Meeting Cost Calculator
How much is this meeting really costing?
Meeting Setup
The True Cost of Meetings
Meetings are one of the most expensive activities in any organization, yet their cost is rarely measured. When you gather a room full of professionals, the meter is running — every minute costs real money in salaries alone.
How We Calculate Meeting Cost
The formula is simple: take each attendee's annual salary, divide by 2,080 (standard working hours per year) to get their hourly rate, then multiply by the meeting duration. Add up everyone's cost for the total. A one-hour meeting with 8 people averaging $100,000 salaries costs about $385 in direct salary expenses.
The Hidden Costs
Salary is just the beginning. Benefits and overhead typically add 25-40% on top. Then there's the productivity cost: research shows it takes an average of 23 minutes to refocus after a meeting interruption. For a team of 8, that's over 3 hours of lost deep work — on top of the meeting itself.
Making Meetings Worth It
Not all meetings are wasteful. The key is awareness. Before scheduling, ask: Could this be an email? Does everyone need to be there? Is the agenda clear? By understanding the dollar cost, teams can make more intentional decisions about when to meet and who to include.
Studies suggest that the average employee spends 31 hours per month in meetings, and 71% of senior managers say meetings are unproductive. This calculator helps you put a number on that cost and make better decisions about your team's time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate the cost of a meeting?
Divide each attendee's annual salary by 2,080 (standard working hours per year) to get their hourly cost. Sum all attendees' hourly costs, then multiply by the meeting duration in hours. For example, 5 people averaging $100K salary in a 1-hour meeting costs about $240.
What is the average cost of a meeting?
According to research, the average meeting with 8 attendees costs between $300-$600 per hour in salary costs alone. When accounting for lost productivity and context-switching, the true cost can be 2-3x higher.
How much do unnecessary meetings cost companies?
Studies estimate that unnecessary meetings cost U.S. companies approximately $37 billion per year. The average employee spends about 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings.
Does the calculator include benefits and overhead costs?
This calculator uses base salary only. Total compensation including benefits, office space, and overhead typically adds 25-40% on top of salary. The actual cost of a meeting is likely higher than what this tool shows.
How can I reduce the cost of meetings at my company?
Start by auditing which meetings are necessary. Cancel recurring meetings with no clear agenda. Reduce attendee lists to only essential participants. Set shorter default durations (25 or 50 minutes instead of 30 or 60). Use async communication for status updates and reserve meetings for real-time collaboration.
What is the formula for calculating meeting cost?
Meeting cost = sum of (each attendee's annual salary ÷ 2,080 hours) × meeting duration in hours. For example, if 5 people with an average salary of $100,000 meet for 1 hour: 5 × ($100,000 ÷ 2,080) × 1 = $240.38.