Most experts say to plan for about 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. For 10 people, that’s exactly 15 pounds. This accounts for the heavy bones and the fact that not everyone wants the same cut.
Your Aunt Carol might love a big slice of white meat, while Uncle Dave goes straight for the drumstick. This rule makes sure everyone gets their favorite piece without a tug-of-war.
I once bought a 12-pound turkey for eight people, thinking it was “just enough.” Bad call. By the time dinner was served, the platter looked like a sad, picked-over bird. Everyone left the table still mentally scanning for more stuffing.
The “Dinner, Leftovers, and Drama” Equation
Here’s where it gets personal. If your group are light eaters—people who mostly fill up on rolls, mashed potatoes, and three kinds of pie—you can slide down to a 13-pounder. But if you know your friends are the kind who go back for seconds (or thirds) of turkey, push it to 16 or even 17 pounds.
Remember, a big turkey is a generous turkey. No one has ever looked at a Thanksgiving table and said, “Wow, there’s too much turkey, what a disaster.” That sentence has never been spoken in the history of grateful eating.
Calculating what size turkey to get for Thanksgiving Day dinner | WZTV
And let’s not forget the leftover factor. Thanksgiving leftovers are a sacred thing. A 14-pound bird gives you just enough for a classic sandwich the next day—turkey, cranberry, a little mayo. A 16-pounder gives you enough for turkey soup, turkey pot pie, and a late-night snack that makes you feel like a kitchen hero.
