Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
Wondering how long to roast your bird? Our free turkey cooking time calculator estimates the roasting time from your turkey's weight — stuffed or unstuffed — at your oven temperature, plus the rest time and the safe internal temperature so dinner lands on time.
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These times are guidance only, based on USDA per-pound recommendations. Always confirm doneness with a food thermometer — 165°F in the thickest part of the breast.
How to use this calculator
Enter the weight of your thawed turkey in pounds (the default is a typical 14-lb bird), then choose whether you will roast it stuffed or unstuffed. Set your oven temperature — 325°F is the classic roasting temperature — and, if you like, add the time you want to serve dinner. The calculator instantly shows a roasting-time range, a 30-minute rest, and the safe internal temperature of 165°F.
If you enter a serving time, you'll also get the latest time the turkey should go into the oven. That recommendation uses the longer end of the time range, so even a slow-cooking bird will be done with time to rest before dinner.
How it works
The math follows USDA-aligned per-pound rules at 325°F: about 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey and about 15 minutes per pound for a stuffed one. Cooking at a different temperature? The time is scaled by the ratio 325 ÷ your oven temperature — so a hotter oven cooks faster and a cooler oven slower.
Because real ovens and real birds vary, the result is shown as a range: 10% below to 10% above the base estimate, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. A stuffed turkey takes longer because the stuffing insulates the bird and slows heat penetration — and because the center of the stuffing itself must reach 165°F to be safe.
Remember: time is only a planning guide. The thermometer is the truth. A turkey is safe only when the thickest part of the breast reads 165°F — never trust the clock or the pop-up timer alone.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is turkey done at?
Turkey is done when a food thermometer reads 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, the inner thigh, and the wing. If the bird is stuffed, the center of the stuffing must also reach 165°F. Always verify with a thermometer — color and cooking time alone cannot guarantee safety.
Does a stuffed turkey take longer to cook?
Yes. A stuffed turkey needs roughly 15 minutes per pound at 325°F versus about 13 minutes per pound unstuffed. The stuffing insulates the bird, so heat penetrates more slowly, and the stuffing itself must reach a safe 165°F in the center, which adds time.
Should I rest the turkey after roasting?
Yes — rest the turkey for about 30 minutes after it comes out of the oven. Tent it loosely with foil while it rests so the juices redistribute, which keeps the meat moist instead of running out onto the carving board.
Can I cook a turkey at a different oven temperature?
Yes, within reason. This calculator supports oven temperatures from 300°F to 350°F and scales the cooking time accordingly (roast time × 325 ÷ temperature). Cooking below 300°F is not recommended because the bird spends too long in the bacterial danger zone.
What if my turkey is still frozen?
Thaw it in the refrigerator before roasting — allow about 24 hours for every 4–5 pounds of turkey, so a 14-pound bird needs roughly 3 days. This calculator's times assume a fully thawed bird. Never thaw a turkey on the kitchen counter.