If you’ve read an article about meetings lately, chances are it’s still quoting stats from 2017 or maybe 2021 at best. But here’s the thing — the way we work has changed a lot since then. Hybrid work, remote teams, and back-to-back video calls are now part of everyday life. So if we’re still relying on old numbers, we’re missing the full picture.
Meetings have changed — so should the meeting statistics we use. In this article, we’ll walk through the latest stats and insights about how meetings actually work in today’s world — how much time we’re spending in them, what makes them productive (or not), and how companies can make them better.
Key meeting statistics
- Since 2020, the number of meetings has tripled.
- Employees spend about 11.3 hours per week in meetings — nearly a third of the workweek.
- Remote workers attend 50% more meetings than those in the office.
- 46% of professionals attend three or more meetings per day.
- On average, employees attend 10.1 virtual meetings each week.
- 45% of meetings are 30 minutes long — the most common length.
- Half of the meetings start late.
- 43% of people spend 3+ hours a week just scheduling meetings.
- The average cost of meeting time is $29,000 per employee per year.
- 55% say meetings help with productivity, but 45% say they get in the way.
Guide to meeting statistics
We’re meeting more than ever
Let’s face it — meetings are a huge part of modern work life. Most of us spend a surprising amount of time in them each week. In fact, the average employee now spends about 11.3 hours a week in meetings — that’s almost a third of the workweek!
And it’s not just a few people sitting through lots of calls. According to Calendly, 78% of U.S. workers and 85% of U.K. workers say they spend at least 3 hours in meetings every week — and for many, it’s way more than that.
The daily meeting load is also pretty high. Nearly half of professionals (46%) say they attend 3 or more meetings every single day, and 50% of salespeople are in meetings for over 5 hours daily. Folks at larger companies feel this the most — 59% of enterprise employees log more than 5 hours a week in meetings, compared to just 32% at smaller firms.
Over time, we’ve definitely gotten used to having more meetings. Studies show the amount of time spent in meetings has grown by around 10% each year for the past 20 years. And thanks to hybrid and remote work, it’s easier than ever to hop on a call, so meetings have tripled since the start of the pandemic.
What percentage of meetings are virtual?
86% of workers globally say most of their meetings still include at least one remote participant.
Whether you’re dialing in from home, the office, or somewhere in between, chances are you’ve clicked “Join” on more video calls than ever before.
The good news is: Many workers actually prefer video meetings — they’re convenient, and you don’t have to run around looking for a free meeting room.
But virtual isn’t perfect. 72% of employees say they lose time due to tech problems like bad audio, video freezing, or trouble logging in. Then, only 15% of office spaces are properly set up for video meetings, so some folks are still struggling to hear or be seen clearly.
And let’s not forget Zoom fatigue — back-to-back virtual meetings can be exhausting. Despite returning to the office, hybrid and online meetings remain more common than fully in-person ones.
Meeting frequency | Virtual meetings per week | In-person meetings per week |
|---|---|---|
0 meetings | 17% | 14% |
1–2 meetings | 38% | 35% |
3–4 meetings | 19% | 21% |
5–6 meetings | 12% | 13% |
7–8 meetings | 2% | 2% |
9–10 meetings | 4% | 5% |
11+ meetings | 8% | 10% |
Source: Owl Labs, State of Hybrid Work
What percentage of meetings are effective?
Well… the answer’s a bit mixed. On one hand, 55% of workers say meetings help them be more productive, especially when it comes to moving team projects forward. But on the flip side, 45% feel meetings actually slow them down, and many just don’t lead anywhere useful.
Time wasted in meetings — statistics
Given that on average, employees now spend 11.3 hours a week in meetings, that adds up to about 392 hours per person per year. For companies, that means meetings take up about 15% of total work time.
Even worse? A big chunk of that time isn’t very productive. Studies show that 35% of all business meetings are considered a waste.
The biggest pain point? Tech issues. 72% of employees say they’ve lost time because meetings started late due to problems like trouble connecting to the call, audio or video not working, or glitches with screen-sharing or logins. When tech fails, it doesn’t just waste time — it throws off the whole flow of the meeting.
Another issue is meeting overload. One meeting often leads to another, and professionals tend to lose time each week because of meetings that are canceled last minute or weren’t necessary in the first place.
When your calendar is constantly getting filled with meetings, it can be hard to find time to concentrate or even take a breather, which is why 58% of employees now use some form of calendar blocking.
Some groups are doing it way more than others:
- Full-time office workers: 64% calendar block
- Hybrid workers: Only 28%
- Fully remote workers: Just 8%
Caregivers (like parents or those caring for family) are twice as likely to block off time than non-caregivers — 67% vs. 33%. It makes sense: when your day is already full, protecting work time becomes even more important.
The real cost of meetings
We all know meetings can eat up time, but they also come with a big price tag. And we’re not just talking about how long they run — we’re talking serious money lost:
US businesses lose around $259 billion every year due to bad meetings. In the UK, it’s about £50 billion a year.
One company report showed that meeting time can cost $29,000 per employee per year, and that doesn’t include the extra hours people spend just scheduling meetings. 43% of workers say they spend 3+ hours a week doing just that!
Meetings aren’t bad — they just need to be better planned and fewer in number. When done right, they can move work forward. But too many poorly run meetings cost time, money, and energy, and make it harder for people to get real work done.
What makes a meeting productive?
Not all meetings are created equal. Some are helpful and energizing, while others feel like a waste of time. So what separates the good from the bad? Productive meetings usually have a few things in common — and they’re not hard to spot once you know what to look for.
- Clear purpose. Great meetings aren’t just about talking — they’re about getting something done. That could mean planning the next steps on a project, making decisions, or solving a specific problem. Research from Calendly shows that when there’s a clear reason to meet, people come in more focused and ready to contribute.
- Agenda, please! A simple agenda can go a long way. It gives everyone a heads-up on what to expect and helps keep the conversation on track. Without one, it’s easy for meetings to drift or drag on. In fact, a lack of agenda is one of the top reasons meetings feel unproductive.
- The right people (not everyone). Another key? Only invite the people who really need to be there. If a meeting has too many people, especially folks who don’t have a role in the discussion, it often turns into a long and unfocused session.
When these things are missing, people get bored or check out. In fact, 73% of professionals say they multitask during meetings, especially virtual ones. Younger workers like Gen Z are even more likely to do this, with 60% saying they “always” or “very often” multitask on video calls, compared to just 34% of Boomers.
It’s not just about distraction — multitasking is often a sign that the meeting isn’t engaging or relevant enough. And when people feel like they don’t have a role or their voice doesn’t matter, they’re more likely to tune out completely. This is especially true for younger workers, who are also more likely to feel left out in online meetings.
How to make virtual meetings better
Here’s what really helps:
Find the right timing
73% of workers agree that meetings starting before 8:00 AM are just too early. And honestly, can you blame them? Most people need time to settle in, check emails, or grab a coffee before diving into a team call or presentation.
So, when is the sweet spot?
The most preferred time for meetings is between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM. That’s the window when people are awake, alert, and least likely to be dealing with school drop-offs, long commutes, or end-of-day fatigue.
Keep them short and focused
Virtual meetings shouldn’t go on forever. People lose focus quickly when they’re staring at a screen — in fact, employees say they start to zone out in 52% of meetings within the first 30 minutes. That’s why the best virtual meetings stick to the point and wrap up as soon as possible. A short, well-run call beats a long, wandering one any day.
Always use an agenda
It sounds simple, but it makes a big difference. A clear agenda gives everyone a roadmap — what topics will be covered, who’s leading what, and how much time is planned. Meetings without one tend to go off track or feel like a waste of time. Yet surprisingly, only 37% of meetings actually use an agenda.
Make space for everyone to contribute
One of the biggest virtual meeting mistakes is letting just a few voices dominate. In hybrid setups especially, it’s easy for in-room participants to take over, while remote folks feel left out. That’s why it’s important to check in with everyone and create space for remote team members to speak, even if they’re the only ones dialing in.
Use smart tech (and training!)
Great meetings need great tools. That includes clear audio, good cameras, and shared notes so people can stay on the same page. Unfortunately, not all offices are fully equipped with room booking software like Archie and proper video conferencing tools in all rooms, which makes it tough for hybrid teams.
Luckily, more companies are catching on to what makes meetings work. In 2024, 49% of employees said they received training on how to run better hybrid or virtual meetings, and nearly as many said their companies were using flexible workspace technology to help with things like note-taking and scheduling.
In short, virtual meetings work best when they’re clear, inclusive, and respectful of people’s time. Keep them concise. Use a solid agenda. Make sure remote folks can participate fully. And don’t forget — a little flexibility (and the right tech!) goes a long way.
Speaking of…
Archie helps hybrid teams make meetings work — with the right spaces, the right tools, and the right data to back it all up.
A summary of the latest meeting statistics
🕒 Time spent in meetings statistics
- The average time spent in meetings per week is 11.3 hours (Fellow, 2024).
- That’s roughly 28% of their workweek (Fellow, 2024).
- 85% of UK workers and 78% of U.S. workers spend at least 3+ hours per week in meetings (Calendly, 2024).
- The average employee spends 392 hours per year in meetings — more than 16 full workdays (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Organizations spend 15% of their time in meetings (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Meeting time costs an average of $29,000 per employee per year (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 90% of people have less than 10 hours of meetings per week; 2% exceed 20 hours (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Typical meeting time blocks: 8 hours (individual contributors), 16 hours (managers), 19+ hours (executives) (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Remote employees attend 50% more meetings than in-office staff (Flowtrace, 2025).
- The number of meetings has tripled since 2020 (Microsoft, 2023).
📅 Daily meeting load
- 46% of workers attend 3+ meetings per day (Calendly, 2024).
- 50% of sales professionals spend over 5 hours per day in meetings (Calendly, 2024).
- 59% of enterprise employees log 5+ meeting hours per week, vs. 32% at smaller firms (Calendly, 2024).
- Employees attend an average of 10.1 virtual meetings per week (Harvard Business Review, 2024).
- 86% of global workers attend meetings with at least one remote participant (Owl Labs, 2024).
- Only 14% of meetings are fully in-person (Owl Labs, 2024).
- 83% of people attend at least one in-person meeting weekly (Owl Labs, 2023).
⏳ Meeting duration & scheduling
- 45% of meetings are 30 minutes long — the most common length (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 94% of meetings are scheduled for 60 minutes or less (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Meeting durations have increased by 10% over 15 years (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 15% of recurring meetings are 15 minutes or less (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 8% of one-off meetings go over an hour (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Only 5.4% of meetings are auto-shortened to 25 or 50 minutes (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 50% of meetings start late, by an average of 75 seconds (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 35% of invites are sent less than 24 hours in advance (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 90% of one-off meetings are scheduled within 10 days (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 43% of people spend 3+ hours a week scheduling meetings (Calendly, 2024).
- Only 35% of enterprise workers report spending that much time on scheduling (Calendly, 2024).
📈 Meeting productivity
- 55% say meetings enhance productivity; 45% say they reduce it (Calendly, 2024).
- 68% say meetings are essential for progress on team projects (Calendly, 2024).
- Only 37% of meetings use an agenda (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Just 37% of meetings result in a decision (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Executives say 67% of meetings are failures (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 52% of attendees lose attention within the first 30 minutes (Flowtrace, 2025).
- Only 12.6% of invitees are marked as “optional” (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 73% of professionals multitask during meetings (Flowtrace, 2025).
- 52% of workers multitask often (34%) or always (18%) in virtual meetings (Calendly, 2024).
- Only 35% multitask in in-person meetings (Calendly, 2024).
- 60% of Gen Z always or very often multitask in virtual meetings vs. 34% of Boomers (Calendly, 2024).
- 76% of Gen Z say it’s okay to check phones during in-person meetings vs. 55% of Boomers (Calendly, 2024).
Sources
- Flowtrace, State of Meetings Report 2025
- Fellow, Meetings Statistics: How Many Hours Do We Spend in Meetings?
- Calendly, The State of Meetings 2024
- Owl Labs, State of Hybrid Work 2024
- Dr Daniel Jolles and Dr Grace Lordan, LSE, When Generations Meet — The Productivity Potential of Multigenerational Meetings
- Mike Tolliver and Jonathan Sass, HBR, Hybrid Work Has Changed Meetings Forever
- Jabra, The State of Meetings in Hybrid Work
- Archie, Hybrid Work Statistics in 2025: Productivity & Preferences
Berenika Teter
Archie's Content Manager, fueled by filter coffee and a love for remote work. When she’s not writing about coworking spaces and hybrid workplaces, you can probably find her exploring one.
