How long is the turkey cooking time?
Type your turkey’s weight, and say whether it is stuffed and whether it starts frozen. The turkey cooking time calculator reads the USDA roasting timetable for 325 °F and gives the time range, the row it used, and how many people the bird serves.
- Roasting time at 325 °F
- 3 hr to 3 hr 45 min
Roast it 3 hr to 3 hr 45 min at 325 °F, until 165 °F inside.
- Shortest time (hours)
- 3
- Longest time (hours)
- 3.75
- Timetable row
- 12 to 14 pounds, unstuffed
- Serves about
- 14
Roasting time at 325 °F: 3 hr to 3 hr 45 min. Roast it 3 hr to 3 hr 45 min at 325 °F, until 165 °F inside.
How to calculate
Gives how long to roast a turkey at 325 °F from its weight, unstuffed or stuffed, thawed or frozen, from the USDA timetable, with the safe temperature and servings.
Example with the default inputs (Turkey weight 14 lb, Stuffing Unstuffed, Starting from Thawed or fresh): Roast it 3 hr to 3 hr 45 min at 325 °F, until 165 °F inside.
Method: Find the FSIS timetable row for the weight in pounds (a weight on a row’s edge goes in the lower row), unstuffed or stuffed, and read its time range. From frozen, multiply both ends by 1.5.
- Oven at 325 °F. The times are approximate: the turkey is done when a food thermometer reads 165 °F in the innermost thigh, the wing, and the thickest part of the breast, and the stuffing reaches 165 °F.
- The 4 to 8 pound rows are for a turkey breast, as in the FSIS table. FSIS gives no time for a stuffed 4 to 6 pound breast.
- From frozen, FSIS says at least 50 percent longer, so the range is a minimum.
- Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before carving.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Turkey weight 14 lb, Stuffing Unstuffed, Starting from Thawed or fresh gives Shortest time (hours) 3, Longest time (hours) 3.75, Roasting time at 325 °F 3 hr to 3 hr 45 min, Timetable row 12 to 14 pounds, unstuffed, Serves about 14.Source: USDA FSIS, Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (timetables for turkey roasting at 325 °F; frozen takes at least 50 percent longer; 165 °F; stand 20 minutes; 1 pound per person). Read in a browser. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Turkey weight 20 lb, Stuffing Stuffed, Starting from Thawed or fresh gives Shortest time (hours) 4.25, Longest time (hours) 4.75, Roasting time at 325 °F 4 hr 15 min to 4 hr 45 min.Source: USDA FSIS, Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (timetables for turkey roasting at 325 °F; frozen takes at least 50 percent longer; 165 °F; stand 20 minutes; 1 pound per person). Read in a browser. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Turkey weight 10 lb, Stuffing Unstuffed, Starting from Frozen gives Shortest time (hours) 4.125, Longest time (hours) 4.5, Roasting time at 325 °F at least 4 hr 8 min to 4 hr 30 min.Source: USDA FSIS, Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (timetables for turkey roasting at 325 °F; frozen takes at least 50 percent longer; 165 °F; stand 20 minutes; 1 pound per person). Read in a browser. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Turkey weight 13.23 lb, Stuffing Unstuffed, Starting from Thawed or fresh gives Shortest time (hours) 3, Longest time (hours) 3.75, Serves about 13.Source: USDA FSIS, Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey (timetables for turkey roasting at 325 °F; frozen takes at least 50 percent longer; 165 °F; stand 20 minutes; 1 pound per person). Read in a browser. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting (retrieved 2026-10-18)
How it works
The weight W is read in pounds (1 lb = 0.45359237 kg exactly). The page looks up the USDA FSIS timetable row for 325 °F:
| Weight (pounds) | Unstuffed | Stuffed |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 6 (breast) | 1½ to 3¼ hours | not usually applicable |
| over 6 to 8 (breast) | 1½ to 3¼ hours | 2½ to 3½ hours |
| over 8 to 12 | 2¾ to 3 hours | 3 to 3½ hours |
| over 12 to 14 | 3 to 3¾ hours | 3½ to 4 hours |
| over 14 to 18 | 3¾ to 4¼ hours | 4 to 4¼ hours |
| over 18 to 20 | 4¼ to 4½ hours | 4¼ to 4¾ hours |
| over 20 to 24 | 4½ to 5 hours | 4¾ to 5¼ hours |
FSIS lists unstuffed 4 to 8 pounds as one row; the table above splits it only to show the stuffed rows.
- Row rule. FSIS rows share their edges ("8 to 12", "12 to 14"). A weight exactly on an edge goes in the lower row: 12 lb uses 8 to 12. The first row includes 4 lb.
- From frozen, both ends × 1.5, and the time reads "at least …".
- Serves about = W in pounds, rounded down to a whole number (1 pound per person).
- Refusals. Below 4 lb or above 24 lb, the page gives no answer (the timetable stops there). A stuffed turkey of 4 to 6 lb gives no answer (FSIS: not usually applicable).
Display. The time line shows hours and minutes, with minutes rounded half up to whole minutes (4.125 hours shows 4 hr 8 min). The hour rows show 2 decimal places.
Assumptions
- The oven is set to 325 °F and the turkey is on a rack in a shallow pan. Times are approximate; the turkey is safe at 165 °F in the thigh, wing and breast, and stuffing at 165 °F in its center.
- Let it stand 20 minutes before carving.
Worked examples by hand
14 lb, unstuffed, thawed (the default). 14 is over 12 and at most 14: the 12 to 14 pound row, 3 to 3¾ hours (3 hr to 3 hr 45 min). Serves 14.
20 lb, stuffed, thawed. 20 is in the over 18 to 20 row: 4¼ to 4¾ hours (4 hr 15 min to 4 hr 45 min).
10 lb, unstuffed, from frozen. Thawed row 8 to 12: 2¾ to 3 hours. × 1.5 = 4.125 to 4.5 hours, shown as at least 4 hr 8 min to 4 hr 30 min.
6 kg, unstuffed, thawed. 6 ÷ 0.45359237 = 13.228 lb: the 12 to 14 pound row, 3 to 3¾ hours. Serves 13.
Other questions people ask
How long do I cook a 14 pound turkey?
Unstuffed at 325 °F, 3 to 3¾ hours (the USDA 12 to 14 pound row). Stuffed, 3½ to 4 hours. Check that the thigh, wing and breast reach 165 °F.
How long to cook a turkey per kg?
The USDA gives times by weight row, not per kilogram. Turn kilograms into pounds (1 kg = 2.2046 lb) and read the row: a 6 kg turkey is 13.2 lb, so 3 to 3¾ hours unstuffed.
How much longer does a stuffed turkey take?
About 15 to 30 minutes more in most rows of the USDA table. A 20 pound turkey takes 4¼ to 4½ hours unstuffed and 4¼ to 4¾ hours stuffed. The stuffing must also reach 165 °F.
Can I roast a turkey from frozen?
Yes. USDA says it is safe, and it takes at least 50 percent longer than a thawed turkey. Take out the giblet packages with tongs during cooking.
What temperature is a turkey done at?
165 °F, measured with a food thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. A pop-up indicator alone is not enough.
How big a turkey do I need?
USDA says to allow 1 pound of turkey per person, or 1¼ pounds for a frozen pre-stuffed turkey. For 12 people, buy a turkey of about 12 pounds.