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Meeting Cost Calculator

See what your meetings actually cost. Select attendees, set the duration, and prepare to be horrified.

Total Meeting Cost
$0
0 people × $0/hr × 60 min
Configure Meeting
Burn Rate $0/hr
Meeting Duration 60 min
15 min 180 min
What this meeting cost in real terms
0
Iced Lattes ($6)
0
Burritos + Guac ($16)
0
Netflix Months ($16)

The Hidden Cost of Meetings

$25,000
Average annual cost per employee spent in meetings
31 hours
Time the average employee spends in meetings per month
71%
Of senior managers say most meetings are unproductive

Based on research from Harvard Business Review and Atlassian

5 Ways to Cut Meeting Costs

  1. Default to 25 minutes -- Parkinson's Law means work expands to fill the time. Cut 30-minute meetings to 25.
  2. Require an agenda -- No agenda, no meeting. If you can't write 3 bullet points, send a Slack message instead.
  3. Halve the attendees -- Every person you remove saves their hourly rate times the meeting length. Be ruthless.
  4. Cancel recurring meetings -- Review every recurring meeting monthly. If nobody would recreate it, kill it.
  5. Go async first -- Use Loom, Notion, or Slack threads for updates. Reserve synchronous time for decisions.

When Meetings ARE Worth It

Not all meetings are waste. Kickoffs, brainstorms, 1:1s, and decision-making meetings create real value -- when they're well-run. The goal isn't zero meetings; it's zero wasted meetings.

If you must have meetings, at least start them right.

Try the Icebreaker Generator →

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the meeting cost calculated?+
Multiplies each attendee's estimated hourly rate by the meeting duration. Rates are based on industry averages by role level.
Why should I care about meeting costs?+
The average employee spends 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings. Making costs visible helps teams cut unnecessary meetings and protect focus time.
What's a reasonable meeting cost?+
As a rule of thumb, if a meeting costs more than the value of the decision it produces, it shouldn't happen. Quick syncs should be under $500; planning meetings under $2,000.
How can I reduce meeting costs?+
Reduce attendees (every person you remove saves money), shorten duration (try 25 minutes instead of 30), use async alternatives (Loom, Slack), and cancel recurring meetings that no longer serve a purpose.