Meetings eat up 31 hours of your month—but do they need to?
This article explores time spent in meetings, virtual meeting trends, and the real cost of unproductive gatherings. You’ll discover why 71% of managers consider meetings a waste of time and how simple changes can reclaim hours of productivity each week. These insights will help you build a more efficient meeting culture and free your team to do their best work.
Top 6 Meeting Statistics (Editor’s Picks)
We’ve handpicked 25+ of the latest meeting statistics, facts, and trends. Here are 6 that we believe will blow you away.
| 1 | 11 million meetings are held every day in the United States |
| 2 | 37% of employees say unproductive meetings are their company’s biggest cost |
| 3 | 58% of employees say their meetings last more than 30 minutes |
| 4 | 70% of remote workers say virtual meetings are less stressful |
| 5 | Unproductive meetings cost U.S. businesses $37 billion each year |
| 6 | Zoom fatigue is the top challenge for 37.1% of professionals |
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General Meeting Statistics
37% of employees say unproductive meetings are their company’s biggest cost (Flowtrace)
More than a third of employees believe wasted time in meetings is the most expensive problem their company faces. Too many meetings without clear objectives or outcomes can drain productivity and resources.
65% of employees say meetings stop them from getting their work done (Pumble)
For many employees, frequent meetings interrupt focus time and make it harder to complete tasks. Reducing unnecessary meetings or setting stricter time limits could help improve productivity.
Employees multitask in at least 41% of meetings (Notta)
When employees feel a meeting isn’t useful, they often turn to emails, messages, or other tasks. High multitasking rates suggest many meetings could be shorter, more focused, or even unnecessary.
40% of extroverts say being on camera is exhausting (Notified)
While extroverts thrive on interaction, 40% report that video meetings leave them feeling exhausted. The structured nature of virtual calls and the absence of in-person energy can make long meetings tiring.
58% of introverts say being on camera is exhausting (Notified)
More than half of self-identified introverts feel drained by on-camera meetings. The pressure to stay visually engaged, maintain eye contact, and be constantly “on” can be overwhelming.
Time Spent on Meeting
11 million meetings are held every day in the United States (Notta)
Workplace meetings are a daily reality for millions of employees across the country. With 55 million workers attending meetings each day, the time spent in them adds up quickly.
58% of employees say their meetings last more than 30 minutes (Zippia)
More than half of employees sit through meetings that go beyond the 30-minute mark. Long meetings can reduce focus, increase fatigue, and take time away from deep work.
35% of employees say they get no value from the hours spent in meetings each week (Mario Peshev)
More than a third of employees feel that the two to five hours they spend in meetings each week don’t provide any real benefits. Unnecessary meetings can drain productivity and take time away from meaningful work.
The average employee attends at least 8 meetings per week (Cross River Therapy)
With eight or more meetings every week, employees spend a significant portion of their time in discussions rather than doing focused work. Reducing unnecessary meetings could help improve productivity and job satisfaction.
The average executive manager attends at least 12 meetings per week (Fellow)
Executives spend a significant portion of their workweek in meetings, often limiting their time for strategic planning and decision-making. Finding ways to streamline or delegate meetings could improve efficiency.
The average corporate employee spends 4 hours per week on meetings (Discovery ABA)
Between preparation and attendance, employees lose half a workday each week to meetings. Many of these meetings could be streamlined or replaced with more efficient communication.
Here’s a quick view at time spent on meetings:
| Percentage of Employees | Time Spent in Meetings Per Week |
| 46% | Less than 4 hours |
| 37% | 4 to 12 hours |
| 11% | 12 to 20 hours |
| 4.73% | 20+ hours |
Virtual Meeting Statistics
Virtual meetings increased by nearly 30% from 2020 to 2022 (Quixy)
As remote work became the norm, businesses quickly adapted to virtual communication. The percentage of meetings held online surged from 48% to 77% in just two years.
70% of remote workers say virtual meetings are less stressful (SuperSaaS)
For many remote employees, virtual meetings eliminate the stress of commuting, office distractions, and in-person social pressures. This makes it easier to focus and participate comfortably.
However, long virtual meetings can still be draining. To keep engagement high, companies are adopting shorter, more structured formats.
71% of workers find it easier to present in virtual meetings (Notta)
Presenting remotely removes the pressure of standing in front of a room, making it easier for many employees to speak with confidence. Virtual tools like screen sharing and chat features also help streamline presentations.
67% believe virtual meetings are just as productive as in-person ones (Flowtrace)
More than two-thirds of workers say virtual meetings are just as effective as in-person sessions. With the right structure, teams can collaborate efficiently without needing to be in the same room.
64% of remote workers prefer hybrid video conferencing (Owl Labs)
Among those who worked from home during the pandemic, 64% say hybrid video calls are their preferred meeting format. This setup allows for both in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.
43% of professionals say on-camera meetings boost productivity (Flowtrace)
Nearly half of professionals believe that turning cameras on during virtual meetings leads to better focus and engagement. Seeing facial expressions and body language can make discussions feel more natural and interactive.
Virtual conference fatigue is real—and common (Atlassian)
Spending hours in back-to-back virtual meetings can be mentally exhausting. Without in-person interaction, employees often struggle with focus, engagement, and screen fatigue.
Women are 2.5 times more likely to experience Zoom fatigue than men (Stanford University)
Studies show that women report higher levels of exhaustion from virtual meetings compared to men. Factors like increased self-awareness on camera and societal expectations about appearance and engagement contribute to this disparity.
Zoom fatigue is the top challenge for 37.1% of professionals (AIJobs)
Back-to-back virtual meetings can be overwhelming, and over a third of workers say Zoom fatigue is their biggest issue. The expectation to always be on camera and focused makes remote collaboration more draining.
Unproductive Meeting Statistics
Unproductive meetings cost U.S. businesses $37 billion each year (Discovery ABA)
Companies lose billions annually due to meetings that run too long, lack clear objectives, or involve unnecessary participants. Time spent in unproductive meetings could be better used for focused work.
Businesses that set clear agendas, keep meetings concise, and limit attendance to essential team members can significantly cut these losses.
A single large company can lose up to $300 million annually from unproductive meetings (Cross River Therapy)
For big businesses, inefficient meetings aren’t just a minor inconvenience—they’re a massive financial drain. Wasted time in unnecessary or poorly structured meetings adds up to hundreds of millions in lost productivity every year.
Companies that focus on shorter, more purposeful meetings can save significant time and money while keeping employees more engaged.
Organizations lose 24 billion hours to inefficient meetings each year (SupBot)
Unproductive meetings don’t just waste money—they waste time. Every year, businesses collectively spend billions of hours in meetings that lack clear goals or could have been handled more efficiently.
71% of managers and employees say meetings are a waste of time (Harvard Business Review)
A majority of workers feel that meetings often take up valuable time without adding real value. Poor planning, lack of clear agendas, and unnecessary participants make many meetings unproductive.
Companies that focus on shorter, more structured meetings see better engagement and higher productivity across teams.
64% say meetings take time away from deep thinking (Harvard Business Review)
More than half of employees feel that frequent meetings interrupt their ability to focus on meaningful work. Constant context-switching makes it harder to engage in deep thinking and problem-solving.
Conclusion
Meetings have become the silent productivity killer, with employees losing 31 hours monthly and businesses hemorrhaging $37 billion annually. Perhaps most revealing is that 64% of workers say meetings steal time from deep thinking. As hybrid work becomes standard, successful organizations will embrace asynchronous communication, shorter gatherings, and clear meeting policies. The future belongs to companies that protect their team’s time as their most valuable resource.
FAQ
How many meetings are held daily in the United States?
Approximately 11 million meetings are held every day in the United States. This involves about 55 million workers attending at least one meeting daily.
How much time does the average employee spend in meetings?
The average employee spends about 31 hours in meetings each month. This equals nearly four full workdays of meeting time every month.
How much time is wasted in meetings statistics?
The average employee spends 31 hours in unproductive meetings each month, which equals nearly four full workdays. Unproductive meetings cost U.S. businesses approximately $37 billion annually, with large companies losing up to $300 million each year from inefficient meetings alone.
What are the statistics of virtual meetings?
Virtual meetings increased by nearly 30% from 2020 to 2022, growing from 48% to 77% of all meetings.
What makes meetings a waste of time?
Meetings become a waste of time primarily due to lack of clear objectives and poor planning. Additionally, including unnecessary participants, running over scheduled time, and failing to document decisions or next steps turns potentially valuable collaboration into an expensive drain on company resources.
