Thanksgiving Food Calculator

Calculate exact quantities for a Thanksgiving dinner. Get turkey weight, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sides, and beverages for any group size including kids and vegetarian options.

Turkey Weight Needed
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Stuffing (cups) —
Mashed Potatoes (lbs raw) —
Gravy (cups) —
Extended More scenarios, charts & detailed breakdown ▾
Turkey (bone-in lbs)
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Stuffing (cups) —
Mashed Potatoes (lbs raw) —
Green Bean Casserole (cups) —
Cranberry Sauce (cups) —
Dinner Rolls —
Professional Full parameters & maximum detail ▾
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Turkey

Turkey (lbs) —
Turkey Cost —

Beverages

Wine Bottles —
Beers —

Party Food

Appetizer Pieces —
Estimated Total Grocery Cost —

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter adult and kid guest counts.
  2. Select turkey type: bone-in, boneless, or vegetarian.
  3. Use the Buffet Style tab for parties with more variety and the Professional tab for a full grocery cost estimate.

Formula

Turkey: adults × 1.5 lbs bone-in × 1.2 buffer. Stuffing: portions × 0.75 cup. Mashed potatoes: portions × 0.375 lb raw. Kids count as 0.5 adult portions.

Example

10 adults, 2 kids: 10 + 1 = 11 portions. Turkey: 11 × 1.5 × 1.2 = 19.8 lbs. Stuffing: 11 × 0.75 = 8.25 cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Plan 1.5 lbs of bone-in turkey per adult guest (the bones account for roughly 40% of weight). For boneless turkey breast, plan 0.75 lbs per person. Add 20% for generous leftovers.
  • Plan about 3/4 cup of prepared stuffing per person. For a box of Stove Top (6oz), each box yields about 6 servings. A homemade stuffing recipe for 12 people needs roughly one 1-pound loaf of bread.
  • Plan on 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes per person as a side dish at a full Thanksgiving spread. If potatoes are a star dish, budget 3/4 cup per person — about 1/3 lb of raw potatoes per serving.
  • Buy a frozen turkey 1-2 weeks in advance (a 15 lb turkey needs 3-4 days to thaw in the refrigerator). Non-perishable items like canned goods, wine, and baking supplies can be bought 1-2 weeks ahead. Fresh produce should be bought 2-3 days before.

Related Calculators

🍷 Drinks Per Person Calculator 🎂 Cake Serving Calculator ⏱️ Turkey Cooking Time Calculator
Sources & References (5) ▾
  1. Butterball Turkey Talk-Line Guide — Butterball
  2. Wirecutter Thanksgiving Dinner Guide — Wirecutter / NYT
  3. USDA Food Safety — Thanksgiving — USDA FSIS
  4. Bon Appétit Holiday Cookbook Quantities — Bon Appétit
  5. NYT Cooking Thanksgiving Planning Guide — NYT Cooking