Get a turkey cooking time range, rest time and oven start time from weight, stuffing and oven temperature.
Times are guides based on USDA-style tables at 325 F. Always verify with a meat thermometer: 165 F in the thickest part of the breast and thigh.
Cooking time (hours, low end)
How to use this tool
Weigh the turkey or read the label, in pounds or kilograms. The weight band sets the cooking time range.
Stuffed turkeys take longer because the stuffing must also reach a safe temperature. Cooking stuffing separately is faster and safer.
325 F is the standard roasting temperature. 350 F shortens the time by about 10% in this guide, but always check with a thermometer.
Enter when you want to serve. The tool subtracts the high-end cooking time plus a 20-minute rest to give the oven start time.
Formula & worked example
A 14 lb unstuffed turkey at 325 F takes 3 to 3.75 hours, plus 20 minutes resting, so for an 18:00 serving put it in at 13:55 at the latest.
Limitations — read this before you rely on it
Times are guides, not a safety guarantee. Oven accuracy, turkey shape, stuffing and starting temperature all shift real time. The only reliable check is a food thermometer reading 165 F in the breast, thigh and stuffing centre. Never partially cook a turkey and finish it later.
Frequently asked questions
165 F (74 C) in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost thigh and the centre of any stuffing. Check in several spots and let the turkey rest before carving.
Yes. Stuffing insulates the cavity, so a stuffed bird needs roughly 30 to 45 minutes more than the same weight unstuffed, and the stuffing itself must reach 165 F.
You can roast at 350 F, which this tool shortens by about 10%, but very high temperatures risk a burnt skin with an undercooked centre. A thermometer matters more than the dial.
At least 20 minutes, tented loosely with foil. Resting lets juices redistribute and the temperature even out, and it makes carving much easier.
No. Time tables are estimates for planning. Always confirm 165 F with a thermometer; if it has not reached it, keep cooking and recheck.