How Much Food for 20 People at Thanksgiving?

For 20 people you need about a 25 lb turkey, 10 lb of potatoes, 15 cups of stuffing, 30 rolls and 4 pies. The table has the gravy, vegetables and the rest.

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Turkey

25 pounds

About 1¼ lb per person at a standard appetite. Add a pound or two for leftovers

What to buy

Dinner rolls30 rolls

Servings: 20.0 people

Sides

Potatoes (mashed or roasted)About ½ lb raw per person. A pound makes about 1½ cups mashed: 10 lb, raw
StuffingAbout ¾ cup per person, cooked: 15 cups
Green beans or another vegetableAbout ¼ lb per person: 5.00 lb
Cranberry sauceAbout ¼ cup per person: 5.00 cups
GravyAbout ⅓ to ½ cup per person: 8.0 cups
Dinner rollsAbout 1½ per person: 30 rolls
ButterFor the rolls, potatoes and cooking: 1.00 lb

Dessert

Pies (8 slices each)A slice and a bit each, and at least one of each of your 3 kinds: 4 pies
Whipped creamAbout 2 tablespoons per slice: 2.0 pints

Rules of thumb for a typical dinner with several sides. Children count as half and teenagers as full portions. Plan the fridge and oven space as well as the quantities: a turkey takes the oven for hours, so choose sides that can be made ahead or cooked at the same temperature.

Before you buy: round up to whole packs, check the size printed on the label, and add a little spare. Your supplier has the final say.

Thanksgiving food for 20 people

These amounts are for 20 adults at a standard appetite with several sides. Teenagers count as full portions and young children as half. Change the appetite, children and pies in the calculator to match your table.

Dish	Amount for 20	Per person
Turkey	25 lb	About 1¼ lb of whole bird each
Potatoes, raw	10 lb	About ½ lb each
Stuffing	15 cups	About ¾ cup each, cooked
Green beans or another vegetable	5.00 lb	About ¼ lb each
Cranberry sauce	5.00 cups	About ¼ cup each
Gravy	8.0 cups	About ⅓ to ½ cup each
Dinner rolls	30	About 1½ each
Butter	1.00 lb	Rolls, potatoes and cooking
Pies (8 slices each)	4	A slice and a bit each, and one of each of 3 kinds
Whipped cream	2.0 pints	About 2 tablespoons a slice

Light, standard or hearty appetites

Appetite	Turkey	Potatoes (raw)	Rolls	Pies
Light: many sides and desserts	20 lb	8 lb	24	3
Standard	25 lb	10 lb	30	4
Hearty, with leftovers	33 lb	13 lb	39	5

If children are coming

Guests	Turkey	Potatoes (raw)	Rolls
20 adults	25 lb	10 lb	30
20 adults and 2 children	27 lb	11 lb	32
20 adults and 4 children	28 lb	11 lb	33

Order the turkey first and start thawing it early: a 25 lb bird needs about 7 days in the refrigerator. Use the Thanksgiving dinner calculator for your own guest list, or read how much food per person.

Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Thanksgiving Dinner Calculator: How Much Food Per Person: edit any number and the results update instantly.

Tools & materials for this project

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Roasting pan with rack Instant-read meat thermometer Food storage containers Potato masher Chafing dish

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people?

For 20 people at a standard appetite: a 25 lb turkey, 10 lb of raw potatoes, 15 cups of stuffing, 30 rolls, 8.0 cups of gravy and 4 pies. The table has the vegetable, cranberry, butter and whipped cream amounts too.

How big a turkey for 20 people at Thanksgiving?

About 25 lb at 1¼ lb a person for a standard dinner with lots of sides. For leftovers use 1.5 lb a person, which is 30 lb. See the turkey size for 20 people page for thawing and roasting.

How many pies for 20 people?

4 pies of 8 slices, which gives every guest a slice and a bit and at least one pie of each of three kinds. With a hearty appetite it is 5.

How much food if there are children?

Count children as half a guest. With 20 adults and 4 children the turkey goes from 25 lb to 28 lb.

Related sizes and guides

Related sizes

Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.

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