How Long to Cook a Turkey Per Pound (Chart for 2026)
You can work out turkey roasting time from the weight. At 325°F, an unstuffed turkey takes about 13 to 15 minutes per pound, and a stuffed one takes about 15 to 17. Below are the USDA-style time ranges by weight, the temperature that matters, and a worked plan for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov 26, 2026.
Turkey cooking time chart (325°F oven)
| Turkey weight | Unstuffed | Stuffed |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12 lb | 2¾–3 hours | 3–3½ hours |
| 12–14 lb | 3–3¾ hours | 3½–4 hours |
| 14–18 lb | 3¾–4¼ hours | 4–4¼ hours |
| 18–20 lb | 4¼–4½ hours | 4¼–4¾ hours |
| 20–24 lb | 4½–5 hours | 4¾–5¼ hours |
These are starting points. Ovens, roasting pans and how cold the bird is all change the time, so start checking with a thermometer about 30 to 45 minutes before the low end.
When is it done? Use a thermometer
The turkey is safe when it reads 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh, the wing joint and the thickest part of the breast. If it's stuffed, the center of the stuffing must reach 165°F too. Pop-up timers and clear juices aren't reliable.
Rest before carving
Let the turkey rest for 20 to 30 minutes under loose foil. The juices settle, and carving is easier. That half hour is also when you can bake rolls or finish sides in the oven.
Worked example: 16 lb unstuffed turkey, dinner at 4:00 PM
- Thawing: in the fridge from Sunday, Nov 22 (see the turkey thaw calculator).
- Roasting time: about 4 hours (middle of the 3¾–4¼ range).
- Rest and carve: 30 minutes, so out of the oven at about 3:30 PM.
- Turkey in: about 11:30 AM. Preheat at 11:00 AM.
- Start checking the temperature at about 2:45 PM.
Other quick answers
Should I cook it at 350°F instead? You can, and it's a little faster (roughly 11 to 13 minutes per pound unstuffed), but the skin browns sooner, so tent it with foil.
Turkey breast only? A 4–6 lb bone-in breast takes about 1½–2¼ hours at 325°F.
Cooking from frozen? It's safe, but plan on about 50% more time and don't stuff it.
Convection oven? Expect it to finish 25 to 30% sooner, so start checking early.
How big a turkey do I need? About 1 to 1.5 lb per person. See how much turkey per person.
Plan the rest of the oven
The turkey has the oven for 4 hours or more, so plan sides around it. The Thanksgiving cooking timeline guide and the free Thanksgiving cooking timeline printable map out the whole day, and how many pies for Thanksgiving covers dessert.
Let a spreadsheet do the math: the Holiday Dinner Cooking Timeline Calculator ($5, Excel + Google Sheets) takes the turkey weight and dinner time and gives you the thaw date, oven-in time and a schedule for every dish.
Labeling the buffet? The Thanksgiving Food Labels printable ($3) has fold-over dish cards with diet and allergy tick boxes.
Related template: read about the thanksgiving planner 2026 template
See all Cedar & Ledger templates
Frequently asked questions
What does this guide cover?
How long to cook a turkey: about 13-15 minutes per pound at 325°F, a chart for 8 to 24 lb stuffed or not, the 165°F check and a 16 lb Nov 26 plan.
What's the main idea?
These are starting points. Ovens, roasting pans and how cold the bird is all change the time, so start checking with a thermometer about 30 to 45 minutes before the low end.
Do I need a template to do this?
No. A notebook or a sheet you build yourself works fine. Cedar & Ledger also sells spreadsheet templates (I'd earn from a purchase); see the template box at the top of this page.
Is this financial advice?
No. It's general information with example numbers only, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Use your own numbers and check anything important with a qualified professional or the official source.