Meeting Cost Calculator

Calculate the true cost of meetings based on attendee salaries and duration. See annual cost of recurring meetings.

$

Total Meeting Cost

$288.46

Cost per Minute

$4.81

Annual Cost (weekly)

$15,000.00

This meeting costs

$4.81/min

Meeting Cost Breakdown

Attendees6
Avg Hourly Rate$48.08
Duration60 minutes
Total Meeting Cost$288.46
Cost per Attendee$48.08
Cost per Minute$4.81
If Weekly (annual cost)$15,000.00

Use the Meeting Cost Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Our Meeting Cost Calculator helps you unveil the often-hidden financial drain of meetings by factoring in attendee salaries and meeting duration. Understanding these true costs is crucial for optimizing productivity and ensuring every meeting delivers tangible value, especially as average salaries are projected to rise by 4.2% in 2026. By quantifying the expense, businesses can make data-driven decisions to streamline meeting schedules and improve efficiency.

The calculation is straightforward: first, we determine the average hourly cost per attendee by dividing their annual salary by 2080 working hours (52 weeks x 40 hours). This individual hourly cost is then multiplied by the meeting duration in hours and by the number of attendees present. For recurring meetings, this total cost is further multiplied by the annual frequency to provide a comprehensive yearly expenditure.

A common mistake is underestimating the cumulative impact of frequent, short meetings; even 30 minutes with a few highly paid individuals adds up quickly. Remember to include all relevant attendees, not just the primary speakers, when calculating the cost. This tool provides a financial snapshot, but also consider the opportunity cost and potential loss of productivity that extensive meetings can incur.

Example: Weekly Project Update Meeting

  1. 1 Imagine a weekly project update meeting involving 5 team members. Their average annual salary is $85,000, and the meeting typically lasts 45 minutes.
  2. 2 First, the average hourly cost per attendee is $85,000 / 2080 hours = $40.87. For a single 45-minute (0.75 hour) meeting with 5 attendees, the cost is $40.87 * 0.75 * 5 = $153.26. Annually, this weekly meeting costs $153.26 * 52 weeks = $7,969.52.
  3. 3 The true annual cost of this weekly project update meeting is approximately $7,969.52.
  4. 4 This figure highlights the significant financial investment in recurring meetings. By being aware of this cost, you can justify the meeting's value, explore ways to shorten its duration, or consider alternative communication methods to achieve the same objectives more efficiently.

Source: SBA — Business Guide · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a meeting really cost?
A one-hour meeting with 8 people earning an average of $75/hour costs $600 in salary alone, plus opportunity cost of lost productive work. A company with 10 recurring weekly meetings of this size spends over $300,000/year on meetings.
How do I calculate the cost of a meeting?
Sum each attendee's hourly rate (annual salary / 2,080), multiply by meeting duration in hours, and add overhead costs. For fully-loaded cost, multiply salaries by 1.3-1.5x to account for benefits and overhead.
How can I reduce meeting costs?
Limit attendees to essential people only, set and enforce time limits, require agendas, make meetings 25 or 50 minutes instead of 30 or 60, replace status updates with async tools, and audit recurring meetings quarterly to eliminate unnecessary ones.