A 16-pound turkey typically takes about 3½ to 4 hours to roast at 325°F (163°C), depending on whether it is stuffed and on your oven.

Quick Scoop

  • For a 16-pound unstuffed turkey at 325°F in a conventional oven, plan on about 3½ to 4 hours.
  • For a 16-pound stuffed turkey , plan on roughly 4¾ to 5¼ hours at 325°F.
  • Always go by temperature, not just time : the turkey is done when the thickest part of the thigh and breast reach 165°F.

Simple timing guide

  • Unstuffed, 16 lb at 325°F: ~3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours.
  • Stuffed, 16 lb at 325°F: use the 14–16 lb stuffed range, about 4 hours 40 minutes to 5 hours 20 minutes.
  • Some high-heat methods start around 400°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 325°F; for a 16 lb turkey that gives an estimate around 3½ hours total , but temperature still rules.

Key tips so it’s not dry

  • Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh (not touching bone); pull the turkey at 165°F.
  • Let it rest at least 15–30 minutes before carving so the juices redistribute.
  • If the skin browns too fast, tent loosely with foil while it finishes cooking.

HTML time table for a 16 lb turkey

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Turkey type (16 lb) Oven temp Approx. time Notes
Unstuffed 325°F (163°C) 3.5 – 4 hours Check internal temp at 3 hours in
Stuffed 325°F (163°C) 4.75 – 5.25 hours (using 14–16 lb range) Both stuffing and meat must hit 165°F
Unstuffed (high- heat start) 400°F then 325°F ~3 hours 30 minutes (estimate) Start at 400°F for 20 min, then reduce to 325°F

Think of the timetable as a rough roadmap ; the thermometer is the actual GPS that tells you when you’ve arrived.

TL;DR: For “how long do you cook a 16 pound turkey,” plan 3½–4 hours unstuffed or up to a bit over 5 hours stuffed at 325°F, and confirm doneness at 165°F in the thickest parts.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.