For a 12‑pound turkey, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator about 3–4 days before you plan to cook it.

Fridge thawing timing

Food safety guidelines recommend allowing about 24 hours of fridge thawing time for every 4–5 pounds of turkey, which puts a 12‑pound bird at roughly 3 days. Many charts list 12–16 pounds as needing 3–4 days in the refrigerator, so starting 4 days ahead gives you a safety margin if your fridge runs cold.

After it’s thawed

Once fully thawed in the fridge, the turkey can safely sit there for another 1–2 days before cooking, as long as the refrigerator is at or below 40°F (4°C). That means for a 12‑pound turkey you can usually move it from the freezer to the fridge about 4–5 days before the meal and still have flexibility on the exact cooking day.