Meeting Duration Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the meeting duration calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Formulas Used

Duration

duration_hours = duration_min / 60

Total Person-Hours

total_person_hours = duration_min / 60 * attendees

Meeting Cost

meeting_cost = duration_min / 60 * attendees * avg_hourly

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
start_hourStart Time (24hr)10
start_minStart Minutes(min)0
end_hourEnd Time (24hr)11
end_minEnd Minutes(min)30
attendeesNumber of Attendees5
avg_hourlyAvg Hourly Rate per Attendee(USD/hr)50
duration_minDerived value= (end_hour * 60 + end_min) - (start_hour * 60 + start_min)calculated

How It Works

How to Calculate Meeting Cost

The true cost of a meeting is the duration multiplied by the number of attendees and their average hourly compensation.

Formula

Duration = End Time - Start Time (in hours)

Meeting Cost = Duration x Attendees x Average Hourly Rate

Worked Example

A meeting from 10:00 to 11:30 with 5 attendees averaging $50/hr.

start_hour = 10start_min = 0end_hour = 11end_min = 30attendees = 5avg_hourly = 50
  1. 01Duration = (11:30 - 10:00) = 90 minutes = 1.5 hours
  2. 02Person-hours = 1.5 x 5 = 7.5 hours
  3. 03Meeting cost = 7.5 x $50 = $375.00

Frequently Asked Questions

Why calculate meeting costs?

Understanding the financial cost of meetings encourages efficiency. A 1-hour meeting with 10 people at $60/hr costs $600, motivating tighter agendas.

What hourly rate should I use?

Use the fully loaded cost (salary + benefits) divided by annual work hours, or a rough estimate. Benefits typically add 20-30% to base salary.

How can I reduce meeting costs?

Invite only essential attendees, set clear agendas, keep meetings short, and consider async alternatives like emails or recorded updates.

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Meeting Duration Calculator