How long you should roast a turkey depends largely on how much it weighs, as well as whether you plan to stuff it. For an oven set to 325°F, FoodSafety.gov recommends the following roasting times based on the weight of a fully thawed turkey:

4 to 6 pounds (breast)
1 1/2 to 2 1/4 hours

6 to 8 pounds (breast)
Unstuffed: 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hours
Stuffed: 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours

8 to 12 pounds
Unstuffed: 2 3/4 to 3 hours
Stuffed: 3 to 3 1/2 hours

12 to 14 pounds
Unstuffed: 3 to 3 3/4 hours
Stuffed: 3 1/2 to 4 hours

14 to 18 pounds
Unstuffed: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
Stuffed: 4 to 4 1/4 hours

18 to 20 pounds
Unstuffed: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
Stuffed: 4 1/4 to 4 3/4 hours

20 to 24 pounds
Unstuffed: 4 1/2 to 5 hours
Stuffed: 4 3/4 to 5 1/4 hours

How to know when a turkey is done: While the time estimates above offer a general idea of how long a turkey will take to cook, the absolute safest way to know if your turkey is done is to use meat thermometer. If you are cooking a stuffed turkey, you must cook it until the internal temperature of the stuffing reaches a minimum of 165°F. If the stuffing in your turkey has reached a temperature of 165°F, the temperature of the innermost part of the turkey’s thigh is likely between 165°F to 185°F, at which point it is done. If you are cooking an unstuffed turkey, roast until a temperature reading of the innermost part of the thigh reaches 165°F.

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