# How long is the turkey cooking time?

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.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/food/turkey-cooking-time-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/food/turkey-cooking-time-calculator.json
- Version: a3bbd232d6dc

## Default answer

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.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| w | Turkey weight | The weight of the turkey or turkey breast, from 4 to 24 pounds. |
| stuffed | Stuffing | Whether the cavity is stuffed. A stuffed turkey takes longer. |
| from | Starting from | A fully thawed (or fresh) turkey, or one roasted from frozen. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| time | Roasting time at 325 °F | The timetable range for this weight. |
| minHours | Shortest time (hours) | The low end of the range, in hours. |
| maxHours | Longest time (hours) | The high end of the range, in hours. |
| band | Timetable row | The FSIS weight row used. |
| servings | Serves about | FSIS: allow 1 pound of turkey per person; whole people. |

## 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.

## Assumptions

- 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

1. w = 6.350293, stuffed = no, from = thawed gives minHours = 3, maxHours = 3.75, time = 3 hr to 3 hr 45 min, band = 12 to 14 pounds, unstuffed, servings = 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).
2. w = 9.071847, stuffed = yes, from = thawed gives minHours = 4.25, maxHours = 4.75, time = 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).
3. w = 4.535924, stuffed = no, from = frozen gives minHours = 4.125, maxHours = 4.5, time = 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).
4. w = 6, stuffed = no, from = thawed gives minHours = 3, maxHours = 3.75, servings = 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).

## FAQ

### 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.

## Sources

- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Let’s Talk Turkey: A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey. Timetables for turkey roasting (325 °F); cooking from frozen takes at least 50 percent longer; 165 °F; stand 20 minutes; allow 1 pound per person. Last updated November 17, 2023. Read in a browser; retrieved 2026-10-18. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting
- NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B.8: 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. Retrieved 2026-10-03 (cited from the copy already in this repo). https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811/nist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors/nist-guide-si-appendix-b8