Why use this tool?
- Shows estimated cost per minute and total elapsed cost.
- Supports different attendee groups and rates.
- Encourages purposeful agendas and appropriate attendance.
Meeting Cost Timer
Make the time investment visible with a live estimate based on attendee counts and loaded hourly rates.
Estimated meeting cost
$0.00
0:00
7people
$490per hour
$8.17per minute
Attendees
Use a blended loaded rate if exact compensation should remain private.
Role or groupPeopleHourly rate
$
$
$
This is a directional facilitation estimate, not payroll or accounting advice. It excludes preparation, follow-up, benefits, and overhead unless you include them in the entered rates.
Complete tool guide
How to use the Meeting Cost Timer responsibly
The Meeting Cost Timer estimates the live cost of attendee time from group counts, hourly rates, and elapsed time. It helps facilitators make the investment visible and compare the value of a meeting with clearer agendas, smaller attendance, or asynchronous work.
Use blended or loaded rates when individual compensation is private. The displayed amount is a directional planning estimate and excludes preparation, follow-up, benefits, and overhead unless those are included in the rates.
Common use cases
- Facilitating recurring meetings and planning reviews.
- Comparing synchronous and asynchronous collaboration options.
- Estimating the time investment of workshops, interviews, or training.
How to use it
- 1
Add attendee groups, participant counts, and suitable hourly rates.
- 2
Review the combined people count and estimated cost per hour and minute.
- 3
Start the timer when the meeting begins; pause it during excluded breaks if appropriate.
- 4
Reset after recording any figure needed for your meeting review.
How meeting cost is calculated
The tool sums count × hourly rate for every group, then multiplies that hourly total by elapsed seconds divided by 3,600.
Choosing an hourly rate
A loaded rate may include salary, benefits, taxes, and overhead; a wage-only rate will produce a narrower estimate. Use one consistent definition and label it when sharing results.
What the estimate means
Cost does not determine value. A short expensive meeting can prevent larger losses, while a cheap recurring meeting can still waste time. Use the number to improve the format, not to shame participants.
Practical tips for better results
- Use role-level blended rates instead of personal salaries.
- Start and stop the timer consistently across meetings you compare.
- Include preparation and follow-up separately when they are material.
- Pair the cost with outcomes, decisions, and participant feedback.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the cost of a meeting?
Multiply each attendee group’s count by its hourly rate, add those amounts, then multiply by the meeting duration in hours. This timer performs that calculation continuously.
Should I enter salary or a loaded hourly rate?
Use the measure that fits your purpose and apply it consistently. A loaded rate is broader because it may include benefits, taxes, and overhead; a blended role rate better protects individual privacy.
Does a high meeting cost mean the meeting is wasteful?
Not necessarily. Cost measures invested time, not value. Compare it with the decision, coordination, risk reduction, or learning the meeting produces.
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