What Size Turkey Should I Buy for Employee Gifts? A Complete Turkey Size Guide

Trying to figure out what size turkey you need for Thanksgiving? You’re not alone. Between the turkey, side dishes, and everyone’s appetite, it can be difficult to know exactly what size turkeys to buy for your employee holiday turkey program.

The good news is that there’s a simple rule of thumb: plan for approximately 1 pound of turkey per person. If you want to send plenty of leftovers, plan for about 1½ pounds per person.

How Much Turkey Do I Need Per Person?

For most Thanksgiving dinners, 1 pound per person is a good place to start. This includes the weight of the bones, so you’ll have enough turkey for everyone without dramatically overestimating.

If your employees have families that loves leftovers, or you simply want to make sure there is plenty to go around, increase your estimate to 1½ pounds per person.

Here’s a quick guide:

These are estimates, so don’t worry if your turkey doesn’t match the number of guests perfectly. The amount of turkey people eat will vary depending on appetites, how many side dishes you’re serving, and whether you want leftovers.

What Size Turkey Should I Buy for Leftovers?

If turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, or leftover Thanksgiving dinners are part of your plan, go a little bigger.

A good rule is 1½ pounds of turkey per person when you want leftovers. For example, if you’re serving 10 people, a 15-pound turkey would be a good choice.

At Loewy Foods, we recommend approximately 1 pound per person for turkeys under 16 pounds, while larger birds have a slightly better meat-to-bone ratio. If leftovers are your goal, 1½ pounds per person is a safe estimate regardless of size.

What Size Turkey Do My Employees Need for 10, 15, or 20 People?

For 10 people: A 10–14 pound turkey will generally work well. Choose a larger bird if you want leftovers.

For 15 people: Plan for approximately 15 pounds of turkey, or closer to 20 pounds if you want plenty of leftovers.

For 20 people: A 20-pound turkey is a good starting point. If your group has hearty appetites or you want lots of leftovers, consider a larger bird.

Remember, these are guidelines rather than exact measurements. If your employees are serving children or offering a large number of side dishes, you may not need quite as much turkey.

What Size Turkey Should I Order for a Company or Large Group?

As you're ordering turkeys for employees, customers, or a large group, you can either choose one uniform size or offer a selection.

Uniform sizing makes distribution simple, especially for larger or multi-location programs. Offering a choice of sizes gives employees more flexibility based on their household size.

Loewy Foods offers both options, along with a couple of packaging choices:

Individually Gift Boxed: Each turkey comes in its own gift box with cooking instructions and nutritional information—ideal for employee gifting and easy distribution (depending on your delivery location).

Multi-Pack Bulk: Turkeys are packed together without individual gift boxes, making this a practical option for larger programs where pricing is more important.

Whether you choose one size for everyone or offer a selection, Loewy Foods can help you determine the right turkey sizes and packaging for your program.

If you're planning a corporate turkey giveaway, the right size mix will depend on your budget, number of recipients, and how you want employees to receive their gifts. Loewy Foods can help you determine the right quantities and sizes for your program.

[Learn more about organizing a corporate turkey giveaway →]

A Few More Things to Consider

More side dishes: If your Thanksgiving table is packed with stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls, and other favorites, you may not need as much turkey per person.

Big appetites: If you're serving a group of hearty eaters, it's better to size up.

Leftovers: When in doubt, choose the larger turkey. Thanksgiving leftovers are one of the best parts of the holiday.

Cooking time: A larger turkey will take longer to cook, so be sure to allow enough time. Loewy Foods provides cooking information with our turkeys, and our FAQ includes recommended roasting times by turkey size. This will guide your employees on how to cook their gifts!

The Bottom Line

For most Thanksgiving dinners, 1 pound of turkey per person is a good starting point. If you want leftovers, plan for 1½ pounds per person.

And if you're ordering bulk turkeys for a large group, company, or community giveaway, you don't have to figure it all out on your own.

For more than 130 years, Loewy Foods has helped companies and organizations provide turkeys for employees, customers, nonprofits, and communities. From choosing the right turkey sizes to coordinating delivery, our team can help make your holiday program simple.

Planning a corporate turkey program? Contact Loewy Foods to request a quote at 847.714.0202 or click this link.