Determining the right size turkey for your holiday meal is crucial for ensuring everyone gets enough to eat without excessive leftovers (unless that's what you want!). Our Turkey Size Calculator considers several key factors:
Number of adults
Number of children
Whether you want leftovers
Turkey Size Formula
The general formula for calculating turkey size is:
\[ \text{Turkey Size} = (A \times 1.0 + C \times 0.5) \times L \]
Where:
A = Number of adults
C = Number of children
L = Leftovers factor (1.5 if leftovers desired, 1 if not)
Calculation Steps
Multiply the number of adults by 1 pound each
Multiply the number of children by 0.5 pounds each
Add these two numbers together
If leftovers are desired, multiply the result by 1.5
Convert the final result to kilograms if needed (1 lb = 0.453592 kg)
Example Calculation
Let's calculate the turkey size for a gathering with 8 adults and 4 children, with leftovers desired:
Adult portion: 8 × 1.0 = 8 lbs
Children portion: 4 × 0.5 = 2 lbs
Base turkey size: 8 + 2 = 10 lbs
Adjust for leftovers: 10 × 1.5 = 15 lbs
Convert to kilograms: 15 × 0.453592 = 6.80 kg
Turkey Size Diagram
The diagram visually represents how turkey size increases with the number of people, both with and without accounting for leftovers. The steeper blue line shows the increased turkey size when planning for leftovers.