsChristmas dinner calculator: 3 per adult. | 18 | 3 | Our calculator |
| Gravy (made up)Gravy calculator: 125ml per adult at a standard appetite, children 60%. | 750ml | 125ml | Our calculator |
| Cranberry or bread sauceChristmas dinner calculator: 40g per adult. | 250g | 40g | Our calculator |
| Christmas puddingChristmas dinner calculator: 100g per adult after a full dinner. A 907g pudding serves about 8. | 600g | 100g | Our calculator |
Assumptions
- Whole turkey weights are the whole bird as bought, including bone. Appetite does not change the bird size; leftovers do.
- Children are allowed 60% of an adult portion. Light appetite is 80%, generous is 125%.
- Weights are rounded up to practical shopping amounts: 25g steps below 1kg, 100g steps above.
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How the quantities are worked out
The calculator reuses the same rules as our individual calculators, so the answers agree with them:
- Whole turkey: from the turkey size calculator, 500g per adult and 300g per child, rounded, never below 2kg. Leftovers raise this to about 700g per adult.
- Turkey crown: about 350g per adult, because a crown has no legs or wings.
- Other roast: 200g of raw boneless meat per adult, from the meat per person calculator.
- Vegetarian main: one portion each, as stated on the pack or recipe. We do not guess weights.
- Roast potatoes, stuffing, gravy and Yorkshire puddings: from those calculators.
- Carrots, parsnips and sprouts: a planning estimate of 80g each per adult, the NHS 5 A Day portion size. It is a practical shopping amount, not an official Christmas serving; lower it if you serve four or more vegetables.
- Children, appetite and leftovers: children 60% of an adult; light 80%, generous 125%; leftovers add 40% to the main course only.
Bought weight, not meat on the plate. A whole turkey's bought weight is not the same as the meat you serve. Bone, skin and cooking losses take up much of it, which is why the allowance looks large.
Worked example: Christmas dinner quantities for 6 adults
Six adults, standard appetites, a whole turkey, no leftovers and the standard menu. These figures are produced by the calculator itself.
| Food | Total | Per adult |
|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey (oven-ready weight) | 3kg | about 500g bird weight |
| Roast potatoes (raw, unpeeled) | 1.5kg | 250g |
| Carrots (raw, untrimmed) | 500g | 80g |
| Parsnips (raw, untrimmed) | 500g | 80g |
| Brussels sprouts (raw, untrimmed) | 500g | 80g |
| Stuffing (made up, in a tray) | 600g | 100g |
| Pigs in blankets | 18 | 3 |
| Gravy (made up) | 750ml | 125ml |
| Cranberry or bread sauce | 250g | 40g |
| Christmas pudding | 600g | 100g |
Portions calculator or Christmas dinner calculator?
This page is the dedicated quantity calculator: choose the main, each side and your own serving figures, then send the result to your shopping list. For a quick one-step estimate linked to the Meal Synchroniser, use our all-in-one Christmas dinner calculator. Both use the same turkey and trimmings rules, so the figures match.
Christmas dinner quantities: common questions
How much food do I need for Christmas dinner for 6?
With our standard figures and no leftovers, six adults need about a 3kg whole turkey, 1.5kg of potatoes for roasting, 500g each of sprouts, carrots and parsnips, and 600g of made-up stuffing. The full table is in the worked example below.
How much food for Christmas dinner for 10 people?
Ten adults need about a 5kg turkey, 2.5kg of potatoes and 30 pigs in blankets at a standard appetite. Add leftovers and the turkey goes up by 40%.
How many roast potatoes per person?
We allow 250g of raw, unpeeled potatoes per adult and 150g per child, from our potatoes per person calculator.
How many pigs in blankets per person?
Three per adult is our starting figure. They tend to go first, so change it if your family loves them.
How much stuffing per person?
About 100g of made-up stuffing per adult, cooked in a tray. A standard packet mix makes roughly 400g, enough for four.
How much turkey per person?
About 500g of whole oven-ready bird per adult, or 700g if you want leftovers. That is the weight you buy, bone included, not the meat on each plate. For a crown, allow about 350g.
Limitations
- These are planning figures, not exact needs. Appetites vary, and so does how much people eat after starters.
- Vegetable figures are estimates. Lower them if you serve many different vegetables.
- The calculator covers up to 40 guests. For larger events, use catering guidance.
- Check pack sizes and recipe yields before you buy.
Figures by CookingCalculator.co.uk. The 80g vegetable figure is the NHS 5 A Day portion size. For safe defrosting and leftovers, follow the Food Standards Agency.