Enter your guest count and how many leftovers you want. You get the turkey size to buy, and a warning when one bird is too big to smoke safely.
Turkey size calculator
Turkey size chart by number of guests
Whole turkey, adults only. The bones and carcass make up a large share of a whole bird, which is why the rule is well over a pound per person.
Guests
No leftovers
Some leftovers
Plenty of leftovers
4 adults
5 lb
6 lb
8 lb
6 adults
7.5 lb
9 lb
12 lb
8 adults
10 lb
12 lb
16 lb
10 adults
12.5 lb
15 lb
20 lb
12 adults
15 lb
18 lb
24 lb
16 adults
20 lb
24 lb
32 lb
20 adults
25 lb
30 lb
40 lb
Rules used: 1.25 lb per adult for dinner only, 1.5 lb for some leftovers, 2 lb for plenty. Children count as half. A bone-in breast needs about 1 lb per adult.
Why smokers favor two smaller birds
Most backyard smokers comfortably fit a turkey of 12 to 16 lb. Past that, a whole bird takes a long time to warm through at smoking temperatures and the breast dries before the thighs finish. For more than about 12 guests, two 12 to 14 lb birds cook faster, fit better, and give you twice the drumsticks.
For a whole turkey, plan 1.25 lb per adult for dinner only, 1.5 lb if you want some leftovers and 2 lb for plenty. Count children as half. For a bone-in breast, about 1 lb per adult is enough.
What size turkey for 10 people?
About 15 lb for ten adults with some leftovers, or 12 to 13 lb for dinner only. If you are smoking it, a 15 lb bird is near the upper limit for most smokers.
What size turkey for 20 people?
Around 30 lb in total. On a smoker, cook two 14 to 15 lb birds rather than one very large one. They cook faster and more evenly.
What is the largest turkey I can smoke?
Most smokers handle birds up to about 16 lb whole. Larger birds are better spatchcocked, cooked at 275F or above, or replaced by two smaller turkeys.