Calculators
Training ROI Calculator
Calculate the return on a training programme from its costs, participants, annual benefit per participant and attribution.
- Runs in your browser
- Nothing uploaded
The tool
Enter your numbers below. Results update as you type, and nothing leaves your browser.
Everything you enter stays on your own machine. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, which you can confirm in your browser network tab.
What people use it for
- Justifying a training budget
- Comparing programmes
- Reporting learning impact
- Deciding between build and buy for training
About this tool
What the Training ROI Calculator does
Training ROI compares the monetary benefit of improved performance with the full cost of the programme, including participants’ time. Because not all improvement comes from training, a share is attributed to it. The result is commonly reported as ROI percentage and benefit-cost ratio.
Formula
- Cost = participants × (fee + hours × hourly cost) + other costs
- Benefit = participants × annual benefit × attribution
- ROI = (benefit − cost) ÷ cost; BCR = benefit ÷ cost
Worked example
Using the starting values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Participants | 25 |
| Programme cost per participant | $1,200 |
| Other programme costs | $5,000 |
| Training hours per participant | 16 |
| Participant hourly cost | $45.00 |
| Annual benefit per participant | $2,500 |
| Share attributable to training | 60% |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Training ROI | -29.2% |
| Benefit-cost ratio | 0.71 |
| Attributed annual benefit | $37,500 |
| Total programme cost | $53,000 |
| Payback | 17 months |
How to read the result
Measure a baseline before training and compare against a group that has not yet been trained to make attribution credible.
Participants’ time is often the largest cost; leaving it out flatters the ROI.
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Questions
Questions about this tool
The things clients actually want to know — costs, timelines, ownership and what happens after launch.
Subtract programme costs from the monetary benefits attributed to training, then divide by the costs.
Benefits divided by costs; above 1 means benefits exceed costs.
Convert improvements such as productivity, error reduction or sales into money using your own business data.
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