Cooking · roasting

Whole chicken roasting time calculator

Roast a whole chicken by weight — with the safe target temperature and an honest time estimate for planning.

In short

A 4 lb whole chicken at 325°F takes roughly 1½ hours. It's done at 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh — check there, away from the bone.

Roast details

Roasting plan
Pull from oven at136°F
Final after rest145°F
Carryover rise+8–10°F
Time
Rest

About this estimate

This page locks the whole chicken roasting time into the roasting calculator. Time is a planning estimate — oven calibration, shape, bone, and starting temperature all change it. The reliable test is a probe thermometer in the thickest part, away from bone: pull at temperature, not at the clock.

Need a different cut or weight? Use the full roasting time calculator.

How long to roast a whole chicken?
About 20 minutes per pound at 325°F, so a 4 lb bird is roughly 1½ hours. Higher oven temperatures roast faster with crisper skin.
What temperature should whole chicken reach?
165°F in the thickest part of the thigh, the USDA safe minimum for poultry.
How do I get crispy skin?
Dry the skin well, roast at a higher temperature (425°F), and don't cover it. This calculator uses 325°F as the safe baseline; adjust time if you go hotter.

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