Turkey Per Person Calculator

How this calculator works

The standard guideline is about 1 pound of raw, whole turkey per guest for a sit-down meal with other sides, or about 1.5 pounds per guest if you want generous leftovers (sandwiches, soup, next-day meals). This accounts for bone weight and typical cooking loss, so you don't need to buy extra on top of it.

Where this number comes from

The 1 to 1.5 lb-per-person range is a long-standing guideline used by USDA extension offices and poultry producers (including Butterball) for whole-turkey holiday planning.

Source: Common extension-office and poultry-industry guidance for whole turkey, bone-in, per guest.