Meeting Cost Calculator
Calculate what a meeting actually cost in wages — based on number of attendees, average hourly pay and meeting length.
Then it would have cost — — a saving of —.
How to use the meeting cost calculator
- Enter how many people are attending the meeting.
- Enter the average hourly pay for the attendees (before benefits/payroll taxes — see the note below).
- Enter how long the meeting lasts.
How the meeting cost is calculated
The number is meant as a thought-provoking estimate, not a precise accounting figure — it highlights that meetings have a real cost in working time, which quickly adds up when many people sit in the same room. Use the calculator to consider whether a meeting could have been shorter, had fewer attendees, or been an email instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the average hourly pay for the attendees?
Divide each attendee's annual salary by a typical full-time work-year (often estimated around 2,000 hours), or make a rough average across the group based on approximate salaries.
Should I include payroll taxes and other employer costs?
This calculator only shows the direct wage cost. For a more realistic picture of the employer's total cost, add a markup for payroll taxes, benefits and other employer-side costs, which vary a lot by country and company.
Can I use this to decide if a meeting is worth it?
It can be a useful starting point — compare the cost with what the meeting actually achieves. A meeting that could have been a short email or chat message costs the same regardless of how unnecessary the content was.