Turkey Cooking Time Calculator

Estimate how long to roast a whole turkey by weight — unstuffed or stuffed, in pounds or kilograms — based on USDA 325 °F roasting guidance, with a printable per-pound cook-time chart below.

Turkey weight

≈ 5.4 kg

Preparation

Oven temperature

Estimated roast time at 325 °F (unstuffed)

3 hr

180 minutes · plus 20–45 min rest before carving

Cook to temperature, not just time. A thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh must read 165 °F (74 °C) — the USDA safe minimum — and the stuffing must reach 165 °F too. Times are estimates: oven behavior, bird temperature at the start, and exact shape all shift the real time.

Turkey cooking time chart by weight (325 °F)

Estimated roasting times for a whole turkey at 325 °F, the USDA standard roasting temperature, in 2-lb steps from 8 to 24 lb. As a rule of thumb, turkey cook time per pound is about 13–15 minutes unstuffed and 15 minutes stuffed — the chart interpolates the USDA figures precisely.

Whole turkey roasting time by weight at 325 °F, stuffed and unstuffed
Weight (lb)	Weight (kg)	Unstuffed	Stuffed
8 lb	3.6 kg	2 hr 45 min	3 hr
10 lb	4.5 kg	2 hr 55 min	3 hr 20 min
12 lb	5.4 kg	3 hr	3 hr 35 min
14 lb	6.4 kg	3 hr 45 min	4 hr
16 lb	7.3 kg	4 hr	4 hr 15 min
18 lb	8.2 kg	4 hr 15 min	4 hr 25 min
20 lb	9.1 kg	4 hr 30 min	5 hr
22 lb	10.0 kg	4 hr 45 min	5 hr
24 lb	10.9 kg	5 hr	5 hr

Times from the USDA FSIS 325 °F roasting chart, rounded to 5 minutes. Always confirm 165 °F (74 °C) in the thigh with a thermometer.

How this estimate works

The calculator interpolates the USDA's 325 °F roasting chart by weight, then adjusts for your oven temperature. It answers the classic holiday questions directly: a 12 lb unstuffed turkey at 325 °F needs about 3 hours, and a 20 lb stuffed turkey about 5 hours — both before a 20–45 minute rest.

Kilogram entries are converted first (1 kg = 2.205 lb), so a 9 kg bird is treated as the ~19.8 lb bird it is. Put the other way, turkey cooking time per kg works out to roughly 29–33 minutes unstuffed (about 33 minutes stuffed). Start checking the thermometer about 30 minutes before the estimate and pull the bird as soon as the thigh hits 165 °F — carryover heat during the rest will hold or raise it.

Frequently asked questions

How long per pound is a turkey?

At 325 °F, plan roughly 13–15 minutes per pound unstuffed and about 15 minutes per pound stuffed. Per-pound rates are only a planning aid — larger birds cook slightly faster per pound than small ones, so use the calculator or chart for the whole 8–24 lb range.

How long do I cook a 12 lb turkey?

About 3 hours unstuffed or 3 hr 35 min stuffed at 325 °F. Start checking the thigh thermometer at about 2½ hours.

How long do I cook a 20 lb turkey?

About 4 hr 30 min unstuffed or 5 hours stuffed at 325 °F. Give it a 30–45 minute rest before carving so the juices redistribute.

Is it safe to cook a stuffed turkey?

Yes, when done carefully: the stuffing must also reach 165 °F (74 °C), checked at the center of the cavity. The USDA notes that cooking stuffing separately in a casserole is the most reliable route, and its stuffed-turkey chart covers birds from 8 to 24 lb.

What temperature is turkey done?

165 °F (74 °C) measured in the thickest part of the thigh, without touching bone. Let the turkey rest 20–45 minutes before carving; the temperature equalizes and the juices stay in the meat.

Do I cook a turkey at 325 or 350?

325 °F is the USDA standard and what this chart assumes. 350 °F shaves roughly 10% off the time; 300 °F adds about 15%. Whatever you choose, the 165 °F thigh test decides doneness — the oven setting only changes how fast you get there.

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