Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
Getting the cooking time right is the key to a juicy turkey. Enter your turkey's weight, whether it is stuffed, and your oven temperature to get an accurate roasting time estimate based on USDA guidelines.
The general rule for roasting turkey at 325F is about 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed bird and 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed one. But that rate changes with the size of the turkey, since larger birds have more thermal mass relative to surface area.
Unstuffed turkey at 325F:
- 8-12 lb: 2.75 to 3 hours
- 12-14 lb: 3 to 3.75 hours
- 14-18 lb: 3.75 to 4.25 hours
- 18-20 lb: 4.25 to 4.5 hours
- 20-24 lb: 4.5 to 5 hours
Stuffed turkey at 325F: Add roughly 30-45 minutes to the unstuffed times.
Critical safety points:
- The turkey is done when a thermometer reads 165F (74C) in the thickest part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing, and the thickest part of the breast
- If stuffed, the center of the stuffing must also reach 165F
- Never rely on cooking time alone or the pop-up timer. Use an instant-read meat thermometer
Resting is not optional. Let the turkey sit uncovered (or loosely tented with foil) for 20-45 minutes after removing it from the oven. During this time, the internal temperature will continue to rise 5-10 degrees (carryover cooking), and the juices will redistribute through the meat. A turkey carved immediately loses significantly more juice.
For planning your meal: if dinner is at 6:00 PM and you have a 16-lb unstuffed turkey at 325F, start roasting around 1:00-1:30 PM, allowing for about 3.75 hours of cooking plus 30 minutes of rest.