Countdown for 18 guests, dinner at 3 pm
A frozen turkey at 1.25 lb a person (the dinner calculator's standard appetite) and Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Times in bold are on the day; amounts come from the Thanksgiving dinner calculator.
| When | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, November 19 | Frozen turkey into the refrigerator | 6 days for 23 lb at about 24 hours per 4 to 5 lb, plus a spare day. |
| Wednesday, November 25 | Pies, cranberry sauce, chopping | 3 pies, 4.5 cups of cranberry sauce, the onions and celery for 14 cups of stuffing. |
| 9:10 am | Oven on to 325°F | Giblets out; pat the bird dry. |
| 9:30 am | Turkey in, unstuffed | Allows the full 4 h 30 min to 5 h. |
| 2:00 pm | First temperature check | 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast. |
| 2:15 pm | Potatoes on to boil | 9 lb for mashing. |
| 2:30 pm | Turkey out to rest | 30 minutes under foil; stuffing and casseroles into the oven. |
| 2:40 pm | Gravy and rolls | 7.5 cups of gravy, 27 rolls. |
| 3:00 pm | Carve and serve |
The 23 lb turkey at other dinner times
Each time uses the long end of the USDA range at 325°F and a 30 minute rest, so a fast bird just rests longer.
| Dinner at | Oven on | Turkey in | First check | Out to rest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 pm | 7:10 am | 7:30 am | 12:00 pm | 12:30 pm |
| 2:00 pm | 8:10 am | 8:30 am | 1:00 pm | 1:30 pm |
| 3:00 pm | 9:10 am | 9:30 am | 2:00 pm | 2:30 pm |
| 4:00 pm | 10:10 am | 10:30 am | 3:00 pm | 3:30 pm |
| 5:00 pm | 11:10 am | 11:30 am | 4:00 pm | 4:30 pm |
Eighteen guests: the biggest bird the chart covers
Eighteen guests at 1.25 lb each need a 23 lb turkey, near the top of the USDA chart at 4 h 30 min to 5 h. It needs 6 days in the refrigerator, so it goes in by Thursday, November 19, a week before the dinner. Clear a shelf for it the weekend before.
For a 3 pm dinner it goes into the oven at 9:30 am, with the oven on at 9:10 am. Roasted stuffed it would take 5 h to 5 h 30 min and go in at 9:00 am, which is one reason to bake the 14 cups of stuffing in a dish. With 27 rolls and 3 pies to serve, borrow a second oven or a roaster for the sides if you can.
How much turkey a person? The USDA's consumer guide allows about 1 lb of whole turkey a person for a fresh or frozen bird and 1¼ lb for a pre-stuffed one; this page uses 1.25 lb. See how big a turkey for 18 people and the one-oven Thanksgiving cooking schedule.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Turkey Size Calculator: How Big a Turkey for Thanksgiving?: edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Thanksgiving timeline for 18 people?
Move a frozen 23 lb turkey to the refrigerator by Thursday, November 19, make the pies and cranberry sauce on Wednesday, November 25, and for a 3 pm dinner put the turkey in at 9:30 am with the oven on at 9:10 am.
When should I start thawing a turkey for 18 people?
A 23 lb turkey needs 6 days, so move it to the refrigerator by Thursday, November 19, which allows a spare day.
What time does a turkey for 18 go in for a 3 pm dinner?
At 9:30 am: up to 5 h at 325°F for 23 lb unstuffed, then 30 minutes to rest. Start checking at 2:00 pm.
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.