Cost per hire calculator

Cost per hire equals total internal recruiting costs plus total external recruiting costs, divided by the number of hires in the same period. Enter your own costs below. Count hires made, not candidates interviewed. No benchmark is shown because it depends on role and market.

LiveRec Editorial. Assumptions last checked .

Internal costs (US dollars)
Pay plus benefits and overhead.
Recruiting software, onboarding admin time.
External costs (US dollars)
Candidate travel and similar.
Hires in the same period
People who started, not candidates interviewed.

Enter your costs and the number of hires to see your cost per hire.

How this is calculated

This is the cost-per-hire formula named in the SHRM guidance and the ANSI/SHRM standard: (total internal costs + total external costs) ÷ number of hires.

  1. Internal = recruiter hours × hourly cost + interviewer hours × hourly cost + other internal costs.
  2. External = job boards, agency fees, background checks, tools, referral bonuses and other external costs.
  3. Cost per hire = (internal + external) ÷ hires.

Use one fixed period such as a quarter. Leave out salary, signing bonus and relocation unless you want total cost of hire; if you include them, say so wherever you report the figure. Costs spent on roles you did not fill still count as spend.

Assumptions and sources

Last checked 30 October 2026.

  • Formula: (internal costs + external costs) ÷ hires, per the SHRM talent acquisition benchmarking definition of cost per hire. Source: SHRM, talent acquisition benchmarking.
  • Standard referenced: ANSI/SHRM cost-per-hire standard. Check the current edition for its exact cost categories.
  • Staff time is hours × loaded hourly cost, using the figures you enter. All amounts are in US dollars.
  • No benchmark or average is used or implied.

Frequently asked questions

Is cost per hire the same as cost of hire?
Not always. Cost of hire often adds salary-related and onboarding costs. State which one you report.
Should I include my own time as a founder?
Yes, at a realistic hourly value, and say so.
Do unfilled roles count?
Their costs are still spend. Consider reporting them separately.
Does the calculator store my numbers?
No. It runs in your browser, stores nothing and sends nothing.

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.