Meeting Cost Calculator

Quantify the financial impact of recurring meetings to prioritize agendas, guest lists, and async alternatives.

Use fully loaded rate including benefits if available.

Enter 0 for one-off meetings.

Add extra costs (software, facilities) or set to 0 if not needed.

Meeting Cost Overview

Cost per meeting

$528

Weekly cost

$1,056

Annual cost

$54,912

Total people-hours spent annually: 832 hours. That is the equivalent of 20.8 full work weeks.

How to Use This Calculator

1

Count everyone invited

Include decision makers, optional attendees, and recurring guests to capture the full cost.

2

Use loaded hourly rates

Multiply salary by 1.2–1.4 to include benefits, taxes, and overhead. Alternatively use billable hourly rates.

3

Evaluate recurring meetings

Multiply per-meeting cost by frequency to see annual impact. Identify which meetings merit agendas, async updates, or cancellation.

Formula

Cost per Meeting = Attendees × Length (hours) × Hourly Cost × (1 + Overhead%)

Weekly Cost = Cost per Meeting × Meetings per Week

Annual Cost = Weekly Cost × 52

Example: 8 people × 1 hour × $55 with 20% overhead → $$528 per meeting. Twice per week costs $1,056 weekly and $54,912 annually.

Tips to Cut Meeting Costs

Meetings are necessary but often bloated. Use cost visibility to keep them focused and valuable.

  • Send agendas beforehand and end when decisions are made.
  • Invite only essential contributors; share notes with others asynchronously.
  • Experiment with shorter default durations (25 or 45 minutes).
  • Bundle related topics into one meeting to reduce context switching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include preparation time?

Yes. Add prep hours to the meeting length or overhead so the cost reflects total effort, not just time in the room.

How do I handle external participants?

Use their billable rate or estimate cost based on contract terms. The goal is to quantify the value of everyone’s time.

Can I use different hourly rates per attendee?

For a precise model, average the rates or calculate separate groups (execs vs. individual contributors) and sum the results.

What about virtual meetings?

The cost framework is the same. Optionally add software or hardware rental fees to the overhead percentage.