Turkey Cooking Time Calculator

Getting the bird out of the oven on time is the hardest part of hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas, and this tool takes the guesswork out of it for 2026. Feed in your turkey's weight and you'll get back the cooking duration and temperature it needs, plus a full timeline that runs from the moment the pan goes in until the carved meat reaches the table.

Several factors drive the estimate: the weight of the bird, whether it's stuffed or unstuffed, and the 165°F (74°C) internal temperature that food safety requires. Plan on roughly 13 minutes per pound at 325°F (160°C) for an unstuffed turkey; a stuffed one needs about 15 minutes per pound at the same heat, since the dense cavity slows how fast warmth reaches the center. The schedule then adds a 30-minute rest so the juices can settle back into the meat, followed by a 15-minute window for carving.

Ovens rarely run true to their dials, so confirm doneness with a meat thermometer pushed into the thickest part of the thigh, clear of the bone. Packing the cavity tight drives the cook time up and invites uneven results, which is why many cooks bake their stuffing in a separate dish. That resting stretch after the bird leaves the oven matters just as much as the roasting itself, because cutting in early lets the juices run out and leaves the meat dry.