A thawing time in the refrigerator depends on the turkey’s size. A common guideline is about 24 hours for every 4–5 pounds of turkey, with larger birds needing several days in the fridge. For example:

• 8–12 pounds: about 2–3 days
• 12–16 pounds: about 3–4 days
• 16–20 pounds: about 4–5 days
• 20–24 pounds: about 5–6 days

Key safety tips:

• Keep the turkey in its original packaging and place it on a tray on the bottom shelf to catch any drips.
• Do not thaw on the countertop; refrigeration keeps the outer surfaces at safe temperatures during defrosting.
• After thawing, a fully thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1–2 days before cooking.

If you’re short on time, other thawing methods exist (cold water thawing or cooking from frozen in some cases), but they require different timing and handling. If you’d like, share the turkey’s weight and I can give a precise day-by-day plan.