Buying turkey for Thanksgiving dinner is a big choice. Do you want a heritage bird or a classic grocery store bird-in-a-bag? Fresh or frozen? Whole or parts? And, arguably the most important consideration of all: Just how much turkey per person do you need?
To calculate how big your Thanksgiving turkey should be, you’ve got to figure out the number of guests you’re serving and how much turkey each might eat. After all, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, it’s your mission to send everyone home as full of delicious food as possible.
When it comes to preparing the perfect holiday feast, getting the right size turkey is crucial But with so many options at the grocery store, how do you know what the average turkey weight is and what causes that average? In this article, we’ll break down the factors that influence the typical weight of turkeys available for purchase.
Average Weights of Male and Female Turkeys
The sex of the turkey plays a major role in determining average weight. Here’s a quick look at the usual weights:
-
Toms (male turkeys) The average weight of toms ranges from 16 to 30 pounds, with most falling in the 20 to 24 pound range when grown to full maturity and sold commercially
-
Hens (female turkeys): Hens are smaller than toms, weighing between 8 to 16 pounds on average, with most in the 12 to 14 pound range.
So if you see a turkey at the store weighing 16 to 24 pounds, it’s likely a tom. And a smaller turkey weighing 8 to 16 pounds is probably a hen. The breed can also impact the weight.
Breed Determines Maximum Potential Size
Turkey breeds have been selectively developed over time for different characteristics like meat yield, growth rate, and overall size. Some breed examples include:
-
Broad Breasted White: The most common commercial breed, prized for its large breast meat and ability to grow rapidly. Can reach 30 pounds.
-
Broad Breasted Bronze: Similar to Broad Breasted White but with darker pinfeathers. Top out around 25 pounds.
-
Narragansett: A heritage breed with more balanced body proportions. Typical weight is 18 to 25 pounds.
-
Black Spanish: Heritage breed that matures at a slower rate. Usually under 20 pounds.
So while the Broad Breasted turkeys can grow much larger, the heritage breeds max out at a more modest weight.
Age and Gender Both Influence Growth Rate
The longer a turkey lives, the more it will eat and the larger it can grow. But growth rates differ between male and female turkeys.
-
Toms achieve their maximum weight at around 5 months of age.
-
Hens reach their full weight at just 4 months.
This faster growth for hens means they can be slaughtered at a younger age and will naturally be smaller than an older tom. Knowing the age of your turkey can provide clues to its weight.
Diet and Living Conditions Impact Size
To reach their full genetic potential for growth, turkeys require ample access to food and space. Here are some key factors:
-
Nutrition: Turkeys fed a balanced diet with sufficient calories, protein, and nutrients will grow larger than turkeys fed a deficient diet.
-
Foraging: Turkeys allowed to forage and exercise will develop more muscle than confined birds.
-
Living space: Overcrowded turkeys restricted in space will fail to reach maximum weights.
Free range and pasture-raised turkeys permitted to roam and forage generally weigh more than conventionally raised birds. So diet and living conditions directly influence the weight.
Processing and Preparation Methods Account for Weight Changes
The turkey’s weight continues to fluctuate after slaughter through processing, packaging, and cooking:
-
Plumping: Birds are sometimes plumped with saline solution to become heavier.
-
Aging: Turkeys aged on ice after slaughter can gain weight from absorbed water.
-
Freezing: Ice crystallization during freezing adds water weight.
-
Thawing and cooking: Moisture loss from thawing and roasting reduces the weight.
So the weight when purchasing a frozen turkey may differ compared to its fresh pre-frozen weight. And the cooked weight will be lower than the raw weight.
What Weight Should You Choose?
When selecting a turkey, keep these tips in mind:
-
Allow 1-1.5 pounds per person if having only turkey.
-
Add 2-3 pounds for leftovers or if serving other dishes.
-
Choose a size that will fit in your oven and pan.
-
Opt for two small turkeys instead of one huge bird.
-
Allow 24 hours thawing time per 5 pounds of frozen turkey.
Adhering to portion estimates and allowing time for thawing will result in the best success no matter the turkey’s exact weight!
Typical Commercial Turkey Weights
With all those factors covered, what are the most common weights of whole turkeys found in the grocery store?
- Small Hens: 8-12 pounds
- Medium Hens: 12-14 pounds
- Large Hens: 14-16 pounds
- Small Toms: 16-18 pounds
- Medium Toms: 20-24 pounds
- Large Toms: 24-30 pounds
The small, medium, and large designations account for differences in breed, age, diet, and farming conditions. So you’re most likely to find turkeys in the 16-24 pound range, with 20 pounds being typical for a medium tom.
Understanding Weight Ranges Provides Flexibility
Instead of an exact number, it’s best to think of turkey weights in terms of ranges. There are so many natural variables that influence growth. Whether you’re cooking for a small gathering or a crowd, choosing a turkey in the appropriate weight range will allow you to serve the perfect portion sizes.
What if I’m afraid of underserving my guests?
“Most people put out so many sides that running out of turkey really isn’t an issue,” says contributing editor Amiel Stanek. “Turkey is, in my experience, the thing people want least.” As a host, you can even take some of your attention away from a cartoonishly large Rockwellian bird and think deeply about the Thanksgiving side dishes. This is where you can customize your selection based on the size, tastes, and needs of your crowd. Serving a few extra vegetarians this year? Go all-in on mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and roasted veggies (we recommend balsamic-roasted brussels sprouts, which are a test kitchen favorite).
Want to show off your baking skills? Make a big tray of showstopping stuffing biscuits. And, of course, you’ve got to have cranberry sauce—either homemade or canned, that’s your prerogative.
If you’re wondering, How big of a turkey do I need, really?, Amiel points out that the bigger the turkey, the less likely it is to cook evenly. He would much rather serve smallish portions of perfect poultry than massive servings that are half-raw, half-dry. “In terms of ensuring that the breast meat is delicious and moist and the dark meat is cooked through, I think you’re going to get the best results from a 14-to-15-pound turkey, max.”
Turkey size per person
Our advice: Go for a smaller turkey. We promise, there’ll be enough to go around.
If a 15-pound bird sounds teeny compared to your guest list, Amiel and Jessie recommend supplementing with a different meat or protein (no matter your party’s size). “I like to do steak or lamb chops,” says Jessie, “which are very festive and a lot easier to prepare than a whole turkey.” Having a second meat on the table provides a backup if your bird is on the scrawny side, but it also makes your turkey stretch further. Aim for 1–1½ total pounds of protein per person, including your supplementary main, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
If you’re hosting a smaller gathering, another option is to forgo the roast turkey entirely in favor of a smaller bird—roast chicken or glazed duck make just as nice a centerpiece.
How many pounds of turkey per person do I actually need?
The general rule of thumb is 1–1½ pounds turkey per person. If that seems like a lot, remember that a whole turkey comes with a lot of parts that don’t end up getting eaten. “When you buy a whole turkey, a lot of it is bone,” says recipe developer (and former BA staffer) Jessie YuChen. The smaller the bird, the higher that percentage may be. For smaller gatherings, Jessie recommends scaling up to 2 pounds per person to maximize leftovers (more on that later). “For four to six people, 11 to 13 pounds is a good range,” Jessie says. (Most of our recipes call for a 12-to-14-pound bird.)
Beyond the bones, the total mass of a whole bird accounts for cartilage and less favorable cuts of meat around the shoulders, neck, and back that are better suited for making stock the next day than for presenting on a platter. Just because you’re buying a pound per each guest doesn’t mean it’ll yield an equivalent amount of turkey meat.
Did you know in Turkey…..
FAQ
What’s the average weight of a turkey?
Can a turkey weigh 50 pounds?
What is the weight of a turkey at slaughter?
What is the average Thanksgiving turkey size?