Turkey Size Calculator
Tell us how many people are eating and we will tell you what size turkey to order, with or without leftovers.
Answer
About a 3.6kg turkey
Sizes to look for
Check the bird fits your oven and roasting tin before buying, a very large turkey often will not.
Work out the cooking timeReference and detail
Will it fit?
Very large birds cause more problems than they solve. Measure your oven and your largest roasting tin before ordering anything over about 6 kg, and remember you need room to lift it out.
Crown or whole bird
A crown has no legs or wings, so allow about 350 g per person rather than 500 g. It also cooks faster than a whole bird of the same weight.
Questions and answers
Questions about turkey size
What size turkey do I need for a specific number of guests?
Enter your guest count above rather than relying on a rule of thumb, since the right weight depends on whether you want leftovers and whether you're serving other meat alongside the turkey.
Should I buy a bigger turkey if I want sandwiches and leftovers afterwards?
Yes, size up rather than trying to stretch a turkey sized only for the meal itself. Use the generous setting so there's meat left on the carcass once everyone has eaten.
Is a turkey crown a different size calculation from a whole turkey?
A turkey crown has no legs or wings, so it's a smaller overall weight but a higher proportion of meat than bone. It isn't a simple fraction of a whole bird's weight, so size it separately for your guest count rather than halving a whole-bird figure.
Does a bigger turkey take proportionately longer to cook?
No, cooking time doesn't scale evenly with weight. Once you've settled on a size, check the turkey cooking time calculator for the roasting and resting schedule for that specific weight.
Guidance
Read the full guide
- How to Cook a Turkey for ChristmasA full Christmas turkey plan: what size to buy, how many days it needs to defrost, when to put it in, and how to keep the rest of the dinner moving around it.