Uplift is an editable planning assumption for benefits, payroll costs, and overhead. Enter compensation consistently; this tool does not store or transmit salary values.
Calculation details
Planning estimate only. Pay, overtime, holidays, and working-time rules vary by employer and jurisdiction.
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Use this result
Share the current inputs or ask ChatGPT to explain the calculation in context.
What does this calculator estimate?
A meeting cost calculator puts a price tag on meeting time. Enter attendee salaries, duration, and frequency to see the cost per meeting and per year.
- Cost = hourly cost × uplift × hours
- 6 people × $50 × 1.3 = $390/meeting
- Recurring meetings compound into real money
Why meetings have a cost
Every minute of a meeting is paid time for everyone in it — plus overhead for benefits and office costs. The calculator makes that visible: a weekly hour with six people can cost $20,000+/year, which forces the question of whether the meeting earns its keep.
Limitations to watch for
The blended rate should include salary, benefits, and overhead (a 1.3× uplift is common; fully loaded costs can be 1.5–2×). The estimate ignores prep time and follow-up — real costs are higher. It's a planning tool, not a judgment on whether a meeting is worth it.
How to use it in practice
Enter the average fully-loaded hourly rate of attendees, the duration, and how often it recurs. Use the annual figure to audit recurring meetings: cut or shorten the low-value ones. For project meetings, compare the cost against the decision's value.
- Enter the blended hourly rate (or per-person rates).
- Enter the duration and frequency.
- Read the per-meeting and annual cost.
What meeting cost measures
A meeting costs the combined hourly salaries of attendees times the duration: 6 people at $50/hour for 1 hour is $300, and with a 30 percent overhead uplift, $390. The calculator quantifies the true cost of recurring meetings.
The overhead uplift
Salary is only part of the cost: benefits, taxes, and overhead add 25–40 percent. A loaded rate of $65 on a $50 wage is realistic. The calculator's uplift input makes the number honest.
Recurring meetings compound
A weekly 1-hour meeting with 6 people at $390 costs about $20,280 per year. A daily standup with 4 people at $260 costs over $67,000 annually. The calculator shows the yearly total, which is the number that changes behavior.
A worked example
8 people, $45/hour, 1.5 hours, 30% uplift: 8 × 45 × 1.5 × 1.3 = $702 per meeting. Weekly that's $36,504 per year. The calculator returns both the single-meeting and annual cost.
Using the number
The cost makes meeting hygiene concrete: cut the attendee list, shorten the duration, or move updates to async. The calculator turns 'meetings are expensive' into a specific dollar figure per decision.
How this calculator works
Formula
Cost per meeting = (blended hourly cost × uplift) × duration hours. Annual cost = per-meeting cost × meetings per week × working weeks per year.
Worked example
6 people at an average $50/hour with a 30% overhead uplift, in a 1-hour meeting: $390 per meeting — over $20,000 a year if held weekly.
Assumptions to verify
- The uplift reflects benefits and overhead.
- All attendees' time is fully occupied by the meeting.
- Recurrence is consistent across the year.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate meeting cost?
Attendees' hourly cost × uplift × hours: 6 × $50 × 1.3 = $390 for an hour.
What is the uplift for?
It covers benefits, payroll taxes, and overhead — the real cost of an employee hour is 1.3–2× the salary.
How do I estimate annual cost?
Per-meeting cost × meetings per week × working weeks (52): $390 × 52 ≈ $20,000+.
Does this include prep time?
No — prep and follow-up add 30–50% more in practice.
Is this just for executives?
No — a meeting of six mid-level staff at $40/hr still costs $1,600/week or $80k+/year.
How do I decide if a meeting is worth it?
Compare the cost to the value of the decision it produces — and ask if email or async updates could do it.
What makes meetings cheaper?
Fewer attendees, shorter duration, async alternatives, and standing agendas.
What should the hourly rate include?
Loaded cost — salary plus benefits and overhead, typically 125–140% of wage.
How much do weekly meetings cost?
A 1-hour 6-person meeting at loaded rates runs about $20,000 per year.
What is the cheapest fix?
Cut attendees, shorten the meeting, or move updates to async.
Cite this tool
BoringToolsKit. “Meeting Cost Calculator.” boringtoolskit.com/meeting-cost-calculator/ (reviewed 2026-08-25). Free to reference in articles, syllabi, and answer posts with a link.
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