{
    "name": "Training Program Cost Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/training-program-cost-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/training-program-cost-calculator.md",
    "category": "Education",
    "description": "Total the cost of a training programme (trainer, venue, materials, catering, development and participants’ time) and see the cost per person and per learning hour.",
    "summary": "The full cost of training includes the hours participants spend away from work, not just the trainer’s invoice. Leave the pay rate blank to see direct costs only.",
    "also_called": [
        "Training budget calculator",
        "Cost per learner calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "participants",
            "label": "Participants",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "20"
        },
        {
            "name": "days",
            "label": "Training days",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2",
            "unit": "days"
        },
        {
            "name": "hours_per_day",
            "label": "Learning hours per day",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "7",
            "unit": "hours"
        },
        {
            "name": "trainer_per_day",
            "label": "Trainer fee per day",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "venue_per_day",
            "label": "Venue and equipment per day",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "per_participant",
            "label": "Materials, licences and travel per participant",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "150",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "catering",
            "label": "Catering per person per day",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "30",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "wage_per_hour",
            "label": "Participants’ average pay per hour",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "40",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "development_cost",
            "label": "Course design and development",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "total_cost",
            "label": "Total cost",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "cost_per_participant",
            "label": "Cost per participant",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "cost_per_learning_hour",
            "label": "Cost per learning hour",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "direct_cost",
            "label": "Direct costs",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "direct_per_participant",
            "label": "Direct cost per participant",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "time_cost",
            "label": "Cost of participants’ time",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "learner_hours",
            "label": "Learner hours",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Direct = (Trainer + Venue) × Days + (Materials + Catering × Days) × Participants + Development;  Time = Participants × Days × Hours × Pay;  Per learning hour = Total ÷ (Participants × Days × Hours)",
        "variables": {
            "Learner hours": "participants × days × learning hours per day"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "participants": "20",
            "days": "2",
            "hours_per_day": "7",
            "trainer_per_day": "1500",
            "venue_per_day": "500",
            "per_participant": "150",
            "catering": "30",
            "wage_per_hour": "40",
            "development_cost": "2000",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Trainer and venue = (1,500 + 500) × 2 = 4,000; materials 20 × 150 = 3,000; catering 20 × 2 × 30 = 1,200; development 2,000. Direct = 10,200.",
            "Time = 20 × 2 × 7 = 280 learner hours × 40 = 11,200.",
            "Total 21,400 ÷ 20 = 1,070 each; ÷ 280 hours = 76.43 per learning hour."
        ],
        "result": "The two-day workshop costs 21,400 including participants’ time: 1,070 per person or 76.43 per learning hour."
    },
    "interpretation": "Cost per learning hour lets you compare a workshop with e-learning or a conference fairly. Development cost falls per person when the course is run again, so try a larger number of participants to see the effect.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Every participant attends every day."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Benefits (productivity, retention) are not estimated here; compare the cost with your own estimate of the return."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Should participants’ time be included?",
            "answer": "For internal decisions, yes: it is often the biggest cost. Leave the pay rate blank to report direct spend only."
        },
        {
            "question": "What goes in development cost?",
            "answer": "Designing the content, building materials or e-learning, and pilot runs, spread over the cohorts you count here."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "ROI Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/roi-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Break-even Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/break-even-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Online Course Revenue Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/online-course-revenue-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Course Completion Rate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/course-completion-rate-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}