How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose external course and trainer fees.
- Enter or choose internal trainer and L&D staff costs.
- Enter or choose materials and learning platforms.
- Enter or choose travel and venues.
- Enter or choose employees.
- The training cost per employee updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Total = External + Internal + Materials + Travel; Per employee = Total ÷ Employees; Per hour = Total ÷ Training hours
- Training hours
- learner hours: people × hours each
Worked example
- Total = 20,000 + 8,000 + 2,000 + 5,000 = $35,000.
- Per employee = 35,000 ÷ 50 = $700; per hour = 35,000 ÷ 1,200 = $29.17.
- Hours per employee = 1,200 ÷ 50 = 24.
Spending $35,000 on training for 50 employees is $700 per employee, or $29.17 per learner hour.
What the result means
Cost per hour helps compare formats (classroom, online, coaching). Pair the spend with an outcome measure, such as retention or time to competence, before deciding whether it is too high or too low.
Assumptions and limits
- All costs relate to the same period and group of employees.
- The salary cost of learners’ time away from work is not included unless you add it to internal costs.
Questions
Should I divide by employees trained or all employees?
Employees trained shows the cost per learner; all employees gives a per-head budget figure that is easier to compare between organisations.
Should learners’ wages be included?
Some organisations include the pay of staff while they are training. It gives a fuller cost but makes comparisons harder; say which you used.