Productivity
Meeting Cost Calculator
Calculate the real dollar cost of a meeting based on attendee salaries.
Most people underestimate how expensive meetings are when you account for everyone's time. This calculator shows the true hourly and total cost of any meeting so you can decide if it's worth it — or if an email would do.
Total Meeting Cost
$245
- per Person
- $40.87 per person
- hourly Burn
- $245/hour
- annual If Weekly
- $12750/year if weekly
Formula and method
Cost = (Annual Salary / 2080) × Attendees × Duration (hours)
Hourly rate = annual salary ÷ 2080 working hours. Total meeting cost = hourly rate per person × number of people × meeting duration in hours. Does not include overhead/benefits multiplier (true cost is typically 1.25-1.4× salary).
Worked examples
Weekly status meeting (8 people, 1 hour)
- Number of Attendees:
- 8
- Average Annual Salary ($):
- 80000
- Meeting Duration (minutes):
- 60
Total Meeting Cost: $308
Executive strategy session (5 people, 2 hours)
- Number of Attendees:
- 5
- Average Annual Salary ($):
- 180000
- Meeting Duration (minutes):
- 120
Total Meeting Cost: $865
Assumptions and limits
- 2080 working hours per year (40hr/wk × 52)
- Salary only (no overhead multiplier)
This tool provides an educational estimate. Rules, rates and personal circumstances can change the answer. Review the assumptions before relying on a result. Report a correction.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not including preparation and follow-up time — a 1-hour meeting typically requires 30-60 min of prep per person.
- Ignoring opportunity cost — what else could these people be doing in this time?
- Not including managers' higher salaries — if your meeting has a $200K/year executive, they cost $100/hour, skewing averages.
Frequently asked questions
How much do unnecessary meetings cost companies?
Studies estimate $37 billion per year in the US alone is wasted on unnecessary meetings. The average employee spends 31 hours/month in meetings. A 10-person company with daily 1-hour standups spends $120,000+/year just on that one recurring meeting.
When is a meeting worth the cost?
Use the meeting cost calculator before scheduling. A $500 meeting is worth it for: strategic alignment decisions, relationship-building, complex problem-solving that needs real-time dialogue. It's NOT worth it for status updates (use async tools), simple approvals (email), or one-way information delivery (video recording).
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