What Time to Put the Turkey In: Thanksgiving Timeline by Weight
Count back from dinner: take off 30 minutes for the turkey to rest, then the longest roasting time for its weight at 325°F. For 12 guests, a 15 lb turkey roasts for 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min, so for dinner at 3 pm it goes in at 10:15 am and you start checking the temperature at 2:00 pm. The turkey size calculator gives the weight and thaw time for your guests.
Part of the project planner: Planning the holidays: dinner, tree and lights.
What time to put the turkey in, by weight
Find the weight on the left and your dinner time along the top. The times use the long end of the USDA range for an unstuffed turkey at 325°F and allow 30 minutes to rest, so a bird that cooks fast simply rests longer. Turn the oven on about 20 minutes earlier.
| Turkey | Roasting time | Dinner at 1:00 pm | Dinner at 2:00 pm | Dinner at 3:00 pm | Dinner at 4:00 pm | Dinner at 5:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 12 lb | 2 h 45 min to 3 h | 9:30 am | 10:30 am | 11:30 am | 12:30 pm | 1:30 pm |
| 12 to 14 lb | 3 h to 3 h 45 min | 8:45 am | 9:45 am | 10:45 am | 11:45 am | 12:45 pm |
| 14 to 18 lb | 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min | 8:15 am | 9:15 am | 10:15 am | 11:15 am | 12:15 pm |
| 18 to 20 lb | 4 h 15 min to 4 h 30 min | 8:00 am | 9:00 am | 10:00 am | 11:00 am | 12:00 pm |
| 20 to 24 lb | 4 h 30 min to 5 h | 7:30 am | 8:30 am | 9:30 am | 10:30 am | 11:30 am |
Each band is a range, not one time. A 14 lb turkey takes 3 h to 3 h 45 min, a spread of 45 minutes, so start checking with a thermometer at the short end. A 22 lb bird needs up to 5 h and goes in by 7:30 am for a 1 pm dinner. A stuffed turkey takes about 30 minutes longer.
By number of guests, dinner at 3 pm
At 1.25 lb of whole turkey a person, the standard amount with a full table of sides:
| Guests | Turkey | Refrigerator thaw | Oven on | Turkey in | Start checking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8 lb | 2 days | 11:10 am | 11:30 am | 2:15 pm |
| 8 | 10 lb | 3 days | 11:10 am | 11:30 am | 2:15 pm |
| 10 | 13 lb | 4 days | 10:25 am | 10:45 am | 1:45 pm |
| 12 | 15 lb | 4 days | 9:55 am | 10:15 am | 2:00 pm |
| 14 | 18 lb | 5 days | 9:55 am | 10:15 am | 2:00 pm |
| 16 | 20 lb | 5 days | 9:40 am | 10:00 am | 2:15 pm |
| 18 | 23 lb | 6 days | 9:10 am | 9:30 am | 2:00 pm |
Thanksgiving hour by hour, for 12
For 12 adults and dinner at 3 pm on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, 2026, with a frozen 15 lb turkey. Times in bold are on Thanksgiving Day. The amounts come from the Thanksgiving dinner calculator.
| When | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, November 21 | Frozen turkey into the refrigerator | 4 days at 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb, plus a spare day. Set it in a pan on the bottom shelf. |
| Wednesday, November 25 | Bake the pies, make the cranberry sauce, prep the sides | 3 pies and 3 cups of cranberry sauce for 12. Chop the onions and celery for 9 cups of stuffing, and check the turkey has thawed. |
| 9:55 am | Oven on to 325°F | About 20 minutes to heat. Take the giblets out of the turkey and pat it dry. |
| 10:15 am | Turkey into the oven, unstuffed | 3 h 45 min to 4 h 15 min for 15 lb. This start allows the longest time. |
| 2:00 pm | Start checking the temperature | 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast. If it is done early, it keeps under foil. |
| 2:15 pm | Potatoes on to boil | 6 lb of potatoes for mashing, on the stovetop. |
| 2:30 pm | Turkey out to rest; stuffing and casseroles in | Rest it 30 minutes under loose foil. The oven is free for the stuffing in a baking dish and the green beans. |
| 2:40 pm | Make the gravy, warm the rolls | 5 cups of gravy from the drippings; 18 rolls into the oven for the last few minutes. |
| 3:00 pm | Carve and serve |
The oven is the bottleneck. With the turkey in it most of the day, make the pies and anything else that bakes on Wednesday, keep the potatoes and the gravy on the stovetop, and let the stuffing and the casseroles take the oven while the turkey rests.
If the timing slips
- Turkey done early: cover it with foil and a couple of clean towels. It stays hot for an hour or so, and the oven is free for the sides.
- Turkey running late: do not turn the oven way up, which dries the outside before the middle is done. Serve the appetizers and give it the time.
- Still frozen on Wednesday night: thaw it in cold water at 30 minutes a pound, changing the water every 30 minutes, then cook it right away.
- Raw turkey should not sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, so take it out of the refrigerator only shortly before it goes in.
See also how long to cook a turkey, how long to thaw a turkey, how much food per person, the two-day Thanksgiving cooking schedule for one oven, and a countdown for 8, 10, 12 or 18 guests.
Frequently asked questions
What time should I put a turkey in for a 3 pm dinner?
For a 15 lb turkey, at 10:15 am: up to 4 h 15 min at 325°F, then 30 minutes to rest. Start checking at 2:00 pm.
What time should a 20 lb turkey go in?
For dinner at 4 pm, at 11:00 am. It roasts for 4 h 15 min to 4 h 30 min unstuffed at 325°F.
When should I move the turkey from the freezer to the refrigerator?
A 15 lb turkey needs 4 days, so by Saturday, November 21 for Thanksgiving 2026, which allows a spare day.
How long should a turkey rest before carving?
20 to 30 minutes, loosely covered with foil. These times use 30 minutes, which frees the oven for the sides.
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