What’s a Good Value for a Turkey?

Replace November 2023: We’ll proceed to trace costs in your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey in 2023!
Right here’s our prediction for a great value for a turkey in 2023.
As in years previous, I’ll be monitoring the present finest costs for turkey at your native grocery shops. This can be a subject I’ve spent a good quantity of effort and time compiling and my objective is that will help you save huge on what could be the most important dinner you’ll put together this 12 months!
I needed to begin by updating you on some normal data on discovering one of the best deal on a turkey for 2023, in addition to present some previous costs. There are a couple of components to contemplate when on the lookout for the proper turkey deal for you:
Most shops require a grocery buy for one of the best turkey value.
When the place to purchase your turkey, take into account first the place you do the majority of your buying. Most shops are providing a strong low cost on a turkey, however solely for those who spend cash on extra groceries within the retailer.
For example, final 12 months each Fred Meyer and QFC provided a implausible value – $0.49 per pound, but it surely required a minimal $50 grocery buy. We often additionally see shops supply a FREE turkey, however usually solely with a grocery buy of $100-$150. This 12 months their costs are a up a bit. Nonetheless, different shops costs have come down.
If you’re already planning to spend roughly that quantity in your groceries, that is clearly a implausible deal. Nonetheless, I usually keep away from making random purchases to satisfy a excessive threshold as that can in the end negate your turkey financial savings.
Clearly, the much less you need to pay to get the deal, the higher. Some shops even embody the turkey as a part of the grocery buy, and a few shops use the value earlier than any coupons are deducted because the minimal. Be sure you perceive the nice print of the supply because it’s more likely to differ from retailer to retailer.
For 2021, The American Farm Bureau Federation listed the typical 16-pound Thanksgiving turkey value round $23.99. Which is about $1.50 a pound
For 2022, the American Farm Bureau Federation expects file breaking excessive costs because of inflation and a chook flu.
For 2023, the American Farm Bureau Federation expects costs to be decrease, round $1.27, which is 22% decrease than final 12 months.
Therefore, discover the good offers this 12 months is your finest finest. Don’t hesitate while you see a great deal.
Evaluating turkey costs could also be like evaluating apples to oranges.
As you may see in my instance above, it could be tough to match apples to apples relating to buying round for one of the best turkey value! Components together with how a lot you need to spend on the shops and which retailer(s) you want to buy at could affect what’s one of the best turkey deal for you.
You’ll save extra on a frozen turkey.
Do not forget that it takes a number of days to defrost a frozen turkey, so that you’ll wish to ensure to select yours up 1-2 weeks out from Thanksgiving. Wait till the final minute, and also you’ll be caught both paying extra for a recent turkey or stressing over whether or not your frozen turkey will defrost in time. Plan (and store) forward for one of the best offers.
My 2023 Turkey Value Prediction
Listed below are one of the best costs I discovered for the previous a number of years for frozen turkeys. As you may see, costs have elevated after which decreased over time.
- $0.49/lb for 2022
- $0.49/lb for 2021
- $0.47/lb for 2020
- $0.49/lb for 2019
- $0.47/lb for 2018
- $0.47/lb for 2017
- $0.49/lb for 2016
- $0.69/lb for 2015
- $0.69/lb for 2014
- $0.59/lb for 2013
- $0.49/lb for 2012
- $0.29/lb for 2011
- $0.26/lb for 2010
Please notice that extra grocery purchases would have been wanted to acquire these costs (usually at the very least $30).
Even with inflation, it appears our favourite chook costs could also be down this 12 months. I’m hoping that our 2023 turkey costs keep constant from final couple years, round $0.47 per pound. However I’d personally bounce at something $0.57/lb or much less because it appears to be like like we’ve not seen greater than a $0.10 per pound improve since 2011-2012.
Lowest Costs we have now seen: Proper now H-E-B has $0.49 with $20 buy, Winn-Dixie and Publix at $0.49. Or H-E-B and Hy-Vee are providing Free with buy of a spiral ham, Kroger is providing a free turkey with $100 (like final 12 months). The offers are on the market, you simply must look.
Associated publish: Greatest Turkey Costs on the Grocery Retailer (Close to You)
Different components could elevate the associated fee.
This can be pretty apparent, however some issues are doubtless going to affect the associated fee, together with:
- Free-range, and/or natural turkeys. If these items matter to you, plan on paying more cash.
- Butterball and different premium model turkeys. One of the best deal I noticed final 12 months on Butterball turkeys was $0.89/lb (at Goal).
- Contemporary turkeys. One of the best offers you’ll discover are on frozen – not recent.
- Shopping for a turkey with no extra grocery value. If you’re simply stepping into for a turkey, plan on paying extra since you’ll doubtless be ineligible for any discounted value promotions.
- Native market. I’m running a blog out of the larger Seattle space. You might notice costs barely greater or decrease than my benchmarks since you stay in a special a part of the nation.
- *Financial system adjustments -We’re including this one on this 12 months. Inflation and recession can affect the price of all items, together with turkey.
It’s in no way essentially unhealthy for those who’ve received your coronary heart set on a Butterball turkey or for those who actually desire a turkey grown on a neighborhood farm – simply be ready to pay slightly further.
Now that you’ve got some context, are you able to see the present offers? I’m right here to assist!

As soon as once more, I’ll be updating my fashionable Greatest Turkey Costs publish for 2023 weekly. I will likely be updating this publish as soon as once more beginning early November. So verify it steadily.
Want some assist for prepping your turkey on Thanksgiving Day? I’ve received some assist, too!

Completely satisfied Thanksgiving!
