Cost Per Hire Calculator
Total recruiting spend divided by hires made.
Enter your values
Enter the external costs in $.
Enter the internal costs in $.
Enter the hires made you are working with.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Cost per hire
- $3,333.33
- Total recruiting spend
- $20,000.00
- External share
- 60%
- Annualised at this pace
- $80,000.00
Quick answer
Cost per hire is total internal plus external recruiting cost divided by the number of hires in the period.
CPH = (external + internal cost) / hires
At a glance
| What it does | Total recruiting spend divided by hires made. |
|---|---|
| Category | Business |
| Inputs needed | External costs, Internal costs, Hires made |
| Main output | Cost per hire |
| Formula | CPH = (external + internal cost) / hires |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Cost Per Hire Calculator
- 1Add up job ads, agency fees and tooling as external costs.
- 2Estimate recruiter and interviewer time as internal costs.
- 3Divide by hires completed in the same window.
Inputs explained
- External costs($)
- Enter the external costs in $.
- Internal costs($)
- Enter the internal costs in $.
- Hires made
- Enter the hires made you are working with.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- External costs12000 $
- Internal costs8000 $
- Hires made6
Results
- Cost per hire$3,333.33
- Total recruiting spend$20,000.00
- External share60%
- Annualised at this pace$80,000.00
Frequently asked questions
What is a good number?
US averages sit near $4,000-$5,000 per hire, far higher for executive or niche technical roles.
Should I include onboarding?
No. Keep onboarding separate so recruiting efficiency is measured cleanly.
What do I need to enter into the Cost Per Hire Calculator?
Just 3 values: external costs, internal costs, hires made. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Cost Per Hire Calculator work out the answer?
Cost per hire is total internal plus external recruiting cost divided by the number of hires in the period. It applies the formula CPH = (external + internal cost) / hires and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Cost Per Hire Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.