Meeting Cost Calculator
Meetings are expensive labor, not free calendar slots. See exactly what a recurring team call costs in wages — per meeting, per month and per year — before you accept another invite.
The meeting
Your inputs are saved only in your browser (LocalStorage) and shared via the URL hash — nothing is uploaded.
What this meeting costs
Adjust the numbers — the cost updates instantly.
How the cost is calculated
The calculator values people's time at their wage: attendees × hourly pay × meeting length. That single-meeting cost is then projected across the frequency you chose (daily = 5 sessions/week, weekly = 1, monthly = ~12/year) using 50 working weeks and 4.33 weeks per month.
- Single cost = attendees × hourly wage × (minutes ÷ 60).
- Annual cost = single cost × sessions per year.
- These are labor estimates — overhead, tools and opportunity cost are not included, so the real number is usually higher.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include optional/quiet attendees in the count?
Yes — every silent attendee is still paid for that hour. One trick: count only decision-makers, and send notes to everyone else. Cutting two optional faces usually saves more than you'd expect.
Is the wage or the fully-loaded cost the right number?
Hourly wage is the conservative floor. Fully-loaded employer cost (benefits, payroll taxes, office space) is typically 1.25–1.4× wages, so treat these figures as a minimum estimate.
How do I push back on a pointless meeting?
Bring the number: "This weekly call costs about $X a year in people's time. Can we make it biweekly, or async?" Frame it as protecting focused work, not complaining — pair with the office feedback email template.
Does this count preparation time?
No — preparation and context-switching are extra. If your team spends 15 minutes prepping per meeting, add roughly a third on top for a realistic picture, and read the work-life boundaries guide.